Technical engineering as a stimulator of developmentn and civilisational progress

The article presents theoretical and practical aspects of the operation of a key engineering category, i.e. technical engineering, and its dominant influence on the level of technical and civilisational development in evolving societies. The introduction discusses the concept, role, and place of technical engineering, and the general methodological framework applied in it. It emphasises the strong links between the scientific theoretical foundations of technical engineering and engineering practice, which stem chiefly from societal needs and utilitarian passions of many researchers involved in the creative art of engineering. The following section presents technical and technological assumptions and practical achievements of selected categories of technical engineering, such as: civil, water, military, mechanical, electrical, process, materials, and extreme engineering. The article is a conceptual review and stresses the synergy between science, knowledge, and technology (mainly technical and applied), as well as competences and skills, against the background of utilitarian societal needs.