Polish Market No. 3 (209) / 2014 by Polish Market

PU B LISHED SIncE 199 6 No. 3 (209) / 2014 :: www.polishmarket.com.pl

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Contents

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From The President’s Press Office From The Government Information Centre

Elżbieta Radzikowska, M.D., Medical Director of La Perla; Innovations in La Perla

Our Guest Global Market

Iwona Wendel, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development; Innovative economymain development goal

10 of Science and Higher Education;

Bogdan Sadecki; Poland and the rest of the world exports and imports are looking up

Jerzy Bojanowicz; KGHM Polska Miedź SA a global player in the non-ferrous metals market

Lena Kolarska-Bobińska, Minister Science and innovation are government priorities

Innovation

Law & Taxes

12 Patryk Mirecki; No development without innovation 14 21st Inventions Exhibition K. Wyrwicka, PhD. DSc. Eng.; Innovation 15 Magdalena - a chance or problem?

Higher Education

16 19

Finance

Zuzanna Kalisiak, Ph.D., Rector of the Polish Open University (POU); Let’s learn to create, try and apply!

Medicine & Pharmacy

Alicja Adamczak, Ph.D., President of the Polish Patent Office; Design - a good investment

Bogdan Sadecki; Higher educational institutions in Poland - ongoing changes

A knowledgebased economy?

26 28

Paweł Szustakiewicz, Director for Product Development at Provident; Assistance for businesses

Design

Marek Krawczyk, 20 Prof. rector of the Medical University of Warsaw;

Beata Brojewska, Legal Counsel BHS Law Firm; High excise duty is consistent with the Constitution

Marek Adamczewski, Vice-President for Teaching and Development, Gdańsk Academy of Fine Arts; 7th International Conference “Design - an opportunity for SMEs and regions” Designer and manufacturer come together

Powerful Businesswomen

Alicja Wiecka, Managing Director of SAS Institute Poland; Passionate about Innovation

Tomasz Dąbrowski; Poles perform organ transplants, come close to the Nobel Prize, act socially Magdalena Jasińska; Travel for beauty Culture of innovation at 3M – Health Care Prof. Piotr Suwalski, Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Warsaw; „We do not compete with each other, but we do cooperate”

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Beata Jarosz, Vice-President of Warsaw Stock Exchange; Polish designers and companies make Poland recognizable internationally Partner for the world’s top operas

Contents

Piątkowska, Member of the Board of the Polish 54 Monika Information and Foreign Investment Agency; Design - a key to innovation success

56 58

Teresa Kamińska, President of Pomeranian Special Economic Zone; The zone of Teresa Kamińska

Elżbieta Mączyńska, Professor of Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, Institute of Economics of the Polish Academy of Sciences, President of the Polish Economic Society; Beautiful our whole Poland

Prof. Małgorzata Zaleska, a member of the National Bank of Poland’s Management Board; Every man is the architect of his own future

Halina Zubrzycka, M.D., founder of the Spa & Wellness Center FENIKS; Heath and a good frame of mind

63 64

70 72 74 75

Cultural Monitor Maciej Proliński; Culture means development!

Maciej Proliński; Treasures of the Royal Library Maciej Proliński; National Opera preparing for a premiere of Wagner’s “Lohengrin”

Events

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Marcin Haber; The Arbiter of Polish Success The future of Polish infrastructure through the eyes of experts

Food Industry

80 Maciej Bartoń; Biofach 2014

Magdalena Piasecka Ludwin, President of Kliczków Castle; The female face of Kliczków Castle Marcin Haber; Polish Gems

The 12th edition of the Pearls of the Polish Economy got started

Maciej Proliński; Female faces of Polish culture

more information:

Culture

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www.perlygospodarki.pl

Zofia Gołubiew, Director of the National Museum in Kraków; A rich museum

Publisher: Oficyna Wydawnicza RYNEK POLSKI Sp. z o.o. (RYNEK POLSKI Publishers Co. Ltd.) President: Krystyna Woźniak-Trzosek Vice - Presidents: Błażej Grabowski, Grażyna Jaskuła Adress: ul. Elektoralna 13, 00-137 Warszawa, Poland Phone (+48 22) 620 31 42, 652 95 77 Fax (+48 22) 620 31 37 E-mail: info@polishmarket.com.pl Editor-in-Chief: Krystyna Woźniak-Trzosek Deputy Editor-in-Chief: Ewelina Janczylik-Foryś redakcja@polishmarket.com.pl

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Managing Editor: Rita Schultz rita.schultz@polishmarket.com.pl

Writers/Editors: Maciej Proliński, Jan Sosna, Sylwia WesołowskaBetkier, Grażyna Śleszyńska, Janusz Korzeń, Jerzy Bojanowicz, Janusz Turakiewicz, Marcin Haber Contributors: Przemysław Rudowski, Agnieszka Turakiewicz Photographer: Agnieszka Andrzejczak -Charuba Sales: Phone (+48 22) 620 38 34, 654 95 77 Natalia Suhoveeva natalia.s@polishmarket.com.pl Public Relations: Joanna Fijałkowska j_fijalkowska@polishmarket.com.pl

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Editorial

e usually have a short memory. A few weeks ago, there was a fear in anticipation of another message from statisticians - did we not fall into the clutches of the economic and financial recession? Later, we eagerly added tenths of a percent to improve our mood when forming forecasts for 2014. Today, it is all over like the recent waves of blizzards and frost. Our conservative Prime Minister announced an increase in GDP in 2014 by 3% although the budget provides for a mere 2.5%, but then experts from BNP Paribas jumped to 3.5%, several members of the Monetary Policy Council added 0.5% , a global rating agency Fitch gave a long-term ratings of Poland at “A-” “AA-” and “A”. Without playing in complex decoding it is intended to mean that

“How not to be optimistic, then?

Do we not exaggerate with enthusiasm

over the prospects for Poland? The old Polish saying goes. “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.”

”

What do others know about us?

“The Polish economy has shown high resilience and stability” with the prospect of being “stable”. How not to be optimistic, then? Do we not exaggerate with enthusiasm over the prospects for Poland? The old Polish saying goes “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.” What do others know about us? “The strength of the Polish investment market is its specialists. It is precisely the human capital that is one of the strongest points of the Polish economy, attracting leading investors from around the world and expanding the scale of operations of the companies already present here,” says Frank Wagenbauer from Capgemini, a global consultancy. And he no doubt accurately indicates the greatest asset of the Polish economy in the coming years. Of course, in the near future, our hopes for a quick return to the path of economic growth are related to the improvement of economic conditions in the world’s major economies: the U.S., China, and especially Germany. It is known that Poland’s share of foreign trade is still below the world average, so international cooperation may still be the country’s powerful engine for growth. In the long run, to accelerate the development we need to launch other factors of a strategic nature. “It is time to make another leap forward, to move from imitation to innovation,” urges Janusz Lewandowski, the EU budget commissioner. “Poland will receive over PLN 400 billion from the EU budget for investments in 2014-2020. The development strategy will determine whether Poland using its transport network at the European level will continue to compete with cheap labour, or create its strong brands and enter into the premier league of European business”.

Lewandowski cites a modern transport network as an asset, but it is all about the broader infrastructure consistently modernized with funds from the European Union. In recent years, we have reformed the education systems at all levels and revolutionized the R&D sector. Although all Polish ministers of science and education are haunted by nightmares of best Polish universities being only ranked in the world’s fifth hundred, but back in the day they can read about the successes of Polish pupils and students, as well as reports of the next new generation of research laboratories being built. After 3-4 years since the reform was introduced, it appears that Polish research institutes and Polish business can work together to create effective consortia reliable enough to attract the most reputable venture capitals as foreign partners, so as the announcement of Polish graphene lasers appearing on the market in 2-3 years do not raise associations with a number of previously unfulfilled “Polish dreams.” It is also worth mentioning an additional factor, often overlooked, and without which the development strategy through innovation would be limited to enclaves strongly stimulated by public funds. I mean social innovation, which I believe has been in Polish reality in recent years, although those who perform it do not call it so, and perhaps even do not think it to be so. I mean the incredible activity and creativity in finding gaps on the market of goods and services. Wally Olins, a world-renowned British expert on branding, described it as “creative tension,” arguing that it is the best marketing characteristic of Poland. Poles can create - groundbreaking futuristic solutions in California’s Silicon Valley, prestigious residences, TV spots for BBC and offshore platforms simulators. But it has always been so - Poles were building bridges in Canada and railways in the Peruvian Andes. So what is changing? Three years ago, “Polish Market” awarded the Honorary Pearl to a doctor for a top-ranked surgery carried out in a leading U.S. clinic. Last year, at least similar surgery was performed in a Polish hospital. Polish researchers and creators, having successfully confronted their knowledge abroad, increasingly return to Poland to run laboratories and companies. And they have reason to return - the hi-tech infrastructure is already there, or will be built shortly. There is also money for the commercialization of projects. It is the first time we are given such a great opportunity. ::

Krystyna Woźniak-Trzosek Editor-in-Chief President Rynek Polski Publishers Co. Ltd.

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President

Talks with the US Secretary of Defence on Afghanistan and Ukraine

he situation in Afghanistan, and in particular the prospective continuation of allied involvement following the ISAF mission, issues related to missile defence and Ukraine, were the focus of the talks held in Warsaw between President Bronisław Komorowski and US Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel. “The talks revolved mainly around the prospects for Afghanistan, and in particular our further involvement with the Allied Forces when the ISAF mission is over, the future of NATO against the backdrop of its upcoming summit in September, issues connected with missile defence systems and the potential cooperation between the military and industrial sectors under the modernisation programme of the Polish Armed Forces,” Minister Jaromir Sokołowski told the Polish Press Agency (PAP). ::

The President announces the date of EP elections

resident Bronisław Komorowski has set the date for the elections to the European Parliament. On Sunday, May 25, Poland will elect 51 EP members from the candidates put forward by electoral committees. The selected MPs will represent Poland in the European Parliament for the next 5 years. Candidates may be registered until April 15th, by midnight. The resolution, co-signed by PM Donald Tusk, became effective on the day of its announcement. ::

Congratulations to medallists!

ronisław Komorowski talked with the Polish gold medallists at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. On Saturday, February 15th, he congratulated Kamil Stoch on winning his second gold medal in ski jumping. The President also talked with Zbigniew Bródka, who had earlier won the gold medal in the men’s 1500- metre speed skating. Mr Komorowski emphasised that this was a medal of special importance, given the difficult training conditions Mr Bródka had had to face day in day out, and also due to the fact that he had been able to balance sport with his work as a firefighter. Following the women’s 10 kilometre classical cross-country skiing competition, The President also had the opportunity to talk with its winner, Olympic gold medallist Justyna Kowalczyk. Each time, President Komorowski also remembered to congratulate the teams responsible for preparing the equipment, and the coaching staff. Before Team Poland left for the Winter Olympics in Sochi, President Komorowski had met our athletes in Belweder to wish them luck and ask them to do their best to give our nation reasons to be proud and happy. This year’s Winter Olympic Games will go down in history as record-breaking for Polish sport. Polish athletes won as many as four gold medals. ::

Europe should return to industry

he global crisis continues to take a heavy toll on the European economy, with industry and SMEs as prime casualties. All sectors of the economy have also faced challenges posed by globalisation and accelerating technological advancement. These external circumstances have put Europe more in need of economic resuscitation and new valuable workplaces than ever before. In many countries the share of industry in their GDP has fallen to ca. 10%. Initially, this phenomenon was considered an inevitable and natural part of the globalisation process or even beneficial. Now we know that blindly pushing on with deindustrialisation might be detrimental to the economic interests of Europe and its economic security, while also leading to some serious social backlash. For 25 years now, Poland has been at the forefront of European growth. These last two and a half decades have been kind to the Polish economy. This success was rooted in reforms which established conditions for business growth. Industrial manufacturing in Poland during the European crisis, that is from September 2008 to September 2013, increased by over 20% thanks to the furniture, motor, mining and chemical industries. This being the fastest growth across the EU, we still aspire and see real opportunities to develop even faster. ::

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Prime Minister

The PM in Moldova

onald Tusk met the Moldovan Prime Minister Iurie Leancă in Chișinău, the country’s capital. The talks focused on Moldova’s road to the European Union and the situation in Ukraine. “We’ll do whatever we can for the conditions of the Association Agreement to be the most advantageous, so that Moldova’s bold political decisions can bring benefits to its citizens,” Mr Tusk said in Chișinău. He also stressed that more and more countries understood the nature of the Association Agreement as a step towards the EU, and the prospect for further integration is realistic. The Polish PM said that at his recent meetings with European leaders he had emphasised the importance to the entire western world of supporting Moldova’s efforts. “I hope that during my official visit towards the end of March we’ll be in a position to say that Moldova is indeed becoming part of Europe, also in terms of political and economic relations,” Mr Tusk concluded. Donald Tusk stressed that it was important for people to understand that integration with the European Union will benefit everyone, not just the State. The Prime Minister highlighted Poland’s experiences from the time of accession, citing that 82% of Poles were currently happy with their membership of the EU. ::

An exchange of opinions with the Canadian PM

A conversation between PM Tusk and Romanian PM Ponta

he Polish Prime Minister talked to the Head of the Romanian Government on the phone, discussing possible solutions to the political crisis in Ukraine. The conversation with Victor Ponta is another Polish step towards achieving a single EU voice regarding the Ukrainian political crisis. Donald Tusk has already taken part in 13 meetings on this issue, mostly with European leaders. The Prime Ministers also discussed the integration of Moldova with the European Union. ::

M Donald Tusk discussed the situation in Ukraine on the phone with his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper. It was the Canadian side who put forward the initiative. PM Tusk presented the Polish view of the situation and the results of his previous talks with other EU leaders. PM Harper agreed that the escalation of violence must be prevented by all means. Canada was one of the first countries to recognise Ukraine’s independence. The Ukrainian diaspora in Canada is ca. 1.3 million people. ::

Donald Tusk talks to David Cameron about Ukraine

uring the meeting in Oxfordshire the Prime Ministers of Poland and the UK talked about the political crisis in Ukraine. They also discussed the issues of shale gas and the possible cooperation of both countries in this field. “We will continue to protect the shale-gas business in Europe. I strongly believe that the Polish-British cooperation will enable us to avoid the risks in Europe connected with the exploration of shale gas,” Mr Tusk said. Donald Tusk and David Cameron exchanged opinions on the coming European summit. PM Tusk emphasised that he counted on British support with regard to the new greenhousegas emission reduction targets. “We are building an atmosphere of understanding for Poland, which cannot agree to the rapid increase in reduction targets,” he said. During his visit to the Royal Air Force base in Oxfordshire, the Prime Minister also met Andrzej Jeziorski, the head of the Polish Air Force Association, a veteran and an aviator who had taken part World War 2. The Polish Head of Government admired the Polish military memorabilia left in the base by Polish pilots. During the meeting Prime Minister Donald Tusk gave David Cameron a red and white checkerboard-patterned button – the symbol of Polish Air Force. This was a reference to the joint Polish-British history, which involved such events as the Polish participation in the Battle of Britain in 1940. The red and white checkerboard decorated the aircraft of the famous 303rd Polish Fighter Squadron. ::

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Our Guest

Innovative economymain development goal Iwona Wendel, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development, talks to “Polish Market.”

Is design a strong point of the Polish economy? It certainly is gaining in importance. There is an increasingly high awareness of the role of design, especially in enhancing economic competitiveness. Great importance has been attached to this sector in European Union countries. They have actively supported it and promoted. The design industry is still not developed in Poland as well as it is in the West but it is very promising. The number of businesses which use designers’ services is on the rise and the education system in staterun and private art schools is changing. The numerous events associated with design held in Poland recently, like for example the Design Festival in Łódź, show that Polish designers have been contributing a fresh look to the world design industry and are well familiar with today’s tends. They win prestigious awards and other distinctions, like for example Red Dot Design Awards and European Design Awards. European funds, especially the Innovative Economy Programme, have significantly contributed to the development of this sector. Beneficiaries of the programme had an opportunity to receive funding for developing a utility model or industrial design. pm

Can we compete in this area with other countries in purely financial terms? Of course, there are sectors in Poland which have been achieving big successes on the global market. In January this year, the success of Polish designers at the furniture fair in Cologne got a lot of publicity. The quality of the furniture presented at the fair was appreciated while Polish design, which is regarded by experts as innovative, was praised for being of world-class standards. Polish sailing and motor yachts are among the best in the world. Apart from top technical parameters and excellent workmanship, they are also unusually attractive aesthetically and highly functional. pm

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It is worth adding that the value of Polish furniture exports to Germany reached EUR2.7 billion in 2013. The Programme to Promote the Furniture Industry, carried out and financed as part of the Innovative Economy Programme, helps the effective promotion of the sector. The Operational Programme Development of Eastern Poland is also highly effective in this respect. As a woman in a high and prestigious post, do you think there still exist barriers in terms of stereotypes for women in business? It is only since recently that research into this problem has been conducted in Poland. The research findings show that there is indeed a disparity in the number of women and men in managerial posts. And the participation of women in taking decisions at higher management levels, even in highly developed countries, is still not satisfactory. There are many excellently educated and influential women in my environment. They have suitable competencies and predispositions to be excellent company managers. If there is something which prevents women from achieving success it is social barriers resulting from well-established stereotyped behavioural patterns and roles. It is not women’s flaw. pm

Do you think that the Polish economy will grow as predicted by economists? I concur with the optimistic approach of economist, who say that a 3% GDP growth in 2014 is very probable. One should remember that, compared to other countries, Poland has coped successfully with the global crisis thanks to managing EU money in a wise and efficient way. We have successfully used the EU’s cohesion policy ever since our entry to the EU in 2004. At the peak of the crisis in 2009, when Europe was in recession, Poland’s economy grew by almost 2%, with projects part-funded by the European pm

Union having contributed to around half of this growth. European funds may prop up the Polish economy. The huge amount of money from the European Union we have negotiated for 2014-2020 will enable us to carry out the biggest investment and modernization programme in the history of our country. What will the biggest amount of money allocated to Poland under the 2014-2020 financial plan be spent on? Will it be innovation projects? In 2014-2020, EU funding will be centred on three main development goals: enhancing economic competitiveness, improving social and territorial cohesion, and raising the effectiveness and efficiency of the state. In nominal terms, the largest amount of money will go to infrastructure projects, with research and development projects in second place. In this sphere we have to do with the biggest increase in EU funding compared to the 2007-2013 budget. The new financial plan puts a strong emphasis on supporting innovation and shifting the centre of gravity away from efforts to make up for the lost time in terms of R&D infrastructure to building an internal potential for stimulating innovative solutions. In 2014-2020, Smart Growth is the programme which will be supporting innovation the strongest and enhancing the competitiveness of the Polish economy. The programme will be one of the most important factors contributing to a rise in R&D spending. Importantly, at least half of the money will have to come from the business sector. Measures taken and financed within the Smart Growth Programme will be designed to support businesses in the sphere of innovation and R&D, enhance the process of transferring research findings to the marketplace and internationalizing them, raising the quality of scientific research and development work, and making it more interdisciplinary. :: pm

Our Guest

Science and innovation are government priorities Lena Kolarska-Bobińska, Minister of Science and Higher Education

n recent years, over PLN26 billion from EU and national funds have been invested in the infrastructure of science and higher education, allowing the emergence of new laboratories, multimedia rooms, campuses and technologytransfer centres. Research units have received modern scientific equipment. This time of sustained effort is now behind us and we need to take full advantage of the opportunities afforded by this advanced infrastructure. Owing to these investments, we have witnessed a marked improvement in the conditions of scientific and research work in Poland. Our academic centres can successfully compete with their foreign counterparts, attract scientists from abroad, and pursue world-class research and development. Contrary to popular disbelief, the EU-funded scientific and educational infrastructure can also cater for business needs, in particular R&D projects implemented in cooperation with the industrial sector. This is an issue of cardinal importance, especially today, when the Government’s priority is to promote the growth of science and innovation, and it serves to attain the goals of operational programmes under the Financial Perspective 2007-2013. In the case of projects co-financed by the Innovative Economy and Infrastructure and Environment Operational Programmes, the infrastructure may be used for commercial purposes, with beneficiaries being obliged to monitor the revenues generated by their projects, and also to report them to the relevant bodies, and partially reimburse these revenues in line with the rules arising from Council Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006. Of some assistance in revenue monitoring and reporting might be the document drawn

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up by the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR): “The Procedure for the Calculation and Monitoring of Revenues in Projects implemented under Priority Axes I and II of the Innovative Economy Operational

“Over PLN26 billion from EU and national funds have been invested in the infrastructure of science and higher education, allowing the emergence of new laboratories, multimedia rooms, campuses and technologytransfer centres”. Programme”. Although the code of conduct set out in it relates to the Innovative Economy Operational Programme, it can be equally applied to projects launched within other programmes that foster the growth of research and the educational infrastructure without the employment of state aid mechanisms. Furthermore, the NCBR organises courses in the use of the research infrastructure, held as part of the programme entitled “SIMS Science Infrastructure Management Support”. In addition, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education is planning to organise courses in this field for the academic staff of those higher-education institutions where

Source: Ministry of Science and Higher Education

Innovation Incubators will be launched. The courses will also be open to the laureates of the Ministry’s “Innovation Brokers” programme. :: An extract from the letter of 19, Feb. 2014, in which Minister Lena Kolarska-Bobińska addressed vicechancellors of public higher-education institutions and presidents of research institutes.

Innovation

No development without innovation The Polish economy will have no chance to catch up with highly developed countries if Poland does not base its success on competitiveness. The need to be competitive results from globalization and competition from other countries. It is only thanks to consistently raising spending on research and development and on measures designed to enhance innovation that Poland will be able – as Prime Minister Donald Tusk has recently promised - to reach the European Union’s average level of development. For the time being, however, R&D spending, though growing, is insufficient to meet the needs. Consequently, Poland is still ranked at the bottom of innovation league tables. Last year it was in 24th place among the 27 EU member states. Patryk Mirecki

“

At present, R&D and innovation are the main driving forces behind the competitiveness of global economies,” says Magdalena Burnat-Mikosz, a Deloitte partner.

An open and competitive economy

“When opening the economy we cannot protect it against competition. On the contrary, while exposing it to competition we should be building its ability to compete by taking institutional and strategic development measures and by removing what weakens it systemically and supporting what strengthens it,” say the authors of last year’s “Competitive Poland” report edited by Prof. Jerzy Hausner.

0.9% of GDP – is that little or much? The National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR), one of the public institutions providing funding to support collaboration between R&D centres and business, has informed “Polish Market” that thanks to its consistent activity the R&D financing structure has changed in Poland. Gross domestic expenditure on research and development (GERD) reached in Poland PLN14.4 billion in 2012 and was higher by almost 23% than in the previous year. Poland already spends 0.9% of its GDP on innovation research. According to data from the NCBR, Poland is now one of the top EU countries in terms of growth in government spending on R&D. In 2008-2012, the rate of growth in this

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spending was almost 40% faster than the rate of growth in GDP.

1.7% is a minimum It follows from a KPMG report on research and development conducted by Polish businesses that total spending on R&D will increase in Poland from PLN14.4 billion in 2012 to around PLN35.6 billion, or 1.6% of GDP, in 2020. Poland’s goal under the Europe 2020 strategy is to raise its R&D spending to 1.7% of GDP in 2020. In his commentary to the report, KPMG Director in Poland Kiejstut Żagun wrote it was good that R&D expenditure was growing steadily in Poland but if in the future we want to take part in the global technological competition the 1.7% target should be treated as a minimum we have to achieve. The reason is that the countries which lead in the world in terms of innovation already spend much more on R&D percentage-wise than Poland plans to spend in 2020. The percentages are as follows: South Korea – 3.74% of GDP in 2010, the United States – 2.88%, Germany – 2.82%, Finland – 3.87% and Britain 1.77%. KPMG forecasts that R&D spending by businesses will almost triple in Poland in the years 2012-2020, from PLN5.3 billion to PLN15.6 billion but the target of 0.8% business spending will not be achieved before 2021.

More money for research The report edited by Jerzy Hausner points out that the rules applied in financing higher educational institutions should change for

the schools to be able to conduct applied research on a wide scale and transfer the research findings into the marketplace. The point is to significantly increase spending on research, including spending from private sources on applied research. The Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP) shares this view. The authors of its recent report entitled “Cooperation Between Science and Business 2013” write that the transfer of innovative solutions from the research sector to business still encounters many barriers and constraints in Poland. Among these they mention: a shortage of financial means for research and development at higher educational establishments, low R&D spending in the private sector, and insufficient cooperation and communication between technology suppliers and buyers.

Too little money from business Deloitte points to a quite significant difference, not only in quantitative terms, between the “old” and “new” EU members in financing the innovation projects which have a chance to be applied by business. According to Magdalena Burnat-Mikosz, in contrast to Western economies, R&D expenditure from the national budgets of Central European nations is much higher than R&D spending by their businesses. In the European Union, the average spending by businesses is 55.5%, compared to 24.7% in Poland, 33.9% in Slovakia, 38.2% in Croatia, 46.9% in the Czech Republic and 47.5% in Hungary. She says that, combined with a relatively low spending level

Innovation in real terms, this means the need to seek ways to raise private spending on research and development in the region.

PARP activity Such public institutions as PARP and NCBR will continue to be the main organizations financing innovation projects in Poland, with a significant use of EU funding. PARP President Bożena Lublińska-Kasprzak says PARP has for years supported organizations operating in the business environment, with a special focus on institutions involved in the transfer of technology to business. These include enterprise incubators, technology and innovation transfer centres, technology accelerators and technology parks. Importantly, most firms which have benefited from PARP’s support have successfully exploited their chance of expansion thanks to innovative solutions and cooperation with research and development centres. According to Lublińska-Kasprzak, firms which have developed their own in-house laboratories and innovation-support departments have also achieved success.

Funding from NCBR NCBR has a lot of programmes to support projects at all levels of technological readiness. NCBR is the only Polish institution offering public-private support for the commercialization of research findings with the participation of venture capital (VC) funds. One example is the recently signed agreement with the biggest VC fund in Israel – Pitango VC. The agreement paves the way for ment of the the establishbiggest advanced

technology fund in Poland. Pitango and Poland’s Investin Group will set up the Pitango Investin Ventures investment fund managing PLN210 million. NCBR will provide more than half of this amount. “The establishment of this fund is a turning point in financing R&D in Poland,” says Prof. Krzysztof Jan Kurzydłowski, the director of NCBR. “The high standards represented by our research teams make us believe that in three or four years’ time we will witness the entry of a Polish company to NASDAQ.” Additionally, NCBR has started cooperation with the Polish Aeronautical Technology Platform and the Polish Innovative Medicine Platform. Two programmes have been created for them: InnoLot for the aviation industry and InnoMed for the medical sector. In conjunction with the KGHM Polska Miedź conglomerate, NCBR has carried out the CuBR project where the two partners are to set aside PLN100 million for research on innovative solutions for the non-ferrous metal industry. In 2013, NCBR launched many new programmes and initiatives to meet the needs of the economy: Strategmed, Biostrateg, Demonstrator+, Gekon (in conjunction with the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management), and Tango (in conjunction with National Science Centre). Nearly 600 businesses and 400 science and industry consortia have already benefited from NCBR’s support. They have acquired almost PLN6 billion for the transfer of research findings to the marketplace. The information technology sector accounts for t h e biggest number of projects

financed by NCBR but more and more funding goes to projects concerning materials engineering, including research on products based on graphene. “We have seen growth in research and development activity in life sciences and medicine,” NCBR says. And the companies’ own contribution to NCBR programmes has been increasing steadily. It increased from PLN258 million in 2010 to over PLN1.2 billion in 2012.

Not only public funding Apart from public institutions, global corporations have an important role to play in financing research and development. Orange Polska has recently invited engineers, programmers, designers and entrepreneurs to take part in the Polish edition of Orange Fab, a programme supporting the development of start-ups - small innovative businesses. The participants have an opportunity to develop with Orange a common product range, and acquire an investor and financial support. They will get access to the technical and marketing resources of Orange Polska, communication channels, including social networking websites, and Orange distribution channels. They may also receive up to PLN40,000 in financial support. Orange has launched the same programme in France, the United States and Japan.

The EU’s new financial plan In 2014-2020, money for scientific research and development will be distributed within the Operational Programme Smart Growth, with more emphasis to be placed on cooperation between the business and science sectors. Preference will be given to R&D projects with a big potential for being commercialized. Funding will be directed to them within mechanisms involving businesses together with scientific research units. NCBR will be managing around PLN19 billion from the EU budget alone for the Smart Growth programme. This will be supplemented with money under the Power programme for higher educational institutions, with PLN4 billion from the EU budget. ::

3 /2014 :: polish market :: 13

Innovation

21st Inventions Exhibition

21st Inventions Exhibition award

he 21st Inventions Exhibition was held at the congress hall of the Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw on February 11-12, 2014 to present inventions which won awards at internatianal exhibitions and fairs in 2013. The exhibitions showcased around 130 inventions coming from universities, research institutes and companies. The event was held under the honorary patronage of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Ministry of Economy, the Polish Patent Office, Polish Federation of Engineering Associations (NOT), Polish Agency for Enterprise Development, and Central Council of Research Institutes. It is also worth mentioning numerous media partners, Channel 4 of Polish Radio, “Dziennik Gazeta Prawna”, Magazyn Gospodarczy “Fakty”, “Polish Market”, “Perspektywy”, “Focus” and Internet portals inżynierka.pl and Portal Techniczny. On the first day of the show certificates of distriction and statuettes of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education were awarded to the inventors who in 2013 received gold medals with distinction from the jury or Grand Prix at international exhibitions, as well as to those distinguished by the Ministry for international promotion of inventions. Among the speakers at the ceremony were

14 :: polish market :: 3 /2014

Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of the Economy Dariusz Bogdan, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Science and Higher Education Jacek Guliński, Vice- President of the Polish Patent Office Sławomir Wachowicz, President of the Central Council of Research Institutes Prof. Leszek Rafalski, President of the Polish Federation of Engineering Associations Ewa Mańkiewicz-Cudny and, last but not least, two inventors: Prof. Tadeusz Niezgoda from the Military University of Technology and Prof. Wojciech Maksymowicz from the University of Warmia and Mazury. Statuettes for international promotion of inventions were picked up by representatives of ten institutions: the AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków, the Mechanics and Applied Informatics Chair under the Mechanics Department of the Military University of Technology, the Poznań University of Technology, Częstochowa University of Technology, Kraków University of Technology, Institute of Biopolymers and Chemical Fibres, Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals, Textile Institute, Institute of Oil and Gas and Industrial Institute of Agricultural Engineering. The Ministry of Science also awarded 58 statuettes for outstanding international invention accomplishments in 2013. After the inauguration exhibitors presented their solutions to guests of honour and journalists who came to the exhibition in large numbers both on the first and the second day. Minister Jacek Guliński presented awards to the youngest winners of international exhibitions. February 12 was an open day for the media, investors and visitors. On the second day exhibitors were awarded certificates of distinction for the gold, silver and bronze medals they obtained at invention fairs in 2013. It is noteworthy that this year’s Inventions Exhibition enjoyed a huge media success, as it hosted journalists from TVP Polonia, Polsat News, TVN Turbo, Superstacja and Polish Radio. It was also visited by many Warsaw residents encouraged by radio and TV coverage. An invention which attracted much interest and can be broadly used in medicine

is a “method of fatigue diagnostics of cardiac stents and other special purpose elements.” It has been developed by Paweł Marchlewski, Ph.D. Eng. from the Institute of Precision Mechanics. Many journalists and visitors were also attracted by the booth of the Industrial Institute of Agricultural Engineering in Poznań, where Ryszard Chmielewski presented as many as 6 solutions including a “wicker sheaves harvesting, binding and stacking machine” and “machine for the production of highly concentrated briquettes from grain and/or stalky

21st Invenstions Exhibition

plants, especially hooked to the tractor”. The Young Innovators’ booth, always popular with visitors, showcased innovations created by junior and high school students (“Recovering energy of the elevator”, “Cellular utilities counter”, “Night fireflies” and “Manually-steered robot’s arm”) and a remote-controlled Mars rover, designed by a 9-year-old Marek Rauchfleisz who willingly demonstrated the vehicle. We are pleased that this year’s Inventions Exhibitions met with such a great success. We hope that next year it will do so too, attracting as many visitors. ::

Innovation

Innovation – a chance or problem?

The article is a product of the author’s deliberations about the usefulness of foresight research, which may be conducive to innovation. The purpose of foresight research is to indicate and assess - by means of analysis, communication and consultation - future needs, chances and risks associated with social and economic research and to prepare appropriate anticipatory measures. Foresight research results in formulating development priorities, scenarios and roadmaps.

nnovation means an economically successful exploitation of ideas. New organizational, infrastructural, technological (methodological), product and marketing solutions may emerge virtually anywhere and under any conditions, giving a spur to the rapid development of society or economic institution. Innovation does not only mean inventions and knowledge transfer – it also involves working together and building cooperation networks designed to efficiently apply a new idea. Interactions among business, local culture, the existing financial and legal system, and character of the research and education system in the context of innovative ideas determine how innovative a specific society is. Since the 17th century economic development can be described not only by means of short-term business cycles. The appearing of various priorities and trends over time is explained by the theory of long economic cycles formulated in 1926 by Nikolai Kondratieff. The theory points to the existence of long-term – lasting 45-60 years - cycles of prosperity followed by recession. Such a long-term cycle is initiated by a particular ground-breaking technological and economic innovation. These innovations were as follows: steam engine, railway, electrical engineering, electronics solutions and multimedia (ICT). The crisis of the early 21st century resulted from the weakening of the impact of information technologies on productivity. The new (sixth) economic cycle is now beginning. This is why we are witnessing a frantic global search for another breakthrough innovation. It is unclear whether the breakthrough is to be nanotechnology and nanomaterials, biotechnologies, genetic engineering, the widespread use of RFID in logistics networks, or their intentional combination. It is worth noting that development priorities, integrating the pro-innovation efforts

of local communities, have been adopted in various parts of the world on the basis of foresight research. Consequently, questions will be asked whether one should imitate someone else’s ideas and follow “blazed trails,” or look for one’s own original solutions to bring about economic acceleration. A model for regional innovation management and a roadmap for efficient knowledge transformation have been worked out for local decision-makers in Wielkopolska province under the project entitled “Foresight ‘Wielkopolska Economic Networks’ A Set of Scenarios for Knowledge Transformation to Foster an Innovative Economy”1. The research revealed factors determining development. The key factor is knowledge, which enables understanding causes and rules. Knowledge comes in two forms – skills (tacit knowledge) acquired in practice and explicit knowledge, which can be communicated to others, for example in the form of instructions in the process of education. Success is achieved on the basis of key competencies, that is special (unique) resources of tacit knowledge. To create these resources, it is necessary to experiment constantly, which means activating the sphere of research and development (R&D) and making changes more significant than those involving merely streamlining or improvement. It follows from Kondratieff’s long economic cycles theory that the societies which develop faster, achieve long-term advantage, and are prosperous and strong are those which have managed early enough to create a new structure – usually a special technological network efficiently exploiting the potential created by a basis innovation. Prosperity is largely dependent on whether and to what extent one has managed to achieve the synergy of intensive cooperation 1 Detailed information on the project is available on www.fsgw.put.poznan.pl.

while maintaining strong individualism in terms of creativity. It could seem that training the intellect and shaping expert competencies should suffice. But they can be a barrier if people are not made emotionally committed to the local community issues and if employees are not committed to tasks carried out by their firm. The psychophysical condition of an individual, motivation and the desire to identify with a group are very important in the context of project implementation. This can be achieved only by relying on social capital. Building coherent, practical solutions with the use of the diversity of professions and talent of a group’s members has been much more important than results achieved by an individual. To ensure this, innovation should begin with technology (inventions), while social confidence and responsibility should come to the fore at the end. ::

Magdalena K. Wyrwicka, PhD. DSc. Eng., is associated with the Poznań University of Technology (PUT) where she is a Professor and Deputy Dean for Academic Affairs at the Faculty of Engineering Management.

www.fem.put.poznan.pl From the autumn of 2009 until the end of 2011 she managed the project entitled “Foresight ‘Wielkopolska Economic Networks’ – A Set of Scenarios for Knowledge Transformation to Foster an Innovative Economy.” In 2010, the Programme Council of the Economic Forum, the Institute for Eastern Studies, and the editorial board of the “Polish Market” monthly, chose this project, which was still in progress at that time, as the winner of the Business Innovation Award.

3 /2014 :: polish market :: 15

Higher Education

Higher educational institutions in Poland – ongoing changes Experts estimate that within 10 years the number of students in higher educational institutions in Poland will drop by over 20%. This is undoubtedly a huge challenge for the schools and a signal for taking well-thought-out organizational and financial decisions. The use of Poland’s research potential, for example that of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN), is insufficient. This group of Poland’s most outstanding researchers should play a much more important role than it now does.

Bogdan Sadecki Higher educational institutions in Poland In the academic year 2012/2013, there were 453 higher educational institutions in Poland with almost 1.68 million students. The 132 public schools provided education to nearly 1.22 million students: 886,000 in full-time courses and 331,000 in part-time courses. The remaining 321 institutions were non-public schools and they provided education to almost 460,000 students. Among the schools were 19 general universities, 25 universities of technology, seven universities of agriculture and life sciences, 76 universities of economics, 17 pedagogical universities, nine medical universities, two maritime universities, six universities of physical education, 23 schools of art, 15 theological universities, and seven defence ministry and interior ministry schools. In 2012/2013, higher educational institutions employed more than 96,900 university teachers, with the average ratio of 17 students per teacher. In the last academic year, the number of graduates exceeded 485,000 and for the first time was smaller than in the preceding year. In 2008/2009, non-public schools had 34% of all students, which represented 660,000. According to the authors of the “Report on the State of Education 2010,” this percentage was very high, not only compared to other European countries but also the United States, where it was below 30%. In the academic year 2012/2013, the percentage of

16 :: polish market :: 3 /2014

students in non-public schools was 27.4%. Since 2007/2008 the number of students in non-public schools has been on the decrease.

List of public schools by type General universities: University of Warsaw University of Białystok University of Gdańsk Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań Jagiellonian University in Kraków University of Łódź Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń Opole University Szczecin University University of Silesia in Katowice University of Rzeszów University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn University of Wrocław Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw University of Zielona Góra Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce Universities of technology: West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin Warsaw University of Technology Białystok University of Technology University of Bielsko-Biała

Częstochowa University of Technology Gdańsk University of Technology Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice Kielce University of Technology Koszalin University of Technology Tadeusz Kościuszko Cracow University of Technology AGH University of Science and Technology Lublin University of Technology Łódź University of Technology Opole University of Technology Poznań University of Technology Kazimierz Pulaski University of Technology and Humanities in Radom Rzeszów University of Technology Wrocław University of Technology Universities of economics: University of Economics in Katowice Cracow University of Economics Poznań University of Economics Warsaw School of Economics Wrocław University of Economics Pedagogical universities: Maria Grzegorzewska Academy of Special Education in Warsaw Jan Długosz University in Częstochowa Pedagogical University of Cracow Pomeranian University in Słupsk Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities Universities of agriculture and life sciences: Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW

Higher Education University of Technology and Life Sciences in Bydgoszcz University of Agriculture in Kraków University of Life Sciences in Lublin Poznań University of Life Sciences Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences Universities of physical education: Gdańsk University of Physical Education and Sport Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice University School of Physical Education in Kraków University School of Physical Education in Poznań Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw University School of Physical Education in Wrocław Theological universities: Christian University of Theology in Warsaw In 2013, the Jagiellonian University came in many league tables as the best higher educational institution in Poland, with the University of Warsaw ranked slightly behind and the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań in third place. Among non-public schools awarding master’s degrees, Kozminski University in Warsaw ranked first, followed by the Polish-Japanese Institute of Information Technology and the SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Warsaw. These days, research and higher education funding is a complex and very important system in highly developed countries, including Poland. The Polish tertiary education sector should already be getting prepared for competition for European funding under the new financial plan for 2014-2020. More than EUR70 billion is allocated for research within the Framework Programme Horizon 2020 alone. Universities should also have a major share in new operational programmes, especially the Knowledge, Education and Development Programme and the Smart Growth Programme. An increase in spending on research and development could become a source of funding for new research jobs in Poland. The percentage of people employed in the R&D sector should go up to reach at least the European Union’s average, that is from 4.6 per 1,000 people in employment to 11.4, although it would be good to reach the ratio of 22.8, as in Finland. The ratio would be almost five times higher than the one Poland has at present. Despite constraints on the national budget caused by the Europe-wide economic

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Number of university teachers without post-doctoral degree by university type 2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

07-11 (2007=100)

general universities

22819

23059

23973

23926

23664

104

universities of technology

14892

14516

14612

15378

103

universities of life sciences

3953

3960

3625

3630

3624

universities of economics

2606

2590

2621

2594

2541

pedagogical universities

2744

2901

2896

2882

2117

medical universities

8000

8013

8009

7964

7847

maritime universities

476

479

477

480

474

100

universities of physical education

1498

1491

1496

1461

1503

100

schools of art

2019

2058

2132

2251

2317

115

theological universities

438

249

250

434

340

state higher vocational schools

3989

3983

4093

4145

4117

103

defence ministry schools

1110

1096

1174

1256

1297

117

interior ministry schools

270

289

288

270

274

101

non-public schools

10121

10181

10544

10112

9487

Source: Ministry of Science and Higher Education, report on “Higher Education in Poland in 2013.”

slowdown, the government has upheld its decision to raise salaries of university staff. The schools have already received the first tranche of money designated for pay rises PLN907 million. And a special reserve has been created in the 2014 budget so that the second tranche could be transferred at the beginning of next year. The use of the research potential of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN) is insufficient. The most outstanding Polish scientists should play a much bigger role in shaping strategic directions for the development of science, take part in evaluating research units and be the strongest lobby promoting the importance of scientific research and higher education for Poland’s development and progress. The role of PAN in disseminating knowledge should be strengthened. The 2010 amendment to the law on PAN has been widely and rightly criticized and has not contributed to improving the operation of this important institution or raising its importance. A separate problem is that PAN is underfunded. But PAN is the only Polish institution ranked among the 100 best research

institutions and universities in the world (SCImago rankings). PAN is in 98th place in the category summing up research output reflected in the Scopus bibliographic database. The SCImago (SIR) rankings take into account the number and quality of publications issued by individual research institutions in the world. The latest SIR rankings of more than 2,800 research units and universities are for the years 2007-2011, with France’s National Centre for Scientific Research in first place, Chinese Academy of Sciences in second and Russian Academy of Sciences in third. PAN was in 98th place but other Polish institutions were ranked much lower: Jagiellonian University in 393rd place and the University of Warsaw in 536th place. In the international collaboration category, the best three Polish institutions were: Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Centre PAN, Henryk Niewodniczański Institute of Nuclear Physics PAN and Institute of Physics PAN. In the global league table they were ranked respectively in 76th, 163rd and 192nd place. ::

Higher Education

Let’s learn to create, try and apply! Zuzanna Kalisiak, Ph.D., Rector of Polish Open University (POU)

How do you assess the changes that have occurred in the Polish higher education over the past 25 years? Poland in 2014 is a country very different from that in 1989, when the Roundtable talks began. We have just celebrated the 25th anniversary of this event. Poland is today a free and democratic country, a member of the EU and NATO. Among its achievements are the free-market economic system, economic growth, cities that do not differ from those in Europe and the world. We have no doubt made a huge leap forward, but there is still a lot to be done. A major problem is a high unemployment rate, especially among university graduates, something extremely worrying. For decades, the enrollment rate in Poland hovered at around 12%, while in the past 25 years it increased to over 50%. What was once the privilege is a norm today: universities are open to everyone who wants to study. However, according to data from the Central Statistical Office (GUS), with an overall unemployment rate at about 12%, one in four university graduates is jobless. pm

The problem of unemployment among graduates sparked a heated debate about the quality of education. What is your take on that? The issue has been addressed by academics, business executives, politicians and students. We all feel specialists as far as education quality is concerned and report a number of valuable comments and opinions. Studies show, however, that there are no gaps in curricula, but students have difficulty in analytical thinking, problem solving, working under time pressure and independently. pm

Should universities be burdened with the entire responsibility for this situation? Certainly not. The level of education in Poland is uneven, but that we have nothing to be ashamed of. During his visit to Poland (end of 2012) the British Minister of Education praised the Polish education system. It is also worth mentioning that in the last 10 years many changes have been made to the Law on Higher Education. Poland has spent a lot of money on research and teaching infrastructure. Also, the implementation of the European Qualifications Framework have started. These changes represent an opportunity. Let’s give it a chance. We live in times of constant and rapid changes. Globalization, development of information technologies, the Internet - all of these revolutionized the availability of knowledge and changed its assimilation model. The job market and employers’ expectations are changing too. In the 20th century increasing specialization was sought - employees were expected to have more and more knowledge in narrow fields. A university degree in principle guaranteed a prosperous life. At present, the problems faced by graduates are increasingly interdisciplinary. Narrow specialization is not enough, employers expect expertise in a given discipline supplemented with knowledge from other areas necessary to solve complex problems. Employees must be “transdisciplinary” today. In addition, the privilege of holding a diploma simply ceased to apply. According to the D.G. of UNESCO the academic community must not only teach the younger generations that uncertainty is an inherent part of life, but also provide students with the

ability to move around in that postmodern uncertainty. One way to meet this challenge could be cooperation in the academic world. The combination of the efforts of universities specializing in different areas would lead to synergies that will counter criticism towards the Polish higher education and help restore the image and the value of a university degree in the eyes of present and future students and employers. How does your university deal with these challenges and expectations of students and employers? By creating Polish Open University we realized that business and management cannot be taught in a traditional way. That is why we organized an institution that teaches its graduates to be creative and independent people. Our professors serve as advisors, not oracles; they are guides and promoters, encourage students to reflect on things in a creative atmosphere. An important role is also played by our grading system that is not only transparent, but also integrated into the learning process and provides the basis for students’ further self-development. Does such a teaching model bring results? In a survey, conducted on the occasion of POU’s 20th anniversary, the vast majority of graduates affirmed that the studies contributed to the development of the following skills: independent learning, one’s own development management, exploration and use of information, problem solving, self-confidence, analytical thinking, resistance to stress. I think that we can safely conclude that we have met our challenges. :: pm

3 /2014 :: polish market :: 19

Higher Education

A knowledgebased economy? Prof. Marek Krawczyk, rector of the Medical University of Warsaw, talks to Ewelina Janczylik-Foryś.

You have mentioned scientific research. Many people believe that scientific research is a source and driver of innovation in an economy. Poland aspires to be called a knowledge-based economy. How can we put into practice an effective system to transfer technology to the marketplace? Our university already conducts activities associated with the commercialization of research findings. In 2012, we registered Synergia-WUM Sp. z o.o., a company whose main task is to take part in commercializing the findings of research and projects carried out at our university. It is one of the first companies of this kind in Poland. And we have already achieved some success – SynergiaWUM has taken part in a contest run by the National Centre for Research and Development and received a grant of PLN600,000 for the years 2013-2016 for the implementation of its commercialization programme. It is worth emphasizing that our pharmacists already have significant achievements to their credit. Prof. Magdalena Bujalska-Zadrożny has developed a new analgesic preparation. An application for its protection was filed in 2011 with the Polish Patent Office and in 2012 with its international counterpart. The preparation received a silver medal and special prize at the 24th International Invention, Innovation & Technology Exhibition ITEX held in Malaysia last year, which means it has already found recognition on the Asian market. This is an excellent example showing that we are active and that the company has not been set up for the sole purpose of receiving funding under the EU’s new financial plan. Others have also noticed that. pm

The Medical University of Warsaw has signed an agreement on cooperation with UNICEF Polska. What exactly will this cooperation involve? The initiative to sign the agreement came from UNICEF Director Marek Krupiński. The Medical University of Warsaw is a school with many different tasks. The most important one is providing education. Also important is conducting scientific research and providing healthcare treatment. We will be working with UNICEF for the benefit of children in Poland and abroad, and will get university students and staff involved in UNICEF projects. The projects will concern malnutrition among children and will be promoting our country and university. There is a symbolism to the cooperation between our two institutions. We want to demonstrate in this way that the educational mission is not the only thing that is very important for our university, that we are also committed to social missions - activity for other communities. pm

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Minister of Science and Higher Education Lena Kolarska-Bobińska has promised to introduce this year “coupons” for employers to enable them to order programmes

of study - the employers would be able to indicate the skills they expect the graduates to have. Do you think it is a good solution? Is it possible to order medical programmes of study? One can hardly imagine this when it comes to the university’s main educational task, that is teaching future physicians and pharmacists. However, I can imagine a situation where, for example, employers suggest that we train laboratory medicine specialists able to meet some specific needs of the pharmaceutical market. The same may be the case with the Faculty of Health Sciences where we teach future medical rescue workers, dieticians and public health specialists. However, such special programmes of study would not be designed to meet employers’ needs but the needs of the public. I will say it again: I cannot imagine us receiving the message that “we need more surgeons in Poland, educate surgeons!” - not to mention that we provide only general medical education, we do not offer curricula for specific medical specialities. At last year’s 66th Congress of Polish Surgeons, you spoke about a generational gap referring to the surgeons’ community. But don’t you think the problem is that we have a shortage of physicians in Poland in general? You are absolutely right. At the opening of the congress, I pointed to shortages in the number of surgeons because this is what the congress was about. But I think scientific societies representing other medical specialities can say the same. For 15 years I was Provincial Consultant for Surgery in Mazowieckie Province. I knew how many new surgeons were needed in individual wards in this large province. Every year we applied for opening a specific number of surgery residencies. pm

Higher Education

Today, such residencies are almost non-existent. A bad policy of the ministry has led to this situation. The result is that 25% of Polish surgeons are now old enough to retire. But they still work because they are needed. pm

Do you think then that only an appropriate policy pursued by the ministry can help us to come out of this situation? Definitely.

We have recently celebrated the National Day of Transplantation Medicine. It is estimated that 1,536 transplantations were performed in Poland in 2013. After years of crisis in this sphere, the data is quite satisfactory. But looking at other countries, it seems we have a lot of catching up to do here. The Medical University of Warsaw is the only school in Poland training transplant coordinators. To a large extent, it is thanks to them that the number of cadaveric donors has increased. If we look at a map of Poland we can see there are still huge disparities between the east and west in terms of reporting and harvesting organs from dead donors. Poland’s average is around 17 organs harvested per 1 million population. The figure for Zachodniopomorskie province stands at about 25-28 compared to 4-5 in Podkarpackie province. Until recently the figure for the latter province was 1-2, which means there has been some progress there as well. However, the gap between the two provinces is still big. Generally, an improvement has been noticeable across the country. A transplant surgery is the only option for many patients, for example those with liver failure. A person who has lost kidney function can receive dialysis treatment for 20 years and live while in the case of liver failure a patient will not survive for longer than a year without a transplant. The main problem is still the number of donors. Another issue is transplants from living donors. My colleagues specializing in kidney transplantation have a lot to do in this respect. In liver transplant surgery, the average share of transplants from living donors in Poland is 8%. Children receive most of these transplants. It seems that at present there are no children dying before they receive a liver transplant. The situation is quite different when it comes to waiting lists for adults. In Scandinavia, 50% of kidney transplants come from living donors, in Poland only 2-3%.

Of course. The Partnership for Transplantation programme has been created under the auspices of the Mazowieckie province governor to popularize the idea of transplanting organs, like the kidney, liver and heart, as a universal treatment method for diseases threatening the life of many people. For two years deputy Governor Dariusz Piątek and Prof. Paweł Nyckowski have conducted special meetings at schools and universities to raise the public awareness of these problems.

I know that the university is conducting a number of investment projects designed to widen the range of its activity. These include the Centre for Pre-Clinical Research. At what stage are these projects? The construction of the Centre for PreClinical Research has already been completed. On January 21 we received the use permit. We are already in the process of preparing the rooms for being equipped with research apparatus so that research labs start functioning before the end of the first half of the year. The research centre will be open to any scientist with a good idea. The scientists will have access to the modern equipment, irrespective of where they are employed. pm

We are also waiting for the opening of the Paediatric Hospital of the Medical University of Warsaw. Is it possible to estimate now what role it will play among other children’s hospitals? Our paediatric hospitals on Litewska and Działdowska Streets already admit 60% of sick children from Warsaw and the province. The new hospital will differ from the two in pm

that it will have additional wards which are not present in other hospitals: neurological traumatology, paediatric emergency ward and paediatric ophthalmology. There will also be a maternity ward, however a special one – it will admit mothers whose children have been found by modern pre-natal diagnostics to need surgeries immediately after birth. The children will be born here and here they will undergo the surgeries they need. The hospital should start operating at the end of the first and the beginning of the second quarter of 2015. To conclude, I would like to congratulate you on receiving the Order of Academic Palms awarded to you by the French minister of education for promoting PolishFrench cooperation. We have cooperated for at least 25 years. The French helped us a lot in the area of liver and biliary surgery, both in adults and in children. I have spent half a year in France to get training in transplant surgery. Prof. Tadeusz Wróblewski spent there almost two years, Prof. Paweł Nyckowski more than a year, Prof. Krzysztof Zieniewicz six months and so on. The list is long. We described our activities three or four years ago in the book “Impact of French Surgery on the Development of Liver Transplantation in the Medical University of Warsaw”. We did not do that to receive distinctions. Our cooperation with the French was and has remained active. :: pm

The Centre for Pre-Clinical Research

We should raise public awareness.

3 /2014 :: polish market :: 21

Medicine & Pharmacy

Poles perform organ transplants, come close to the Nobel Prize, act socially

In recent times medicine abroad boomed so much that information is so affluent that it can hardly be filtered and analyzed to choose the most important achievements. It is no different with Polish medicine, but the fact remains undisputed that it has recently enjoyed many successes.

Tomasz Dąbrowski

“

Among the most important ones I would include first of all the success of Polish cardiology,” says on reflection Maciej Hamankiewicz, M.D., President of the Supreme Medical Council. It is about the successful implantation of the most modern Polish pulse prosthesis - Religa Heart EXT, which was performed in July 2013 by a team led by Grzegorz Religa, M.D., the son of the famous heart surgeon, at the Primate Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński Institute of Cardiology in Warsaw-Anin. A 62-year-old patient with an extreme heart failure lived to a heart transplant from a donor, and Poland joined the elite circle of countries possessing its own artificial heart. The country’s first, experimental surgery would not be possible without the government’s programme “Polish Artificial Heart”. At the same time, implanting the upgraded (much improved) version of the POLVAD heart prosthesis is an example of the implementation of a new technical and scientific interdisciplinary solution in Poland. Built with the world’s most modern biomaterials, with the highest biocompatibility and strength, allowing to extend

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its lifetime up to three years, the Religa Heart EXT prosthesis targets to completely replace its predecessor. “Peri-infarct mortality rate in Poland is among the lowest in Europe. The creation of the entire network of hemodynamical labs, ensuring the proper functioning of emergency medical services gives Polish patients a sense of cardiology security,” adds Dr. Hamankiewicz.

The world’s best A spectacular success was the world’s first life-saving face transplant performed o n May 15, 2013 by a team led by Prof. Adam Maciejewski at the Cancer Centre in Gliwice. A 33-year-old patient whose face was torn off in an accident with stone-cutting machinery. Due to the extent of injuries hindering breathing and eating and a high risk of infection, without a transplant he would have no chance of survival in the long term. It has been declared the world’s best example of reconstructive surgery of 2013 by the American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery

(ASRM) gathered at an annual meeting in Hawaii in January 2014. “I am very pleasantly surprised by this honour, and by the reactions of the surgeons across the Word. It has been commented as a success of Polish medicine,” said Prof. Adam Maciejewski after ASRM, an institution that holds over 500 members in 16 countries, announced its decision. By way of journalistic fairness I should add that the first successful operation of this type took place in 2005 in France and the recipient was a woman mauled by her own dog. The following ones were carried out in 2006 in China (the recipient was attacked by a bear) and again in France (the patient suffered from face-deforming von Recklinghausen disease). However, none of these three grafts did cover such an extensive area of the face as the one that was performed by Prof. Maria Zofia Siemionow. “I will be happy to share my experience,” tells “Polish Market” a Krotoszyn-born transplant surgeon working for years in the United States. In December 2008 she was the first in the United States to have done things similar to her three predecessors. “Similar” in so that as a result of a 22-hour surgery an

NAŁĘCZ INSTITUTE OF BIOCYBERNETICS AND BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING OF THE POLISH ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

www.ibib.waw.pl

Medicine & Pharmacy

8-strong team under her direction transplanted to a woman about 80% of facial surface taken from a deceased donor. Inevitably, it was necessary to connect a number of bones, muscles, nerves and blood vessels.

What is aging due to? In recent years, the world’s research on aging processes was largely influenced by the achievements of Prof. Tadeusz Maliński, an honorary member of the Polish Medical Society. “In general, our work lies at the core of nanomedicine that makes you look deeper into the molecular pyramid of life during lifetime. This leads to early diagnosis of many lifestyle diseases and to programming methods of targeted treatment,” says Prof. Maliński. His scientific achievements have been recognized in a number of countries, including the United States and Poland. One of the many honours he obtained was becoming in 2003 one of the seven winners of the GEMI Fund Award. The jury of this prestigious award, unofficially considered to be the American Nobel Prize, declared his work on the rapid healing of wounds and burns the most innovative discovery in medicine. Maliński was also nominated for the Nobel Prize in medicine and chemistry. Jan Komorowski is a mathematician and a bioinformatics professor from the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology at Uppsala University, Sweden. His interests are focused on the analysis of gene expression and interactions between a gene and a gene product, and their modelling based on data from high-throughput methods. He became famous for his work on the genome - the regulator of transcription, and in particular on the global analysis of gene regulation in understanding the pathogenesis of lifestyle diseases. Prof. Komorowski, like the scientists mentioned above, is in contact with his Polish colleagues. In his lecture titled “Rule-based models of the interplay between genetic and environmental factors in childhood allergy,” delivered at the Medical University of Gdańsk last fall, he discussed how bioinformatic analysis methods can be applied to identify the correlation between environmental and genetic factors responsible for the development of allergic diseases in children.

Nobel trailblazer Ryszard Jerzy Gryglewski, in the early 1970s, described a non-enzymatic mechanism for

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fibrinolytic action of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, showed the cleavage between metabolic and inotropic functions of the heart and proved experimentally that the “Rabbit Aorta Contracting Substance” is a metabolite of arachidonic acid, which enabled the discovery of thromboxane A2 by the Nobel Prize winner Bengt Samuelsson. In 1975 he noticed that glucocorticoids inhibit the release of arachidonic acid from membrane phospholipids, allowing Roderic Flower to discover lipocortin. He proclaimed and proved the hypothesis that frequent asthma attacks are caused by inhibition of cyclooxygenase activity by aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In recognition of his “outstanding achievements in research and teaching” President Aleksander Kwaśniewski honoured him with Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta on July 12, 2002. Franciszek Kokot conducts research in biochemistry and clinical pathophysiology, internal medicine, nephrology, endocrinology and metabolic diseases. This is probably the only professor after whom a mineral water was named (“Franciszek”). He is known for his scientific achievements in clinical enzymology: he worked on pathophysiology, Gamma-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT) value diagnosis, and discovered the alpha-GT in the enterocyte brush border. He also studied the endocrine system’s functions in patients with acute and chronic uremia, after transplantation, with kidney stones and hypertension. He is reputed for implementing modern endocrine and renal diagnostics. He furthermore carries out research into the endocrine function of the ischemic kidney. The list of his scientific interest includes pathophysiology of erythropoietin secretion in acute, chronic renal deficiency in transplant patients. Deceased two years ago, Andrzej Szczeklik was the author and co-author of about 600 scientific papers published in Polish and international journals. In his capacity of the Director of the 2nd Chair of Internal Medicine at the Jagiellonian University’s Medical College, he issued several monographs and textbooks abroad. In addition, he wrote books: “Catharsis - The healing power of nature and art”, “Kore: On sickness, the sick, and the search for the soul of medicine” and “Immortality - Promethean dream of Medicine”, which were published by “Znak” and then translated into English, German, Spanish, Hungarian and Lithuanian. In the 1970s, he conducted research on prostacyclin and contributed to the introduction of its analogues to pharmacotherapy. He was an honorary doctor

of medical universities in Warsaw and Katowice, as well as a member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences (PAU), Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN) and other scientific societies. Since 2009, he was part of the Social Committee for the Restoration of Monuments of Kraków, and from November 2010 he was a member of the Faculty of 1000. The witty argue somewhat perversely that the major success of Polish medicine is that such a small number of doctors, with such a low public expenditure on health care, is able to achieve so much. According to OECD data, there is an average of 2.19 doctors per 1,000 population in Poland. It is twice less than in Germany and more than twice less than in Spain or Italy. The picture would be incomplete without citing the very poor demographic indicator - over 20% of the doctors have turned 60 years old (there are specialities in which the rate is above 30%). “In Poland, many doctors work to an old age – 80-year-old surgeons are often professionally active,” says Dr. Hamankiewicz asked about public health spending, he adds: “The PLN 65 billion is less than 4.5% of GDP, while the minimum should be 6%, although Germany allocates more than 10%.” ::

Medicine & Pharmacy

21st Century Polish Science– Polish cosmetics excel

he production of quality cosmetics requires advanced technological facilities. Currently, this production process is becoming similar to that applying to medicines – the conditions are close to pharmaceutical. This relates mainly to the clean production environment and the amount of care used in the production process. In any event, scientific facilities are indispensable for any cosmetic to be truly safe and effective. State-of-the-art labs, top scientists, quality innovative research, and numerous patent applications – this is the Scientific-Research Centre behind the worldwide success of Dr Irena Eris. The Dr Irena Eris Cosmetic Laboratory is the only cosmetics manufacturer in Poland, and also one of the few in Europe and in the world, with its own Scientific-Research Centre that conducts in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo research, which is unique to the cosmetics industry. The results of its research are presented at international conferences and published in scientific journals, including major periodicals included in the ISI Master Journal List of the Institute for Scientific Information. The Scientific-Research Centre has lodged a number of patent applications directly connected with R&D which improve the quality of the produced cosmetics.

Scientific research In cosmetics manufacturing it is vital to ensure that the end product is safe, but we also need to know if it is effective, and what effects it actually has on the skin. That is why one of the most important areas of activity of the Dr Irena Eris Cosmetic Laboratory is scientific research. Thanks to this we can be

Scientific research generates numerous patents, many of which find their way into Dr Irena Eris cosmetics. The Clinic Way cosmetics line makes use of the worldunique FGF1 LMS™ formula and the LIPO-SPHERE™ dermal transport technology. Available only in pharmacies.

sure that we provide effective and safe facial and body treatment. Cosmetics research is a completely new scientific discipline. Still few people practise it, not just in Poland, but globally. The first stage in developing a new cosmetic is in vitro research. At this point active ingredients are selected, innovative combinations of cosmetic substances are suggested, their effect and action mechanism on skin cells is tested and new components that have never been used in cosmetics before are sought. Then, in vitro research is continued – cosmetic formulas are developed and tested for their stability and physical and chemical characteristics. A cosmetic product prepared this way can be tested by application – in vivo. Tests are conducted on volunteers selected according to age and complexion. Taking into account the comments regarding

the functional and cosmetic characteristics of a given product (such as absorption, aroma, consistency, effect) and analysing the results of skin-condition tests conducted using specialised equipment, the cosmetic formula goes through a refinement process to ensure that it will meet even the most sophisticated requirements. The cosmetic product development process reaches its conclusion when an independent external research institute confirms its effectiveness. Contemporary cosmetology extensively draws from dermatology, biology, and other sciences. These sciences are heavily interconnected and provide reciprocal inspiration. That is why the team of scientists at the Centre is composed of biologists, molecular biologists, dermatology physicians, and allergologists. They inspire and complement each other perfectly. The results of their work can be seen both in the high-quality innovative cosmetics and in the context of international scientific achievements. The Scientific-Research Centre and its scientists are frequent visitors to global cosmetology conferences, authors of articles in specialised journals, and also a perfect vehicle to promote our country – constantly popularising scientific development and emphasising its great impor:: tance.

*The Institute for Scientific Information collects, processes, and publishes various kinds of scientific databases created on the basis of widely-available data, such as scientific journals, books, patents, and conference publications. Journals included on the ISI Master Journal List are considered to be the cream of the crop in science, and publishing an article in it is more significant than in non-listed journals.

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Medicine & Pharmacy

Travel for beauty Tourism is mainly associated with sightseeing, travelling , learning about new places. But not only. What could be yet another destination? Combining business with pleasure!

Magdalena Jasińska

edical tourism is becoming a new global trend. You can not only relax on your holidays, but also improve your health. A new fashion goes a step further by proposing relaxing holidays plus beauty improvement. Botox, liposuction, cheekbones or breast enhancement, and all that done discreetly, quickly, under the guidance of a specialist... a tempting opportunity for many men and women. Travel agencies meet the demand and create suitable offers. Poland is not indifferent to that new trend.

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The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence Poles often complain about the Polish healthcare system: queues, poor diagnostics, bureaucracy... you can count on forever. The situation is different in the private sector, but even here many Poles have concerns about the price and quality of services. On the other hand, foreign visitors are increasingly interested in Polish private health care. Why?

The main reason is, not surprisingly, the price. Beauty and health treatments are much cheaper in the Czech Republic, Poland and Turkey than in the UK, Norway and Germany. The dental market enjoys great interest. Tourmedica.pl informs that a good implant in the UK costs USD 3,500, while in Tunisia, Turkey and Poland it can be done for USD 1,000, and in Lithuania for a little over USD 900. Prices are also attractive in aesthetic medicine. According to the website medical-tourismpoland, breast enlargement costs about EUR 8,400 in Sweden and EUR 2,800 in Poland, liposuction costs about EUR 2,900 in Sweden

Medicine & Pharmacy

and EUR 1,100 in Poland, while the cost of nose correction varies by around EUR 3,100. In addition, in private hospitals and clinics in Poland, Turkey and Hungary treatment can be done in a very short time, without a queue, which is also important to foreigners. Another significant factor is a high standard of services and qualified specialists often known outside the country. Foreign visitors also appreciate specialized diagnostic equipment and a range of treatments using the latest technologies. English-speaking medical staff is also a standard that eliminates language barriers.

What is most often changed? The list of the most popular surgeries that change appearance includes enlarging the breast, liposuction, and ear, nose and eyelid corretions. Facial lifting features high too. “Foreign patients in the aesthetic medicine clinics primarily undergo treatments with hyaluronic acid. Using it, we rebuild the lost volume of the face, model facial features, raise the drooping corners of the mouth, fill the valley of tears in the eyes, and achieve the effect of facial lifting,” says Agnieszka Bliżanowska, specialist in dermatology, aesthetic medicine doctor, and owner of the Centre of Dermatology and Aesthetic Medicine in Warsaw and Wrocław. The goal is to rejuvenate the facial features so as to look relaxed. Patients often return after some time and recommend treatment to their friends. Dr. Bliżanowska adds: “Foreigners increasingly combine such beauty packages with neck surgeries, especially when a foreigner, happy with the results of a previous treatment, comes the following year to repeat facial volumetry. He or she just have an appetite for more, so using hyaluronic acid we also fill too sinewy and wrinkled hands, we moisturize and smooth the neck’s skin. Hyaluronic acid treatments are non-invasive and fast, and they do not require recovery or abandoning social life”. According to cosmedictravel.com, Poland is most often visited for medical-cosmetic purposes by Scandinavians, the English, Irish, Italians, and Spaniards. Their destinations are

the biggest cities in Poland: Kraków, Warsaw, Szczecin, Gdańsk, Wrocław.

Competing for the customer’s attention The development of medical tourism has not escaped the attention of travel agencies. Foreign patients wanting to revamp their look need accommodation, assistance, entertainment, a guide and so on. More and more agencies specialize in medical trips. One can choose from a wide selection of treatments including aesthetic medicine, rehabilitation and wellness trips, and everything is combined with relaxation in the swimming pool, spa centres and sightseeing. It is important to show that a visit to a doctor does not have to mean only pain and displeasure, and the treatments and surgeries can be combined with a successful holiday. Tour operators help not only for journey and accommodation, but also set out the entire course of treatment. There are many websites that specialize in mediation and comprehensive organization of a tourist stay for medical purposes such as Medi-tour or Treatment in Poland. They are available in several language versions and offer access to a high quality medical system for patients from all over the world, as well as additional attractions. Treatment in Poland encourages: “We will help you define your needs and offer several options that will fully satisfy your expectations. Together we will create your treatment plan... a plan that will put in order the whole trip and will step by step demonstrate the proposed treatment. The plan will be available before your arrival for you and for a member of your family who decides to accompany you.

Poles and aesthetic medicine tourism The global trend of revamping beauty was noticed by Polish women too. Enhancing your nose or smoothing your wrinkles - once a taboo topic - is today commonplace. It is socially acceptable, and the example is given by celebrities that admit having improved

this and that. Agnieszka Szulim admitted she had her breast enlarged, and Kayah had a nose surgery, and Maja Szablewska openly talks about botox. Polish women often decide to travel abroad in order to improve their beauty mainly for financial reasons, a popular destination being the Czech Republic. On the Internet forums questions are asked about the opinions about clinics in countries to the east of Poland. But Poles are very eager to use clinics at home. Agnieszka Bliżanowska confirms: “Most foreign patients are of course, Poles working and living abroad, who - when visiting a family or travelling for business - use less expensive medical and cosmetic services in Poland. In deciding to undergo a treatment in Poland they promote us among their foreign friends. One can say that their look is a showcase of our skills”. The crisis in the global market favours medical and aesthetic tourism also in Poland. Patients from around the world are looking for cheaper alternatives with professional staff and modern equipment. Dr. Bliżanowska adds: “From the beginning, we have been using the same equipment as our western colleagues. Polish women are interested in beauty and look after themselves, so we also have a large market of aesthetic services in Poland. Polish doctors are often substantially better than their peers from other European countries. We participate in international aesthetic medicine congresses, we have no complexes and we are firmly focused on the development in a field that is still moving forward fast”. Medical tourism in Poland is a rapidly growing sector of the economy, therefore it requires development and promotion. What helps is subsidies both from Poland and the European Union. Advertising and foreign language website version are a factor too. Every citizen of the world can easily find a treatment he or she looks for. And it is always possible to benefit from the services of websites and travel agencies specialized in providing comprehensive services to foreign tourists. ::

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Medicine & Pharmacy

Culture of innovation at 3M – Health Care 3M spends 6-7% of its annual sales revenue on research and development. Filing about 500 patent applications a year, the corporation has for years kept its position at the top of innovation league tables. According to the 2010 Booz and Company Global Innovation Study, 3M ranks as the third most innovative company in the world. 3M’s research culture centred on innovation means constant search for methods enabling the production of better medical and dental products, ways of drug delivery and medical information systems. By focusing its experience and technologies to meet health-care challenges, 3M has been contributing to making health-care activities more efficient and to improving the health of patients throughout Poland.

Dentistry and orthodontics 3M is a global leader in providing dental products. With a line of over 2,000 products, the corporation is present in all important sectors of the dentistry market – from preventive dentistry to caries treatment, endodontics and prosthetic dentistry to local anaesthetics.

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3M offers top-quality solutions for restorative dentistry. The LavaTM system, based on CAD/CAM technology, enables complete digital prosthetic procedures – from an impression to crown fitting. Restorations, made of durable and aesthetically pleasing zirconium dioxide (zirconia), matching the shade of the restored tooth, look more naturally than conventional metal crowns and bridges. The end-result is a beautiful and perfectly fitted restoration. The innovative LavaTM business concept accelerates the process of creating a finished crown by a dentist and dental technician and eases the patient’s discomfort by reducing the number of appointments at the dental office. This makes the whole process more efficient and cost-effective. Apart from improving its products intended for dentists, 3M also works intensively to make life easier for orthodontists. 3M Unitek has operated in the orthodontics business since 1948. The company is famous for having launched a number of breakthrough and innovative products, like for example the first

stainless steel brackets, brackets pre-coated with adhesive, adhesives changing colour when exposed to light and the SmartClip self-ligating appliance system. At present, 3M Unitek manufactures more than 14,000 products and provides innovative solutions used by orthodontists across the world. The orthodontic braces 3MTM UnitekTM ClarityTM SL is the latest innovation in the 3M TM UnitekTM product family. They ensure an optimal combination of aesthetics and efficiency, meaning shorter treatment times, enhanced comfort for patients and less time spent at an orthodontist’s office.

Skin care and wound healing 3M has for years enjoyed recognition for its quality skin-care and wound-healing products. The best example is the 3MTM CavilonTM family of products. The line, containing creams and barrier films, helps to protect

Medicine & Pharmacy

skin against cuts and irritation, and provides long-term protection against bodily fluids.

Diagnostics 3M is also a leader in the production of diagnostic equipment. The 3M TM Littmann® stethoscopes guarantee unmatched acoustic quality. They are the top product on the stethoscope market and the most recognizable and most frequently recommended brand, with a range of models meeting the customers’ specific needs and preferences. An excellent example is the innovative 3M TM Littmann® electronic stethoscope of the 3000 family. It ensures the best quality of auscultation by using ANR technology for ambient noise reduction, amplifying sound 24 times and reducing friction. The stethoscope’s ability to record sounds and play them back is especially useful when consulting about the diagnosis and for teaching purposes. The 3MTM Littmann® stethoscopes are highly valued by Polish physicians and medical students, who perceive them as very prestigious.

Infection prevention One of 3M’s goals is to contribute to reducing the incidence of hospital infections. By providing a range of top-quality products and

education about infection prevention, the corporation wants to become a partner for the medical community in the effort to improve the quality of life. 3M has a wide selection of high-quality surgical drapes in its portfolio, including custom packs. 3M also offers surgical gowns and incise drapes, including antimicrobial Ioban drapes. Additionally, as the first company on the market, 3M offers surgical clippers for hair removal from the patient’s skin before a surgical procedure. Infection prevention also involves sterilization process control. The corporation offers five interconnected steps which enable monitoring every aseptic device in the process of

sterilization and help to establish and keep appropriate disinfecting standards in health care establishments. :: About 3M 3M captures the spark of new ideas and transforms them into thousands of ingenious products. Our culture of creative collaboration inspires a neverending stream of powerful technologies that make life better. 3M is the innovation company that never stops inventing. With $31 billion in sales, 3M employs 89,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 70 countries. For more information, visit www.3M.com or follow @3MNews on Twitter*** More information on www.3m.pl

3 /2014 :: polish market :: 29

Medicine & Pharmacy

„We do not compete with each other, but we do cooperate” Prof. Piotr Suwalski, heart surgeon at the Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Warsaw, talks to Przemysław Rudowski.

going on in medicine. A major challenge for today’s medicine is certainly adapting to demographic changes occurring in the Western world, namely to population aging, epidemiological changes, that is diseases that appear and are difficult to treat, such as heart failure. Over the years, the stress moved from such simple types of diseases as viral or bacterial sicknesses or simple surgeries like appendix removal towards more complex diseases, including those affecting the elderly. Therefore, it is a major challenge for cardiac surgery and cardiology. In our clinic, but also in all other ones, the average age of patients undergoing operations is 75. It was unthinkable 30 years ago to effectively cure patients of this age. We need to know the elements of treatment associated with new technologies, like percutaneous procedures, and learn to work in a team of specialists. You have more and more elderly patients. Does it mean that the population is increasingly healthier? Healthier lifestyle, better nutrition and primary care cause that people live longer. Poland has recently made a huge leap in terms of average life expectancy. It is still slightly lower than in Western countries, but not much is missing so that the level of 80 is attained. Because they live longer, patients are naturally more susceptible to occurrence of diseases such as coronary heart disease. We are also able to better cure diseases that were once fatal to half of the patients, such as a heart attack. Several years pm

What are the challenges facing Polish medicine, including cardiac surgery, taking into account changes on the healthcare services market, as well as new guidelines for training cardiologists? These are very important changes that are responsive and must be responsive to changes pm

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ago, a heart attack was 50% mortal, while today not only are heart attacks significantly fewer, but we have managed to greatly reduce mortality. Yet, these patients are sick and need to be treated. Thanks to effective treatment patients live up to an old age, which paradoxically is also a challenge for doctors. Another intriguing issue from the perspective of cardiac surgery is innovation. I namely mean the Religa Heart EXT prosthesis, which is one of the results of the government’s programme “Polish Artificial Heart”, as well as a domestic example of an innovative solution. Do you think the programme and the prosthesis can be a showcase of Polish cardiac surgery? For the reasons I mentioned above, heart failure is becoming the dominant cardiac disease. Forecasts for the next decades indicate that it is likely to rise to a dominant position among cardiac diseases. Certainly the need for heart failure treatment will be increasing; it is already very high. We also know that, unfortunately, the number of transplants, not only in Poland but also in the West, is falling. There is less donors, which I think is a consequence of social and cultural changes. With a growing amount of those in need of various organs, you can see that these two curves diverge completely. Therefore, the demand for devices supporting the circulatory system and heart will be constantly increasing. We live in a world where technological progress is galloping, so these opportunities are actually becoming ever greater. pm

Medicine & Pharmacy

It seems to me that what was 10 years ago a niche area causing a number of complications, thromboembolic or infectious, becomes today a normal part of therapy. We are able to successfully overcome many of these problems. The price is still definitely an issue, even in the richest western countries, where pumps supporting the circulatory system have already been implanted in large numbers. I think that such innovations simply have to be successful, and since these are cutting-edge novelties, their effective implementation is likely to change the way Poland is perceived abroad. I keep my fingers crossed so that it all works out and gets rooted in the landscape to become routine in Polish and the world’s cardiac surgery. Apparently, there are scientific prospects for any organ to be grown from stem cells. What do you think about it? In my opinion, looking in the very long run, purely technical devices mark a transitional stage. Research is carried out into growing heart valves aortic out of the patient’s own tissue. Biological material is taken and then the valve is cultured in a few months, and the patient undergoes a valve implantation surgery. I think it is only a matter of time when we will be able to grow entire organs. It seems to me that heart is the organ that bodes well in this respect. At the moment, work is underway to appropriately guide them using polymeric backbones in cardiomyocytes (heart muscle cells). Of course, it is a very long way to grow a whole, so precisean organ. But we are talking about things already happening. There are always ethical issues, but that is another story. Activities such as the cultivation of bones, cartilages, tissues are commonplace. We will soon try to implant the infarction scar with a substance which causes growth in cardiomyocytes. This allows the regeneration of a damaged heart, this regeneration being completely natural. The patient’s own cells are stimulated to re-colonize this died area of the muscle. This has produced good results in animals; we have already had it approved by the bioethics committee, and we are waiting only for the ministry to give the green light. So these things are already happening. I do not know whether it will work in humans but it is worth a try. pm

Ethics has always been the most offensive point when it comes to medicine, hasn’t it? Yes, it was only in the second half of the 19th century that Rudolf Virchow made it mandatory for each patient who died in the hospital to undergo an autopsy so we can learn. The first heart surgery, which consisted in patching a hole in the heart, also took place at the end of the 19th century. Even 100 pm

“I keep my fingers

crossed so that it all works out and gets rooted in the landscape to become routine in Polish and the world’s cardiac surgery.

”

years ago, the greatest authorities in the field of surgery believed touching the heart is absolutely prohibited and means that the doctor should lose the right to practise. I have the impression that sometimes bioethics and philosophy fail to keep up with technological developments. It is now a matter of pressing concern in medicine. Transplantology, as it is today, is not easy and understandable for all. It involves the happiness of one patient, but the drama of another one and his or her family. Growing organs may be a solution to this problem. A dilemma will arise, however, of how long we should live and until when transplant organs. I would like to refer to the National Programme for the Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases, including the introduction of hybrid surgery rooms. What is the situation in your clinic and in Poland in general? Technological progress is very fast, but the fact is that equipment is more expensive, and therefore medicine is more expensive. It seems to me that this special programme and such targeted investments in general are actually extremely effective, perhaps even the most effective systemic investment. From pm

my point of view, providing cardiac surgery clinics with ECMO in a systemic manner allows its equal availability throughout the country, and stimulates the implementation of new technologies. It is vital for the medical team to have trust in the equipment or in a particular new technology. If we are able, even in extreme situations, to keep the patient alive without the complications and suffering, then acceptance of such equipment, and thus its future use will be wider and wider. I observe this with my team, where ECMO is increasingly often readily used, but you can see it elsewhere in Poland too. It is much the same with hybrid surgery rooms, where technological resources are needed to provide certain solutions, such as percutaneous aortic valve replacements. And such targeted investments that change the entire landscape of possibilities in cardiac medicine make sense. In such situations, in fact, the management of the hospital and medical teams are committed to effectively use such modern rooms, and in the end it is the patient who receives an effective therapy. Hybrid surgery rooms prompt creating the so-called Heart Teams that primarily consist of cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, cardiac anesthesiologists and other specialists. Thanks to these teams, patients receive optimal care and optimal treatment. This is a very good thing and I hope we will go further on. We do not compete with each other, but we do cooperate. In today’s medicine there are no oneperson successes, what matters is the work of the entire team. How do you see this phenomenon and how do you assess your team? Indeed, times are gone of lone wolves, and I think it is good. Problems we are faced with today are so complex that they require joint effort of many specialists in various fields. We have also learned that such a cooperation results in mutual stimulation, exchange of ideas, and therefore in a much faster development. It is an extremely beneficial mechanism. Now even the media talk about a team of doctors from a given university and a hospital rather than about an individual person. The role of the scientific or medical authorities did change too. They are now expected to successfully lead a team, to inspire and assign tasks so as to make the team succeed. This is the best recipe for a rapid development. :: pm

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Medicine & Pharmacy

Innovations in La Perla La Perla is a chain of clinics which have been the choice of many of the most demanding clients for over a decade. This stop is mandatory on the maps of everyone who demands style, quality, professionalism, and the guarantee of the latest cosmetic technologies and hits. La Perla provides each customer with the widest range of services in the country – from aesthetic medicine, and the most extensive range of non-invasive cosmetic procedures, to plastic surgery (almost one thousand procedures!) and spa treatments. The present and future of this branch of medicine is discussed by Elżbieta Radzikowska, M.D. – an expert in plastic surgery, general surgery, and aesthetic medicine, and the Medical Director of La Perla.

ur years of experience in the field of beauty make our package attractive to all clients who want to provide themselves with the most effective care. Since our origins, we have had a holistic approach to beauty and people. A perfect product is not enough to feel beautiful; it also requires top-quality professional cosmetic and medical services. We are distinguished among our competitors by presenting new products certified by the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which we continue to introduce. One of the recent such products is Liposonix – a non-invasive and safe procedure, which makes you slim without surgical intervention, diets, or exercises. La Perla is the first company in Europe to offer Liposonix. In this case, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) permanently removes body fat, and tones the skin, rather than damaging it. The technology used by the device is based on ten years of clinical studies conducted by renowned specialists in the areas of new medical technologies and ultrasounds. The future of medicine, which includes the medical sector, which I represent, is definitely associated with the exceptionally rapid growth of epigenetics. Epigenetics studies hereditary traits which are not directly conditioned by the nucleotide sequence in

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the DNA, but result from the biochemical modifications of the expression of selected genes. It was initially believed that gene expression was conditioned only by the information written in the DNA sequence. With time, it turned out that the numerous modifications resulting from the action of various enzyme groups, including methylases, demethylases, acetylates, and deacetylates, have an impact on the regulation of this process, whereas disorders in the regulation of the activeness of the said enzymes might lead to the appearance and development of, tumours for instance. In brief, according to the epigenetic theory, a tumour is created by irregular cell division. Therefore, the issue would not be the change in the genetic material of the cell, but the preservation of the irregular expression, the manifestation of the genes. In the near future, epigenetics will most probably allow the effective treatment of some forms of neoplastic diseases, although this would require further tests on the impact of enzymatic modifications on the development mechanism of the carcinogenesis. However, recently developed research casts new light on the mechanisms governing epigenetic changes as the source of new methods in the treatment of neoplastic diseases. This area is also very important to regenerative medicine, for example during the treatment of chronic wounds or skin diseases.

Therefore, thanks to its unique properties, epigenetics raises great hope in cosmetology and aesthetic medicine as well. Recently, this medicine has been provided with great possibilities by the application of stem cells. The use of stem cells in numerous therapies is considered as one of the greatest medical accomplishments in recent years. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have the unique ability of self-regeneration and division into specialised cells with specific functions. The fact that stem-cell therapy effectively rejuvenates and removes scars has already been proven. The introduction of stem-cell technology has already become a significant breakthrough in the world of cosmetology and hope for extending the life of young skin. These exceptionally fascinating and future areas are the ones La Perla intends to expand in the near future through our cooperation with the Independent Clinical Genetics Laboratory at the Medical University of Lublin, which is led by Prof. Janusz Kocki. In this era, there are no longer spectacular individual scientific discoveries. Now, everything is about teamwork. Therefore, we want to work with this centre, because the cooperation with such people and the continuous opportunity for development in this area are invaluable for the activities of all physicians. ::

T IEN T A P ST O M THE E UT H E. T C F N O IS RTA

IMP

We are searching for the answer to the question: What can we do to improve every patient’s quality of life? And we are turning it into action every day. Teva is a leading global pharmaceutical company ranked in the world’s top ten. In 60 countries, 73 Teva’s plants manufacture over 70 billion tablets per year. Our company focuses on increasing access to high quality medical care through the development, production and launching of generic, innovative and specialty drugs, as well as active substances - all at affordable prices. In the two production plants, in Kraków and Kutno, Teva produces 4 billion tablets per year, providing a broad line of pharmaceuticals and being Poland’s second largest supplier of medicaments. Every minute Teva medicaments are taken by 145 patients. Teva provides a portfolio of antibiotics, medication for diabetes, osteoporosis, disorders of the central nervous system, urologic, cardiac and respiratory diseases, transplantology and cancer therapies. It is also a leading supplier of products available without prescription, offering brands such as Hepatil, Flegamina, Vibovit and Aviomarin, and, as part of business partnership, Vicks.

We help the people.

Global Market

Poland and the rest of the world - exports and imports are looking up Foreign trade in Poland is becoming increasingly balanced. In 2013 exports rose by 6.5% and imports by 0.7% (Central Statistical Office - GUS). Turnover with our top ten trade partners accounted for 65.0% of exports and 67.4% of imports. Among Poland’s major trade partners, increased exports were recorded for Sweden, Slovakia, Russia, Germany, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, the UK, and France. As for import rates – they rose for the UK, China, the US, Belgium, and Germany. Bogdan Sadecki

2013 in Poland’s foreign trade According to 2013 GUS data, commodity exports from Poland increased by 6.5% and reached the level of EUR152.8 billion. The value of imports settled at EU155.1 billion and was 0.7% higher than in the previous year. The goods trade deficit decreased significantly, i.e. by nearly EUR8.3 billion, to the level of EUR2.3 billion. Last year, according to the Ministry of the Economy, exports to developing and underdeveloped countries experienced a considerably faster increase (by 11.4%, to more than EUR28 billion) than exports to developed markets, which recorded a growth of 5.5% (to more than EUR124.7 billion). In turn, imports from developed markets grew by 2.2% (to EUR101.7 billion), while those from developing markets slumped by 2.1% (to EUR53.4 billion). Exports to the European Union increased by 4.5% (to EUR114.3 billion), but the growth was slower for the euro zone (by 3.8%, to EUR77.3 billion) than for other EU markets (by 6%, to more than EUR37 billion). Among Poland’s major export partners in the EU, the countries with the fastest growth were Germany (by 5.9%), the Czech Republic (by 4%), Sweden (by 8.9%), Slovakia (by 7.9%), Hungary (by 11.6%), Spain (by 19.2%), and Belgium (by 12.4%). Sales to non-EU developed markets increased by 17.3% (to EUR10.4 billion), with the highest growth observed for the US (20.6%) and Norway (26.3%). Exports to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) increased by 7.8% (to more than EUR15.3 billion), including by 6.1% to Russia, 5.2% to Ukraine, and 17.1% to Belarus.

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There was a faster growth in exports to other developing markets than the CIS (by 16%, to EUR12.7 billion). The rapid growth in exports to China (by 17.4%), Serbia (by 77%), UAE (by 66.5%) and South Korea (by 32.6%) should be noted. Broken down by commodity, the fastest growth was recorded in the exports of agricultural and food products (by 11.5%, to nearly EUR20 billion). Exports in two commodity groups dominated Polish exports, i.e. electrical machinery products and chemical industry products, which also rose faster than the average – by 6.9% (to EUR59.8 billion) and by 8.2% (to more than EUR21.7 billion) respectively.

Trade in agricultural and food products in 2013 The value of agricultural and food products sold abroad in 2013 amounted to EUR19,956.9 million. At the same time the positive balance in the trade of agricultural and food products reached the level of EUR5,737.9 million and increased by 32% as compared to 2012 (EUR4,335.9 million). According to GUS data, in 2013 the proportion of exports of agricultural and food products in total exports was 13.1%, while in 2012 it was only 12.5%. The share of agricultural and food products in the total value of Polish imports amounted to 9.2% (in 2012 – 8.8%). Throughout 2013 exports of agricultural and food products were constantly high, which is also seen in the very good foreign trade figures. This means that there is a steadily growing interest in Polish agricultural and food products among foreign customers.

Exports. The value of agricultural and food product exports last year amounted to EUR19,956.9 million. In comparison, in 2012 this value was EUR17,893.3 million, which means a 11.5% growth. The value of sales to EU countries increased by 12.3%, while exports to the former EU-15 grew by 12.6%. Sales of Polish food to the 12 new Member States increased by 11.0%. In general, EUR15,557 million worth of products were sold to the EU market. The share of EU countries in the structure of agricultural and food product exports rose from 77.4% to 78.0% over the year. Exports to the Commonwealth of Independent States amounted to EUR2,189 million and increased by 8.6% in relation to 2012. This resulted mainly from the considerable growth in the value of apples, cheese, and beef exports. Sales to CIS countries constituted 11.0% of all exports of agricultural and food products. Most agricultural and food products in 2013 were sold to Germany, as expected. Their value was EUR4,544.8 million, and in comparison with the corresponding period of 2012 this meant a 15.9% growth (in 2012 EUR3,920.2 million). Exports to Poland’s neighbour - Germany - constituted 22.7% of all agricultural and food product exports last year. The top products sold to this market (in terms of value) include fruit juices (mainly apple juice), smoked fish (mainly salmon), poultry meat, rape seed, processed and preserved fish, bakery products (including biscuits and wafers), cigarettes, frozen fruit (mainly strawberries and raspberries), milk and cream, chocolate, and chocolate products, as well as raw milk and cream, wheat, beef, and mushrooms (mainly champignons). The largest (more than fourfold) increase in the value of sales to Germany was observed

Global Market for rapeseed oil, while rye exports increased threefold and rapeseed grew twofold. The United Kingdom was the second largest importer of Polish agricultural and food products. In 2013 EUR1,493.9 million worth of products were sold, which means an increase of 12.6% (in 2012 – EUR1,326.8 million) and a share in the exports of agricultural and food products of 7.4%. The most popular UK imports from Poland included chocolate and chocolate products, poultry meat, processed and salted meat and fruit juices (especially apple juice). The third largest importer of Polish products was Russia – with Polish exports of EUR1,252.2 million, which means a 19.1% increase (EUR1,051.3 million in 2012) and a 6.3% share in exports. The most popular products here were apples, which accounted for 20% of the value of exported products, cheese, pork, tomatoes, and other vegetables, both fresh and frozen. Other major importers of Polish agricultural and food products included the Czech Republic (EUR1,203.5 million), France (EUR1,164.8 million), Italy (EUR1,041.2 million), the Netherlands (EUR1,039.3 million) and Slovakia (EUR685 million). The largest growth in exports was observed in the trade with China – in comparison with the year before it more than doubled and reached the level of EUR158 million. This increase resulted from the higher sales of pork. The United Arab Emirates imported EUR85 million worth of products from Poland, which meant an increase of 48%. The most popular products on this market included cigarettes, chocolate, cocoa-based products and sugar syrups. The value of exports to Saudi Arabia rose by 42% (to EUR153 million), which resulted from higher wheat sales. In addition to the above-mentioned countries, a significant growth in the value of agricultural and food product exports was observed for Greece, Norway, Latvia, Spain, Slovakia, Belgium, Mexico, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Tunisia, and Libya. Moreover, the sales of Polish wheat to Tanzania, Kenya and Zimbabwe resulted in a considerably higher turnover with these countries. Exports to Turkey slumped by 66%, which resulted from a change in the customs requirements for importing beef to that country. In terms of export value the main products exported in 2013 were cigarettes, poultry meat, chocolate and chocolate products, pork, beef, bakery products (biscuits, wafers etc.), cheese and cottage cheese, sugar syrups, fruit juices (especially apple juice), smoked fish (mainly salmon), apples, processed and

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preserved meat, frozen fruit, processed and preserved fish and mushrooms (mainly champignons). The value of exports of the abovementioned products accounted for about 52% of Poland’s total exports of agricultural and food products.

unprocessed tobacco, coffee, bakery products such as biscuits and wafers, and citrus fruits. The value of imports of the above-mentioned products accounted for 43% of the total imports of agricultural and food products to Poland.

Imports. In 2013 the overall value of agricultural and food products imported to Poland was EUR14,219 million, which, in comparison to 2012, accounted for a 4.9% growth (the value of imports in 2012 was EUR13,557 million). The value of imports from the EU was EUR9,793 million, and in relation to 2012 this was a 5.3% increase (EUR9,303 million in 2012). Agricultural and food products imported to Poland came, similarly to exports, mainly from Germany, and their value was EUR3,169.7 million. Imports from Germany as compared to the previous year increased by 3.2% (EUR3,070.3 million in 2012) and accounted for 22.3% of all agricultural and food product imports. In terms of value, the most popular products imported from Germany included pork, chocolate and chocolate products, pigs, animal feed, bakery products, biscuits and wafers, coffee, cheese and sugar syrups. Imports from the Netherlands reached EUR1,155 million (mostly pork, living plants and cut flowers), EUR739.3 million from Spain (citrus fruits, pork, peaches, nectarines, and tomatoes), EUR671.9 million from Denmark (pork and pigs), EUR628.1 million from Norway (fish), EUR590.9 million from Argentina, and EUR560.6 million from Italy (grapes, chocolate and cocoa-based products, wine and pasta). France, Belgium, the Czech Republic, the UK, the US and Ukraine also had a significant share in imports to Poland. The largest increase in the value of imports was observed in trade with Mozambique, as it grew almost threefold in relation to 2012. This was caused by increased unprocessed tobacco and cane sugar imports. Higher imports of soya cake resulted in a 75% growth in agricultural and food product imports from the US. What’s more, the value of imports from Indonesia grew by 45%, from Ecuador – by 44%, from Sweden – by 36%, and from Norway – by 30%. Among the important trade partners, in comparison to 2012, the value of imports decreased for Ukraine (by 31%), Brazil (17%), Argentina (14%), the Czech Republic (9%), Slovakia (10%) and Hungary (7%). In terms of value, the most important products imported to Poland in the analysed period included pork, soya cake, fresh fish, fish fillets, pigs, chocolate and chocolate products, animal feed, sugar syrups,

Balance. The trade surplus in the trade of agricultural and food products is visibly increasing. It reached +EUR5,737.9 million last year, which means a 32% increase in comparison with 2012 (+EUR4,335.9 million). The balance of trade with the EU countries was also positive and amounted to +EUR5,764 million. In comparison, in 2012 it was +EUR4,548 million. Poland had the highest trade surplus in its trade with Germany (+EUR1,375.1 million), Russia (+EUR1,162.4 million), the UK (+EUR1,093.9 million), the Czech Republic (+EUR757 million) and France (+EUR646 million). However, imports were much higher than exports (meaning a trade deficit) in trade with such countries as Argentina (-EUR589 million), Norway (-EUR537 million), Spain (-EUR360 million) and Denmark (-EUR275 million).

Polish-Japanese trade in 2013 According to the Ministry of the Economy the value of trade between Poland and Japan in 2013 was EUR2.21 billion. Imports from the Land of the Rising Sun amounted to EUR1.78 billion, while exports reached the value of EUR417 million. The most prospective field in terms of Polish-Japanese investments as recommended by the Ministry of the Economy include the energy sector (renewable and nuclear energy), advanced technologies (clean coal, CO2 capture and storage), the agricultural and food sector, the chemical industry, finance and transport. “Closer relations between Poland and Japan enables us to increase the competitiveness of our energy sector on the international market,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy Janusz Piechociński, as quoted in an announcement. There was a meeting in Warsaw between the Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Midori Matsushima, Senior Vice-Minister of the Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan. “The continued development of both countries can yield such results as the modernisation of the Polish energy sector” said Mr Piechociński. “We take great interest in the package of Japanese companies, and particularly in the solutions which could improve the efficiency of conventional power plants and transmission networks,” he added. ::

TRUE YACHTS˚

TRUE in every millimetre³ There are people for whom there is no dif ference bet ween water and land. This is who we are . We strive to be unfailing , bec ause what mat ters on the sea is what has been tested in prac tice , by masters .

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Global Market

KGHM Polska Miedź SA

- a global player in the non-ferrous metals market

Jerzy Bojanowicz

rom January 1, 2014 KGHM Polska Miedź SA has conducted mining operations in Poland on the basis of the new concessions, valid until 2063, covering the following deposits: Rudna, Sieroszowice, Polkowice, Lubin-Małomice, Radwanice-Wschód for a total mining area of 467.5 km² with 1,235,569 thousand tonnes of copper. “This is a key development for the company, a guarantee of growth, employment and macroeconomic stability in Lower Silesia for the next half of the century,” says Olgierd Dziekoński, Secretary of State in the Office of the President of the President of Poland, in a letter of congratulations sent on the occasion of the extension by KGHM’s concession for exploitation of mineral deposits in the copper basin. Herbert Wirth, President of KGHM Polska Miedź SA, stated briefly: “KGHM has two major drivers of development. One of them is organic growth: investment in human capital, modernization and new technologies. The second one is the acquisition of assets through its own exploration and acquisition of new already documented resources.” Listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange since 1997, KGHM Polska Miedź SA is Europe’s

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largest copper miner (and 8th in the world) and the world’s first silver producer. In Poland it operates mines in Polkowice-Sieroszowice, Lubin and Rudna (a total of 31 wells) and foundries in Głogów, Cedynia and Legnica. In 2012 it produced 459 thousand tonnes of mined copper, 584 thousand tonnes of refined copper and 1,161 tonnes of silver and 1,066 kg of gold. The company achieved PLN 26.7 billion in revenue, and PLN 4.8 billion in profit.

Investments in Poland... Out of a 60-year history it is worth taking a closer look at last year’s investments. In October, after two years of preparations and only three months of work, modernization was finished of the Copper Foundry Głogów II. It is one of the most important projects under the Pyrometallurgy Modernisation Programme at KGHM Polska Miedź SA. In terms of scope, degree of difficulty, preparations and costs it was the greatest project in the 36-year history of Głogów II. The aim was to increase the foundry’s efficiency and reliability, to reduce costs, prepare for melting concentrates with higher carbon content, upgrade the electric

furnace and the sulphuric acid plant. As a result, the blister copper production technology can melt around 863 thousand tonnes of copper concentrates per year. Also, working conditions were significantly improved by i.a., reducing the exposure of workers to lead compounds hazardous for health. In December the first bucket was officially excavated from the GG-1 shaft, KGHM’s strategic investment project. Works started in 2010, and their completion is planned for 2019 - it will be then the deepest shaft in the copper basin (1,340 m in depth, 7.5 m in diameter, 45.5 m in height), allowing access to copper deposits below 1,200 m. In the Copper Foundry Głogów I the construction continues of a fluidized-bed furnace - the most modern production line in the world, with a capacity of 250 thousand tonnes of blister copper per year. The new technology will reduce the unit production cost and the foundry’s environmental footprint, and will have a strong impact on improving health and safety at work. The works are scheduled to finish by 2016.

Global Market

...and the world Since March 2012 KGHM owns a 100% stake in KGHM International Ltd. (formerly Quadra FNX Mining Ltd.). The company operates mines in the United States - Robinson (Nevada) and Carlota (Arizona), in Chile - Franke, and in Canada - McCreedy West, Levack (with the Morrison bed) and Podolsky. Copper is produced as electrolytic copper and copper concentrate containing by-products in the form of gold and silver. The company’s portfolio covers also mining projects in the preoperative phase: Sierra Gorda in Chile (the most important development project implemented in one of the world’s largest new copper and molybdenum deposits), Victoria and Ajax in Canada and Malmbjerg in Greenland, as well as exploration projects. “The quality of products on the global markets for non-ferrous metals is the same and, therefore, you can only compete in cost. That is why, the Sierra Gorda project is so important - the world’s fastest project that involves a conversion into a mine,” says Jarosław Romanowski, First Vice-President of the Board of KGHM Polska Miedź SA. The copper mine in Sierra Gorda will be commissioned in the second quarter of 2014. The target output from the existing deposits is estimated at 219 thousand tonnes of copper, 11.4 thousand tonnes of molybdenum and 1.8 tonnes of gold per year. In January 2013 Presidents of KGHM Polska Miedź SA and EcoMetales, a subsidiary of Codelco - the largest copper producer in the world, signed a cooperation agreement in Santiago de Chile. It will enable the implementation of joint research and development projects related both to the improvement of production parameters and the environmental footprint. Flotation system’s upgrade is being considered so as to allow an approx. 1% increase in yield, which would result in additional 5-6 thousand tonnes of copper and 1.2 tonnes of silver per year to the value of about PLN 140 million. Works are pursued on the Ajax project open pit mining in the historic mine AjaxAfton. As for the decision about building the plant in Victoria, it will be made once a feasibility study is prepared based on the results of underground drillings. KGHM International conducts exploration activities in Malmbjerg (East Greenland), where deposits of molybdenum have been found. The companies making part of the KGHM International group - under the brand name DMC Mining Services - also offer a range of

services. They namely drill shafts, conduct preparatory works, build underground and above-ground mines, perform mining drilling and tunnelling as needed, carry out feasibility studies and designs.

A smart mine “Only a knowledge-based economy gives one a chance to be competitive,” rightly believes Herbert Wirth. One of the innovative projects carried out in cooperation with universities and research centres is smart mines that primarily allow the exploitation of deposits below 1200 m, as well as automation and robotization of unit operations. It further covers integrated exploitation management with account taken of natural conditions, mechanical quarrying, conveyors, spoil backfilling and metering, preconcentration in the Ore Enrichment Plant (ZWR) and depositing waste under ground, as well as technologies and business and social environment. When implementing a number of projects, including SMIFU “Smart Mine of the Future” and I2Mine “Intelligent Mine”, it was found that a smart mine means no people in danger zones, one control room, continuous dredging, preconcentration, constant analysis of resources and risks management towards the final product and an attractive workplace. A smart mine requires developing and implementing a self-propelled mining machines’ monitoring technology carried out jointly with the Institute of Mineral Resources and Energy Management of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Kraków, a highly effective belt conveyor equipped with modern design elements, energy-efficient runners, a tape and a drive of the device whose prototype is being created in KGHM Zanam SA in collaboration with companies from the KGHM group and the Wrocław University of Technology, and innovative solutions for monitoring and control, and a remote control system for hydraulic hammers and service grids with a lump breaking device, which is created by KGHM Zanam SA with KGHM in cooperation with other KGHM companies. KGHM Cuprum Sp. z o.o. Research and Development Centre preparatory works are for the construction in the Lubin mine of an enrichment plant with a capacity of approx. 8 million tonnes, which would replace the onground ZWR, or with a capacity of approx. 2 million tonnes, which would increase the productivity of the Lubin mine without increasing production through skip shafts. Options are considered both of preconcentration and the production of the final concentrate.

Mining management projects (one control room) are also implemented in the mines Polkowice-Sieroszowice and Sierra Gorda. Smart mine is not the only innovative project carried out by KGHM. “At the recent Knowledge Fair we chose 20 innovative projects to the value of approx. PLN 530 million, in which we intend to invest now,” says the President of KGHM Polska Miedż SA. The company will for example use solar energy produced by the photovoltaic panel using copper (so-called thin-layer technology) in the processing of oxidized deposits in Chile. In August 2013 KGHM Polska Miedź SA signed an agreement with the National Centre for Research and Development providing for the implementation of a 10-year programme covering the full range of mining services, to which the signatories will spent PLN 100 million. Funding will be allocated to R&D projects, selected in competitions and involving innovative technologies related to mining, metallurgical processes, new products and their recycling, while reducing environmental costs. For the first three competitions going on currently PLN 30 million were allocated. It is worth noting that the result of the cooperation between KGHM Polska Miedź SA and the Department of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków is the Laboratory of Critical Elements AGHKGHM launched in October last year. It aims to explore strategic (critical) elements - exposed to the risk of interruption of supply and whose deficit would have negative consequences for the economy - and involving also the Mining and Metallurgical Plant “Bolesław”. “It is equipped with the country’s most modern electron microprobe Jeol JXA-8230 SuperProbe that allows to determine the content of elements from boron to uranium and observation of objects smaller than 1 micron - the chemical analysis is carried out in the microzone with a diameter of about 2 microns. The lab conducts research into all kinds of solids, from which critical elements can be derived. These include minerals, ores, raw material waste, and even waste electronic equipment,” explains Gabriela Kozub-Budzyń, M.Sc., from the Department of Economic Geology and Mining Geology, Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environment Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology. ::

3 /2014 :: polish market :: 39

Law & Taxes

High excise duty is consistent with the Constitution Beata Brojewska Legal Counsel BHS Law Firm

he Excise Tax Act providing for a high excise duty for oil dealers, who have failed to comply with the obligation to draw up and submit to the tax authorities a monthly compilation of the oil buyers’ statements, is in accordance with the Constitution. The provisions of the Act of 6 December 2008 on excise duty in article 89 paragraph 16 introduce penalty excise duty rate in heating oils trade if conditions are not met for being eligible to benefit from the preferential rate. In accordance with article 89 paragraph 14 of the Act, one of the conditions for being eligible to benefit from the excise duty reduced rate is for the oil vendor to draw up a monthly compilation of purchasers’ statements about oil being used for heating purposes and filing it with the tax authorities until the 25th day of the month following the month of the sale. The Excise Tax Act sets out in detail the formal requirements that the statement should meet. A failure to do so entails negative consequences in the form of application of a burdensome excise tax rate. The provision under article 89 paragraph 16 of the Excise Tax Act has aroused many doubts both in trading energy products and in terms of jurisprudence, including its constitutionality. Among the allegations against the constitutionality of the penalty excise duty rate is the non-compliance with article 2 of the Polish Constitution that stipulates the prohibition of undue interference by the legislature. Moreover, according to some constitutionalists, the size of penalties is disproportionate to the objective to be achieved through the performance of the obligation to submit the required documentation to the tax authorities.

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On February 11, 2014 the Constitutional Court settled that article 89 paragraph 16 of the Excise Tax Act - insofar as it imposes application of the excise duty penalty rate, referred to in article 89 paragraph 4 whereof, for a fuel oil vendor being in breach of the obligation to draw up and submit to the tax authorities a monthly compilation of buyers’ statements - is consistent with the Constitution of the Polish Republic.

“The Constitutional Court

stressed that the high rate of excise duty is logically linked to the purpose it serves, which is to regulate oil trading safety and reliability. The relaxation of exemption eligibility requirements would undermine the control mechanism to an extent difficult to estimate.”

The judgment of the Constitutional Court is an answer to a legal question asked by the Regional Administrative Court in Wrocław regarding the lawfulness of the application of the excise duty’s penalty rate in the light of the constitutional norms. The Constitutional Court found that the rigor of the application of excise duty preferential rates in heating oil trade is aimed at ensuring effective control of oil marketing and diminishing the ill practice of using oil

contrary to its intended purpose. It is therefore a necessary and effective element of an oil trading control system, which results in reducing tax frauds related to its sale. The Constitutional Court stressed that the high rate of excise duty is logically linked to the purpose it serves, which is to regulate oil trading safety and reliability. The relaxation of exemption eligibility requirements would undermine the control mechanism to an extent difficult to estimate. According to the Constitutional Court, it is also clear that the obligation to provide the authorities with a monthly compilation of statements, although tedious, is not in itself an excessive discomfort for heating oil dealers. The Constitutional Court’s judgment is impactful for excise goods trade, because it solves the existing practical and predicative doubts as regards the application of preferential excise rates. ::

Finance

Assistance for businesses A new service for micro-entrepreneurs Provident, together with Europ Assistance, has prepared a new service thanks to which micro-entrepreneurs can count on professional support in conducting business. The “Assistance for Businesses” package covers i.a., legal and accounting counselling, tax advice, IT assistance, or even an intervention of a specialist. Taking advantage of the package is conditional upon taking out Provident’s “Loan for Businesses” within the promotion period. Under the “Assistance for Businesses” package an entrepreneur is served 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. The Emergency Centre is available to provide regular technical support and solve other problems associated with running an office. Specialists from the Emergency Centre give advice on legal and tax issues (for example, they can help get access to legal acts), on accounts (revenue records or ZUS), as well as on other business problems. The Emergency Centre also provides information about current social benefits. In addition, entrepreneurs can count on having their office equipment serviced, their property attended or transported, on an intervention of a specialist (like locksmith, plumber, electrician) or IT assistance. “Such a wide range of assistance accessible via a non-stop Emergency Centre is a unique service on the market. Together with Europ Assistance we strived to propose Polish micro-entrepreneurs a value-added, a service that will be a real support in the daily conduct of business,” says Paweł Szustakiewicz, Director for Product Development at Provident. Provident’s “Loan for Businesses” has been available in Poland since March 2013. The product is very popular among micro-entrepreneurs - the value of loans already granted is now over PLN 16.7 million and the average value of the loan is PLN 4,600. Among its biggest advantages micro-entrepreneurs cite fast and simple procedures. With the “Assistance for Businesses” package Provident products will even better meet the needs of this market segment.

Loan for Businesses Interview with Paweł Szustakiewicz, Director for Product Development at Provident. Why does Provident invest in loans for businesses? Micro-entrepreneurs were for many years less desirable customers for financial institutions than large and medium-sized enterprises or individuals. The market of loans dedicated to this segment was virtually non-existent, and in order to get a loan a person conducting economic activity had to go through the same verification procedure as a multinational corporation. pm

What did it mean in practice? From a micro-entrepreneur’s perspective, it most often meant the abandonment of applying for a loan and instead seeking additional funds among family and friends. Our research shows that it is precisely the lack of access to fast and affordable sources of external funding that micro-entrepreneurs consider the biggest barrier to business development. Therefore, we decided to introduce to our portfolio a new product - “Loan for Businesses”, which is adapted to capabilities and needs of small businesses. pm

Who is the “Loan for Businesses” specifically dedicated to? The loan is dedicated to individuals who run a company and employ several peoplenatural persons conducting economic activity. This group makes up 95% of micro-

entrepreneurs in Poland. These include for example owners of local shops, florists, hairdressers, garages, etc. All the customers must submit an extract from CEIDG (Business Activity Central Register and Information Record). But it is basically the only document that we require. We offer loans of up to PLN 10,000 to new customers. Do you expect that the Assistance package will further strengthen the interest in Provident’s products? It is a totally unique service on the market, geared especially for the needs of small businesses, which - in addition to cash - also need substantial day-to-day support (access to legal, tax or accounting information) or logistical assistance in running an office (repairs, IT failures, transportation of property). Thanks to a 24-hour availability of the Emergency Centre, micro-entrepreneurs can count on the support of specialists any time they need it. :: pm

3 /2014 :: polish market :: 41

Design

Design -

a good investment The development of small and medium-sized enterprises on the basis of design is a very current topic. It is undoubtedly an important indicator of creativity and innovation progress, as well as one of the key elements in achieving competitive advantage on the market, thereby strengthening the economic standing of the country and its particular regions all over the world. Alicja Adamczak, Ph.D., President of the Polish Patent Office

he concept of design refers not only to the development of new and aesthetic forms of products. Contemporary design is also about the functionality, ergonomics and environmental protection, materials engineering, high technologies. This means that new products are increasingly innovative and protected in terms of industrial property as in-

“There is no doubt, the

Polish potential in terms of design is gaining in importance from year to year and is increasingly valued abroad.

”

ventions, utility models, industrial designs, and trade marks. Design is present today in almost all industries: textiles and furniture, food, electrical and electronic engineering, mechanical, automotive, telecommunications, construction, or toys. Therefore, design is today unquestionably one of the determinants of an innovative economy. It is no coincidence that countries that are in the world’s forefront in terms of innovation attach particular importance to design, including a broadly understood services sector. The Polish economy, too, increasingly resorts to design to support innovation and competitiveness at home and on foreign markets.

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Industrial design has whatever it takes to be such an effective tool in the hands of all Polish entrepreneurs. There is no doubt, the Polish potential in terms of design is gaining in importance from year to year and is increasingly valued abroad. Designers get recognition and reputation in highly developed economies such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, and many others that lead innovation rankings. We are honoured at international trade fairs, exhibitions and competitions, including the Red Dot Award Competition, which is one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious ones. We have received 30 awards ever since we first joined that competition in 2008. One indicator of the activity of Polish designers and entrepreneurs in the field of industrial design is the constantly growing number of industrial design applications filed with the Patent Office and with the international institutions dealing with intellectual property protection. For example, there are more and more applications submitted at Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market, based in Alicante, Spain, which further points to the growing interest of designers and entrepreneurs in running foreign operations. Innovative products and services can be created owing to an effective cooperation of all the parties involved: designers , entrepreneurs, members of local governments and government officials. So how do we work together so as design becomes an opportunity

not only for SMEs but also for the whole Polish economy? This and many other questions will be addressed during the 7th edition of the international conference, held on the initiative of the Polish Patent Office, under the theme “Design – an opportunity for SMEs and regions.” The project is organized jointly with the World Intellectual Property Organization, the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market, the Warsaw Stock Exchange, as well as with the support of many partner institutions. During the conference entrepreneurs and representatives of the so-called creative sector will have an opportunity to exchange experiences, to diagnose the obstacles that hinder effective cooperation between them, as well as to identify measures that would contribute to the greater use of industrial design and to the implementation of innovative solutions in the SME sector in particular. The eligibility of innovative businesses will also be discussed to obtain financial support for designrelated activities under the new EU financial perspective for 2014-2020. The panel discussions will be participated by Polish and foreign experts from the design industry, entrepreneurs, members of state administration and local governments, representatives of higher education institutions and business organizations. I cordially invite all those interested in design and its use in business operations to attend this event. ::

Our references: T-Mobile Polska S.A. warsaw • DB Schenker Logistics prague • The European Krzysztof Penderecki Center for Music poland • CinemaxX germany • Eniro Poland warsaw • Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra Poland Bavarian State Opera munich • Asseco poland • Leicester Square Theatre london • University of Zielona Gora poland • Melkdaamer Den Haag netherlands • Rzeszow Philharmonic poland • Indesit lodz • Alior Bank krakow Indoor Sports – Exhibition Complex Arena lodz • Raiffaisen Bank romania • Arena Stadium dusseldorf • National Stadium in Bucharest romania • Green Point Stadium south africa • Collegio Saint George chile • Honeywell czech republic • National University ireland • ASML netherlands • Lowesoft Sixth Form College united kingdom Rzeszow University poland • Libanon Tribunal netherlands • Groupama warsaw • Rechtbank rotterdam and many others!

Please visit:

www.nowystylgroup.com/projects

www.NowyStylGroup.com

Design

7th International Conference “Design - an opportunity for SMEs and regions” Designer and manufacturer come together Marek Adamczewski, Vice-President for Teaching and Development, Gdańsk Academy of Fine Arts.

h is is already the 7th edition of the international conference, organized annually by the Polish Patent Office together with numerous partners. It is probably the fourth time design shows up in the title and the leading theme “Design - an opportunity for SMEs and regions” is almost the same as last year. Despite two days filled with multiple panel discussions last year, the topic was apparently has visibly not exhausted, and was considered worth being continued. Why? The Polish economy and industrial production is too little innovative compared to other EU countries. We feel that the potential is greater than it is suggested by indicators. It should be regarded as a challenge rather than a problem. However, to meet this challenge effectively, we must first check - as others do - what our skills, tools and funds are. Such is also the aim of the conference to be held this year: to get information on the current relationship between innovations, smart growth and the Polish economy. A dozen guests from many countries will deliver speeches and lectures to share their experiences in implementing similar projects. Topics addressed by speakers from Austria, Finland, UK, Belgium, France, Korea, Italy, Denmark will revolve around competitiveness, innovation, education - always with reference to design.

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Six panel discussions will bring participants closer to the leading theme. The first one’s title is “The use of design in business and the implementation cost”. We have in Poland dozens, hundreds of companies, whose owners or managers know, sometimes just feel, that they need to launch their own new, innovative designs for their products. This is not a blank statement - that is what follows from a study conducted recently by the Institute of Industrial Design. Bygone is the era of copying patterns from the West if only because Asian producers are faster and cheaper in doing so. We also have excellent, internationally award-winning designers. However, projects are not always successfully carried out. The first contact of two sides ends up too often in disappointment. Why? How to effectively implement innovative design projects? The basic, too rarely properly used tool, is a methodical implementation of a design project. Most of the producers who only start cooperation with the designer do not know it yet, though. The designer is invited too late, namely when the product is already defined and manufacturer expects only a kind of garnishment, something that cannot be done effectively. It also happens that the assumptions of the project are unclear, vague, or limit the designer’s creativity. Often even basic knowledge is lacking about the potential user of the product. These are just three examples of the most common mistakes. There are, unfortunately, much more of them. The result? Disappointment, unnecessary difficulties in the implementation process or even abandoning it altogether. To avoid such misunderstandings it is imperative to create an interdisciplinary team implementing the new product right from the beginning of its inception. Before a design concept is made its necessary

for the designer and the manufacturer to get together to answer a series of questions regarding features, ergonomics, technology, construction, costs, etc. An effectively implemented innovation is not a “twinkle”, a spectacular picture with origins nowhere, a naive visualization that cannot be realized because of technological or economic reasons. The necessary expertise needs to be acquired not to waste time and money for unrealistic attempts. Therefore, you need to build a team of people of many specialties. That is something that must be learned. Producers who have already done this achieved market success by implementing innovative products. There are really a lot of success examples through properly conducted implementation processes. Their authors usually willingly -at that conference too- share their knowledge with all those interested. Designers who have for years successfully implemented new projects are also willing to do so. Methodically working design studios have their own management strategies to avoid unnecessary costs while at the same time achieving the assumed or even better objectives. The Institute of Industrial Design, which has for several years organized workshops to promote the implementation of the methodology in design management, has new programmes facilitating effective cooperation between manufacturers and designers. The latest series of workshops is expected to help entrepreneurs build implementation teams in their companies and help designers get better prepared to work with them. Several days’ trainings will no doubt be useful when implementating real tasks. Nothing is for free. The work of a team composed of experts from a variety of industries (there must be, in addition to the

Design

designer or the design studio, at least a technologist and an economist, often also others depending on the task) is far from buying an eye-catching image of the expected product. The labour costs of such a team, together with property rights to the design and protection of these rights, are fairly easy to calculate. It turns out that they usually exceed the capabilities, and certainly the expectations of the producer. Where to get the money for the implementation from, then? “The sources of design funding” was the title of another panel discussion. The new financial perspective of the European Union and community funding should provide sufficient funds to support innovative businesses. This cannot be done, however, without design being considered in the business strategy. It seems that the money should be enough - you only need to learn how to use it over many years to produce a lasting benefit to your business. “Design in regional policy” will be the topic of another discussion panel. Design centres have already been created in several regions of Poland. They are impressively effective in promoting and implementing innovative activities in their areas. Are they as effective in influencing regional development? Do they use regional and national traditions? This is worth being discussed. An equally important issue is “strategies of design protection”. Property rights constitute generally a half, and often more, of the value of a design project. Of course, in order to effectively protect designs you need to stay in contact with the Patent Office, which is the only institution in Poland that ensures protection of industrial designs, as well as with other international organizations dealing with the protection of copy rights. However, there is always the question of what strategies to use to effectively protect your designs? How to guard against the violation of rights and how to exercise those rights? If you have already invested your money in an innovative product, it is worth finding out how to safely gain benefits, because it is the protection that business strategies are associated with. “From education to the market. In search of the implementation model” - is the title to which part of the conference will be devoted. The Academy of Fine Arts and other design schools should prepare designers to work with manufacturers. Do they do it as appropriate? Are training programmes changing as fast as customers’ needs and expectations? And - equally important - should they be changing given that needs may be artificially created? There is undoubtedly a need to prepare designers to work -in a deep, not

46 :: polish market :: 3 /2014

formal sense of the word- in interdisciplinary implementation teams. Practice shows that design schools or design departments put too little emphasis on this component of the education of the future designer. Graduates are poorly prepared to work in a team. They are too often stubborn as regards property rights, or economically and technologically unrealistic solutions. Or reversely - they give up too quickly to unnecessary restrictions imposed by the manufacturer. Meanwhile, it is the designer who should be the “locomotive” of the team. That happens too rarely. Design classes, while educating great professionals, do not develop teamwork skills. But not all.

“Practice shows that design schools or design departments put too little emphasis on preparing designers to work in interdisciplinary teams. Graduates are poorly prepared to work in a team.” There are already in the country some fine examples of understanding of the designer’s role of in the team implementing a new product. There are interdisciplinary studies educating future product managers . Likewise, the existing faculties change their curricula accordingly. Cooperation agreements between universities and industry are no longer papers lost somewhere on the dean’s desk - they are implemented, extended, developed. Students are working less theoretically, but they get real material with all the restrictions, and needs. The teaching practice shows that it leads to students’ greater involvement in what they do. They see, they feel a direct connection between acquired skills and their future professional work. The conference will be closed by the panel discussion “Design and the attractiveness of the Polish economy on international markets”. We know that exports is a growth engine. We also know that in open market conditions it is not enough to create an excellent product. You need to be able to show it, and then sell it. There are state institutions supporting Polish entrepreneurs abroad, promoting Poland’s economy on the emerging markets, there are finally new sector-specific schemes for Polish design in foreign trade. It is worth knowing them. Business and design together, designers and manufacturers together. Such statements can be heard more and more often. After all, the market is demanding. If you want to be

successful on the market, you need to be innovative. Every new technology, every need you are ware of should give rise to a product that will better meet it than these of competitors. The value added is a concept known by every design student, but also, I believe, by every entrepreneur. We live in times when every major manufacturer produces the same well-functioning televisions, refrigerators, cars, etc. But increase in sales depends not only on the cheap price, but also on the product’s functionality, ergonomics, user-friendliness. Create things beautiful and smart, other should not be designed - that is what I repeat incessantly to my students. Design is an opportunity for companies to achieve significant success. It needs, however, be done in a team. There is no doubt that the potential is sufficient. Exhibitions, presentations of new patterns, festivals, days of design - we can be proud of the achievements of our manufacturers and designers winning awards at prestigious international competitions. But knowledge is still lacking about the possibilities to use that potential. There are, moreover, not enough public bodies effectively supporting manufacturers in achieving their intended purpose, which is always the same - the sustainable development of the company. Knowledge about such bodies which are already in existence, as well as discussing possible new ones is a goal of the 7th International Conference “Design - an opportunity for SMEs and regions.” ::

FM BRAVO SP. Z O.O. Założona w 2002 roku – jest dzisiaj uznanym producentem nowoczesnych mebli skrzyniowych. Firma ma siedzibę w Olsztynie i posiada dwa zakłady produkcyjne w Bartoszycach i Szczytnie.

FM BRAVO oferuje szeroką gamę takich wyrobów, jak meblościanki, szafy, zestawy sypialniane i jadalniane oraz meble biurowe, dziecięce, młodzieżowe i systemowe. Meble te produkowane są na bazie certyﬁkowanych materiałów przyjaznych dla środowiska i charakteryzują się bardzo wysoką jakością, funkcjonalnością i trwałością. Nasza ﬁrma eksportuje swoje produkty z wielkim sukcesem do ponad 15 krajów.

DANE ADRESOWE Dworcowa 3, 10-413 Olsztyn, e-mail: biuro@fmbravo.pl

WWW.FMBRAVO.PL

Powerful Businesswomen

Passionate about Innovation

Interview with Alicja Wiecka, Managing Director of SAS Institute Poland.

Heading up SAS Institute Poland for 22 years, you are the longest-standing leader of a Polish branch of a multinational IT company. Every year you are honored in prestigious rankings of the best managers in Poland. What is your recipe for success? Looking back, I would say that it is a mix of personality, hard work and destiny. At the start of my career in Poland in the early 1990s, I was offering Polish companies advanced Business Intelligence (BI) technologies and proving their value when customers were not even aware that they had a need for them. It was a huge challenge, requiring appropriate technical knowledge, business experience, as well as communication and pm

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managerial skills. I remember that professional experience gained in the United States and the UK was of great help to me. Another factor was my individual characteristics intuition, the ability to multi-task, thinking not only about strategy and vision, but also about how to make them really work in practice. And then, of course, hard work ... Throughout all these years, SAS has been implementing very important systems for organizations representing virtually all market sectors in Poland, including public administration. Experience gained while implementing projects for so many customers is our great asset today, when business analytics has become a key technology. Customers

are increasingly aware that analytical tools build their competitive advantage, and we provide them with innovative solutions that bring tangible results and business benefits. How do we do that? Exactly. From the very beginning SAS has been the leader in the Business Intelligence market in Poland. How did you manage to achieve regular growth and robust development, despite challenging and volatile market conditions? The economic downturn has not caused a decline of interest in Business Intelligence solutions. On the contrary, the demand for such solutions increased in times of crisis pm

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since they allow for simultaneous cost optimization and revenue growth. We know how to make analytics solve the most complex business problems and thus help our customers outperform competitors. We offer the best technology along with implementation consulting and business expertise. These are effective tools in the areas of finance, risk management and fraud detection, as well as marketing and customer relationship management. They are also used for supply chain management and demand forecasting. If your technology meets specific customer needs and is effective in optimizing your customer’s business, it is not so difficult to convince customers to purchase it. From the beginning of my work at SAS I have placed enormous emphasis on yet another key aspect that spurs our market success - building trust and lasting relationships with customers. We want to be a reliable and competent partner at each and every stage of cooperation. This approach is noticed and appreciated by our customers and constitutes the corner stone of the SAS brand experience. How do solutions and services offered by SAS support innovation of the Polish economy? Information technology is an area through which people’s knowledge and talent can be translated into enhanced efficiency of the state and the economy - by way of improving the functioning of institutions and businesses. I have set myself this objective from the very beginning and ever since I am aware of the great responsibility vested in us. With introducing to Poland, in the early 1990s, Business Intelligence technologies which had been absolutely innovative at that time, I quickly saw the results of my work. I realized that SAS Institute had a major role to play in the development of the banking system in Poland, as well as in enabling insurance and telecommunications companies in taking advantage of BI technology. SAS Institute participated in the creation of most of the Polish pioneering information systems and solutions supporting decision-making for Poland’s major companies and institutions. SAS customers that bought our solutions in the 1990’s have continued to use them ever since and still remain satisfied. Today we are participating in the country’s major IT projects. We are perfectly capable of building flexible analytical platforms ready to take up the challenges of today, tomorrow and the future. And that is what distinguishes SAS Institute in Poland.

Does Polish know-how contribute to the development of SAS’ global solutions? SAS Poland is able to create innovative solutions together with Polish customers, ahead of the United States and other SAS offices around the world. We have proved it many times by developing business solutions dedicated to specific industries, such as telecommunications, banking or insurance. This is the work of the Polish Research & Development Team. SAS Poland has created products that have become global market hits. Thanks to us, the corporation started offering many innovative products and business pm

“I love picking out

talents and helping them become great managers and leaders.

”

solutions. We have developed a concept and put into practice a pioneering offer of comprehensive business solutions dedicated to specific industries and business areas. The success of the Polish branch is confirmed by the fact that our solutions have already been offered for more than 10 years and are continuously developed and gain recognition from customers. You manage a 250-strong team composed of highly qualified specialists. What competencies and skills have helped you build a team focused on success? I love picking out talents and helping them become great managers and leaders. In SAS we bet on people who are not afraid to take the helm and have the courage to influence the direction in which the company is heading. I assure my colleagues the freedom of action, full trust and respect - these principles have proved successful already for two decades. I believe that having faith in his or her employees, setting them ambitious objectives and fairly taking count of their results, the manager sends employees flying and releases their energy, which is extremely positive for employees, the manager and the company. The effects of this approach go beyond all expectations. We are a leading supplier of pm

analytical and Business Intelligence solutions in Poland, and we keep growing consistently. SAS is part of a narrow group of employers in Poland who care in a unique way about staff development and job satisfaction. Is this yet another example of an innovative approach? In this regard, SAS in the world and in Poland has since its inception demonstrated a very innovative approach, creating a unique organizational culture that supports creativity and commitment of employees. A strong value system that was put in place in the beginning is still in force and constitutes one of the company’s most important cornerstones. As a result we have been recognized for our workplace culture by various organizations, including the Great Place to Work Institue and Aon Hewitt. Last year, SAS Poland was ranked No. 2 on the “The Best Places to Work” list published by the Great Place to Work® Institute. We are a highly professional and unique team. We put lot of effort into the recruitment process to identify candidates best suited to the company’s corporate culture and customers’ business needs. Well-matched candidates stay with SAS for a long time. The average length of service of our employees is more than six years, but our best employees stay with us much longer. It is noteworthy that, with a large-scale business operations, we managed not to lose our individual approach to each and every employee. The director of each business unit knows his or her people by name and by their successes, but also takes interest in their individual living conditions. In addition, the company favors the open door policy and freedom of communication. We do not create barriers, we address one another by name, no one has a problem with talking to his or her boss, or members of the Executive Team. There are a number of programs and activities supporting professional development of employees. We also try to take advantage of the fact that we are an international corporation. We exchange experiences with other countries, conduct trainings or participate in them, work together on projects, we also boast cases of global careers of Polish nationals. There are some other initiatives too. For example, we have a benefit cafeteria dedicated to all employees, each of whom can pick a package that interests him or her most. A very important aspect of our corporate culture is also celebrating successes and team building meetings. And we have many opportunities to celebrate: excellent business pm

3 /2014 :: polish market :: 49

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performance in the past year (exceeding the sales targets), successful implementations, the purchase of our own premises, celebrations of the 20th anniversary of the company’s operations in Poland or successes associated with internal projects. There is yet another interesting program in this area. It is called Be Well@SAS and you are personally committed to it ... Yes, the initiative Be Well@SAS, which we launched in 2012, is a program designed to meet the needs of employees pertaining to life quality, health care, the negative impact of stress and workload and optimal reconciliation of work and life balance. These are practical workshops on healthy living, coping with overload and emotions, sharing passions. The workshops are facilitated by trainers and practitioners whose knowledge and experience guarantees high substantive quality of these meetings. Each workshop includes specific guidance and practical exercises to be used in everyday life. I am personally very committed to promoting healthy lifestyle, that is why last year I decided to run a dedicated workshop in order to share my knowledge and experience regarding healthy eating habits. pm

Why is promoting a healthy diet so important? Nutrition is one of the most important health factors. With the proper nutrition, you can be less sick or not sick at all and be fit physically for life. Unfortunately, western medicine does not appreciate the role of nutrition, putting more emphasis on treatment than prevention. In addition, too many drugs are used which instead of repairing malfunctioning organs, only alleviate the symptoms and effects of diseases. Very little is said about the fact that drugs are most often chemical products, which in the course of curing one organ, do harm to other organs. Eastern medicine has evolved in a completely different direction: for 3,000 years it has been documenting the impact of nutrition on the emergence of diseases and their treatment. It is strange to me that western doctors, when dealing with eastern medicine, primarily focus on acupuncture, and neglect nutrition and its role in disease prevention to the detriment of Europeans and Americans who increasingly suffer from health problems, especially in connection with the so-called civilizational diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease, obesity... Traditional Chinese Medicine holds a number of foods accountable for very harmful effects pm

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and recommends that we should eliminate them from our diet in order to avoid diseases. The most controversial is the proposition to eliminate all products containing cow’s milk. Cow milk’s protein - casein - is a very strong building block, which in favorable circumstances (toxins, smoking, viruses) develops tumors, kidney stones and all sorts of degenerations. It is enough to avoid processed milk, i.e. cottage and other types of fresh cheese, all types of (semi-)hard cheese and yogurt to significantly increase your chances for a life without cancer. The second most dangerous diet component is gluten - a glue that makes cakes baked from wheat flour stay in one piece and look nice. Unfortunately it glues parts of the body together as well, thus interfering with their healthy functioning. All of us and not only allergic patients should completely abandon products from wheat flour and replace them with cereals (except wheat) and rice. Another great enemy of a healthy diet is sugar. It is good that its harmfulness has become common knowledge and that there exist many natural sweeteners which may be bought as substitutes for refined sugars. Last but not least, little is said about the dangers of consuming meat and fish proteins. Meanwhile, the human body needs very little proteins, and its excess, like in the case of casein, might result in tumors, kidney stones, etc. An amazing Chinese study conducted over a 10 year span (1970-1980) on a population of 880

million people has proven a direct link between the amount of intake of meat and fish and cancer incidence. What and how should we eat then? Healthy eating is very easy to understand and apply, and not expensive. The main component of the diet should be cooked grain (brown rice and cereal: buckwheat, barley, millet, etc. - except for semolina and couscous which are produced from wheat), some rye bread, full grain rice cakes. They should make up a minimum of 50% of the daily diet. The next 40% should consist of shortly steamed vegetables. The remaining 10% of the daily diet should be fruit, seeds, walnuts, almonds, lentils, eggs, butter, vegetable oils, herbs. The most typical meal is warm cooked cereal with vegetables and herbs, with the addition of seeds and nuts, garnished with olive extra virgin oil. Cereal and rice can be served sweet, with the addition of shortly stewed fruit and cinnamon. Some will not be happy with it, but due to diseases caused by excess protein, it is recommended that meat and fish be eaten only twice a week; only those with blood type 0 may eat meat more often. Among the most recommended type of meat is turkey and beef. Chicken and pork should be avoided. We should start every day with a cup of hot water with juice from half a lemon - it is a morning detox, which favors the purification pm

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of the body and acid-base balance. Meals, preferably cooked, should be eaten 4 times a day and thoroughly chewed. Drinking while eating is not recommended. You are welcome to drink 30 minutes before and after your meal - preferably hot water, Rooibos tea or grain coffee. These are the healthiest drinks. Cold water and fizzy beverages are absolutely to be avoided. Why? Primarily because they chill the body too much, and the nutrition’s main role is to provide us with energy. Similarly, Traditional Chinese Medicine advises against eating salads or uncooked cereal grains because instead of providing our body with energy, they cool it too strongly. The products that have cooling properties include milk, yogurt and cheese. Ironically, people who want to be slim and eat “healthy” yogurt with muesli, fruit and salads are so chilled that at the end of the day they eat anything, including candy, only to overcome the feeling of overpowering cold - cold hands and feet, shivering is characteristic of people who destroy their health thinking they are improving it. For those with blood type A a very important issue is that of excess mucus that is secreted under the influence of certain food products. Diary and pork products have the most adverse impact here and it would be best to completely eliminate them from your diet. For example, a very common disease with children recurrent ear infections - can be completely eliminated by abandoning dairy products. Excess mucus caused by “healthy” milk and cheese is collected in the ears and becomes an ideal environment for bacterial growth. Rather than weakening antibiotics, I highly recommend prevention by way of giving up dairy products in your child’s diet. This is just one example illustrating how closely nutrition is linked with health. I realize that the above mentioned information disturbs an average European’s ideas and knowledge about healthy eating. A few years ago, upon my first encounter with eastern medicine, I was astonished and did not believe in it either. But when I tested it on myself and started to observe serious changes in well-being and resilience, I began to further explore the secrets of Traditional Chinese Medicine and now I strongly advise nutrition as a basis for prevention. Helping people gain a deeper understanding of themselves has always been very interesting and important for me, irrespective of subject matter – be it nutrition or development in business roles – I love this challenge.

To sum up our conversation, please tell me what made you achieve such spectacular results in business and management? Knowledge, talent, experience, or perhaps innovation? In every aspect of my work I try to consistently pursue a strategy geared to success. What leads to success is on the one hand vision, passion, intuition and creativity, and on the other hand hard work and commitment. These are the basic requirements that must be met by a good leader and manager. But an effective leader has yet another very important ability – infecting others with determination and enthusiasm. Of course, all these elements sum up in innovation. I know that I have to ensure progress in every aspect of the company’s operations. But it is a challenge very close to my nature, because I have innovation in my DNA. I start every year with searching for innovative solutions and ways to stimulate development in every aspect. Every day, along with my team, I create and realize ideas that set pm

new trends, transform our customers’ business and ensure dynamic development for SAS Poland. ::

Alicja Wiecka Originator, founder and Managing Director at SAS Institute Poland, a provider of analytical software, since its opening in 1992. For more than 20 years she has been managing the company that has shown a strong growth in revenues and employment, being the fastest growing subsidiary of SAS Institute in Central and Eastern Europe. Since the beginning of company’s activity, she has been focused on implementing an innovative model of governance and business processes which would accelerate market expansion and increase diversification of SAS products and services. These innovative changes turned SAS Poland into the centre of competence and product development worldwide. She has received multiple prizes including Manager Award 2013 granted by the “Manager” magazine and 2012 Manager of the Year title awarded by “Home & Market”. For seven times ranked as one of the 50 Most Influential Women in Poland by “Home & Market” magazine - in 2014 she was ranked 7th! She was also the finalist for Manager of the Year title awarded by the Association of Managers in Poland. In 2011 and 2013, she was distinguished as one of the 50 Most Outstanding Managers in Poland in Tiaras of Management ranking by “Polish Market”. For three times she was listed among The Most Enterprising Women in Poland in the ranking by “Gazeta Finansowa”.

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Polish designers and companies make Poland recognizable internationally Beata Jarosz, Vice-President of Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE)

Is design and the design industry a strong point of Poland? We live in times in which design plays an increasingly important role. Not only in our daily lives – after all we would all like to be surrounded by beautiful things – but also, and perhaps above all, in the economy. The look of products is today as important as their functionality. The best example of such an approach is Apple’s success – there were many mp3 players, but it is iPod that has gained a cult device status – precisely owing to design. Polish manufacturers take advantage of global trends increasingly boldly. After all, we do have rich traditions in this field – the pre-war art deco or the communist era design which is today experiencing a revival in popularity. The real opportunity for success for Polish entrepreneurs from that industry is a new design that emerged in Poland at the turn of centuries. Poles are already today successful abroad. For example, an exhibition of Polish design at the Expo in Shanghai two years ago made a splash, and at this year’s furniture fair in Cologne – one of the most important events of this type in Europe – Polish creations met with very enthusiastic response. The growing importance of that sector of the economy can be seen in figures, with the value of Polish furniture exports to Germany only amounted to EUR 2.7 billion in 2013. pm

Can we compete with the world from a purely financial perspective ? Absolutely yes. Design has been recognized as an important innovation factor by the Ministry of the Economy, which introduced provisions favourable to design in the already prepared Innovative Economy pm

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Programme for 2007-2013. Today, design is present in all Polish academies of fine arts, in some universities of technology and private higher education institutions. Likewise, Polish designers and the Polish companies that use designers’ services become more and more recognizable internationally. Unfortunately, there are also some constraints, such as a relatively small number of modern enterprises, which could use design to improve sales performance, or Poles’ being accustomed to traditional and commonly used patterns. I think it is only a matter of time when ideas of Polish designers appreciated abroad will gain popularity in Poland too. Will maintaining interest rates as they currently are have a significant impact on the Polish economy? The level of interest rates in Poland falls within the competence of the Monetary Policy Council. So far, it has had a feel when fixing interest rates, since Poland distinguished itself in terms of economic performance not only in the CEE region, but across the whole of Europe. Low interest rates are certainly appreciated by entrepreneurs, because it makes money cheaper. This, in turn, allows to implement broader investment programmes, which then translate into GDP figures. But this is not the only and decisive argument in favour of keeping interest rates at their current level. The crucial factor is the macroeconomic environment both domestic and international, the latter being increasingly impactful for Poland. pm

From a point of view of a woman occupying a high-profile, prestigious position, do

you think that there are still stereotypical barriers for women in business ? A report published by the European Commission last fall suggests that there are a mere 10.3% of women sitting on the largest Polish listed companies’ Boards, while the EU average is 16.6%. It is far too little, because it means that out of 10 people on the Boards only one is a woman. Therefore, the Warsaw Stock Exchange recommends to public companies and their shareholders to ensure a balanced participation of men and women in the exercise of management and supervision roles. In our opinion, it is likely to contribute to the strengthening of creativity and innovation in business. As for the barriers to the conduct of business, there certainly are areas where women continue to face certain obstacles, but I do not think they are so serious as to prevent them from running economic activity. This is confirmed by research, which clearly shows Poland ranks high in the EU as far as women entrepreneurship is concerned. Approx. 33.4% of companies are operated by women, while the EU average is 31%.

Do you think that Poland’s GDP is likely to increase? All indications are that the situation both in Poland and in Europe will be improving. Consequently, Poland stands a good chance for a decent economic growth this year. The domestic demand has shown some positive signs which, coupled with high exports volume, is likely to translate into a noticeable increase in GDP. The Polish economy is stable, that is why the recovery seen in recent months should be lasting. :: pm

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Design -

a key to innovation success Research, development and innovation - these are the strategic objectives of the new European Union budget for 2014-2020, which focuses on supporting R&D policy in companies. It is also about one of the key elements of a modern approach to business and product management. This enables the development of products and services based on innovative and unconventional solutions, meeting consumers’ expectations and carefully designed. It is the only way to go beyond the mediocrity of competitors - including global ones. And this is the essence of modern design.

Monika Piątkowska Member of the Board of the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency

Driving force of innovation We live in interesting times. The pace of social and economic changes is staggering. Consumers’ tastes and preferences are constantly changing too. They want above all quickly and easily available products and services. Today, it is fashionable to “facelift” even such a luxury product as a yacht after a few years of using. Answering the new market and social challenges requires more sophisticated methods. Reliability and low cost is no longer enough to distinguish itself among others. Practically everyone offers this. Only a product that will trigger new emotions and arouse a desire of having it stands a chance to leave the factory warehouse. It is design, understood broadly as a way of thinking and innovation management, and not just as styling of the product, that is now recognized as an effective strategy for building a competitive advantage. According to the Creative Economy Report 2013, investment in the so-called “creative industries”

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- not just at the company level, but also at the level of the whole country - has become a key element of technology development, social change, and consequently the driving force behind the economy. The paradigmatic example of using design to promote products and the national brand is Sweden. Every year 4% of Swedish GDP is spent on research and development, including design. As a result, the country has built a competitive advantage based on the widely recognizable Scandinavian design. The Swedish economy’s icons - well-designed products such as Volvo, Ericsson and IKEA - combine economical style, a simple design and functionality. It is also worth noting that Polish subcontractors help build competitive advantages of IKEA. It is in fact the leader of foreign investment in the furniture industry in Poland. In Polish realities the approach to design is double. Some experts argue that investment in innovation, particularly in small companies, and research with the help of designers arouse doubts, especially if a company has recently invested a lot of money in new

production lines. In addition, many decision makers continue to equate design with luxury brands and making products look “designish” to get a better price. Sometimes it happens that designers meet with reluctance as “strangers” appearing in the company. They want to participate in strategic processes, imposing their opinions that tear down the existing order. On the other hand, the pioneering research of the Institute of Industrial Design, conducted at the request of the Ministry of the Economy indicates that 60% of traders are aware of the benefits offered by collaboration with designers. They point primarily to strengthening the company’s image, improvement of customer satisfaction and increase in competitiveness of products.

Good Designs More and more Polish companies are having a successful affair with industrial design. Some of them, like porcelain manufacturer Ćmielów SA , have done so for many decades.

Powerful Businesswomen

The white goods sector, like Amica and Zelmer resorts to cooperation with designers too. Zelmer has even developed a unique model of cooperation with external designers. Producers of bathroom products like Koło or Paradyż have increased the prestige of their brands thanks to cooperation with designers. Even the food or ITC industries use designer’s advice. A well-designed product does not have to be confined to material things. An example can be the Polish auction portal Allegro, which, according to experts, is better designed and more functional than the global giant eBay. No need to be a big corporation to build a global brand. A well-designed product is fair enough. Just look at the Polish company CD Projekt Red. Based on the popular fantasy saga by Andrzej Sapkowski “The Witcher “, after more than four years of work, it has developed a computer game that first became the top-selling game in Poland, and then became a Polish flagship export around the world. For several years, the Polish furniture industry - number 1 of Polish net exports, the fourth EU power and the world’s second

largest supplier of furniture accessories - has reaped benefits from its cooperation with designers. It is mainly Polish designers who have introduced domestic furniture makers, such as Iker, Kler or Livingroom, into demanding world markets, namely in France, Spain and the UK, as well facilitated their permanent presence at the most prestigious fairs in the world. A similar situation can be observed among Polish manufacturers of yachts. Without innovative projects - both technologically and stylistically - they could not compete on the global market and become the world’s second largest producer of yachts up to 8 metres in length. Yet another determinant, outside sales, of successful cooperation between Polish companies and designers is distinctions in the most prestigious industrial design competitions - the Red Dot Awards, called the “Oscars of design”. For several years, virtually no edition has been held without Polish brands. Some of them, like innovative chairs by SITAG, are multiple winners of this prestigious competition.

Design = profit The cooperation with designers makes it possible to fully use the potential of the product. It also helps to achieve better control over its development so that it better meets customers’ needs both functionally and aesthetically. In addition, at the stage of creating a product from scratch, cooperation with good designers helps optimize costs and ensure a faster return on investment. A British study suggests earnings growth at 20-40% thanks to such cooperation. Increasing the attractiveness of a product is tantamount to strengthening the company’s brand and identity. It also stimulates further creativity of the whole team. In addition, when investing in design, every company can use EU grants under the new perspective for 2014-2020, which is dedicated precisely to R&D activities. This is an opportunity especially for small businesses, for which cooperation with designers may initially generate high costs, but eventually is likely to be an opportunity for great success. Investment in design simply pays off. ::

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Powerful Businesswomen

The zone of Teresa Kamińska Teresa Kamińska, a former minister in the government of Jerzy Buzek, today successfully manages the Pomeranian Special Economic Zone, one of Poland’s best special economic zones.

fter graduation, in the early 1980s, she began to actively work for the Solidarity movement, for which reason she was repressed under the martial law period. She was a university teacher, she worked in health care, in sanitary and epidemiological stations. She sat on the Health Council under Lech Wałęsa’s presidency. In the government of Jerzy Buzek she first served as a minister in charge of coordination of social reforms (19971999), then she was president of the Health Insurance Supervisory Authority and finally the head of the Prime Minister’s advisors. In 1998-2002 she was a member of the Advisory Committee of the Pension Funds Supervisory Authority. Given her political career, one may wonder why she decided to quit politics. In an interview she said: “In the government of Jerzy Buzek I had a very specific task to fulfill I was responsible for the coordination of social reforms. I have never felt like being a politician, let alone as a President of the Pomeranian Special Economic Zone.” That said, she added that being a manager and a politician is not like living in two different worlds, on the contrary, they should interact with and penetrate each other to be able to contribute to the development of the national economy. We can therefore safely assume that political experience has positively influenced the strong character of Teresa Kamińska and her strong, reasoned position as President of the Pomeranian Special Economic Zone. The credo that guides Teresa Kamińska rubs off on the activity of the Pomeranian Special Economic Zone. By the end of 2013, the number of investors in the Pomeranian Special Economic Zone exceeded 100, and the total amount of their spending was PLN 8 billion, which resulted in over 15 thousand jobs. At this point it is worth noting that the Pomeranian Special Economic Zone has enjoyed a steady growth and development. It namely owns the Gdańsk Science and Technology Park and the Baltic Port of New Technologies, which is being built on the site of

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the former Gdynia Shipyard. The determination of Teresa Kamińska in the latter project was particularly appreciated by the authorities of Gdynia. She was awarded the Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski Medal “for outstanding services to Gdynia”. Her contribution was particularly appreciated to the development of the city’s business potential through the revitalization of the sites of Gdynia Shipyard and converting them into the Baltic Port of New Technologies. When awarding the Medal, Mayor of Gdynia Wojciech Szczurek said: “Here in Gdynia, the difficult situation after the fall of Gdynia Shipyard was forged into a success. This was possible thanks to the business involvement of the Pomeranian Special Economic Zone and a personal commitment of its President Teresa Kamińska.” The Baltic Port of New Technologies is an innovative business project carried out by the Pomeranian Special Economic Zone, linking the revitalization process of the former Gdynia Shipyard and supporting the development of entrepreneurship in Pomerania. Based on the principle of the golden triangle, it brings together

business, science and local governments. The Pomeranian Special Economic Zone has made a series of investments in the Baltic Port of New Technologies adapting the port infrastructure in a way that created a perfect base for companies that have invested in the purchase of the former yard’s property. Picking up the award Kamińska said: “It is amazing to have such a tiny brick in what is going on here, in this magical Gdynia. This medal is really a collective award and there should be a lot of people standing by me now.” Saying these words, she surely meant her collaborators. There are those who have worked since the zone’s inception and a bunch of young people. Kamińska stresses that “for many years she has advocated a principle that the team must be rich in experience and youth, which brings something fresh, creative. Together we are able to achieve something.” Such a combination of youth and experience seems to be the key to the zone’s vigorous expansion, and thus also for all investment projects it pursues. ::

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Modern education is the key to success! Krystyna Boczkowska, President of Robert Bosch Sp. z o.o. and a representative of the Bosch Group in Poland, talks to “Polish Market”.

There is much talk about the need to put emphasis in schools on science and that there is a shortage of workers with technical knowledge. Have you encountered this problem? Do you have an idea how to fix it? The current situation on the job market, characterized by a lack of staff prepared to meet present-day economic challenges, is due to mistakes that have been made in the Polish education system over the past 15 years. Reforms of the education system that have occurred since 1998 neglected social dialogue and consultation with employers and institutions forming long-term plans of Poland’s economic development. The biggest victims of such an approach are vocational schools and technical colleges. Let me remind you that until 2010 there was no obligation of graduating in maths in secondary schools. Technical staff that would be able to meet high expectations of companies launching their operations in Poland became scarce on the market. In part, we are all victims of the lack of midlevel technical staff: you have to wait a long time for your technical equipment to be repaired and it is not always successful. There is much talk in Poland about an innovative economy that will give our country a strong position in the near future. However, achieving this goal is only possible through the earliest possible introduction of technical knowledge and science in the curriculum, very well- educated teaching staff focused on searching for and stimulating technical talents, and through modern laboratories with an opportunity to verify the acquired knowledge in practice. In short, science should regain its rightful place in schools. Higher technical schools should educate teachers, the deficit of which is painfully felt by the Polish economy. It is urgent to improve the image of vocational training with young people and their parents by reliable and universal counseling. Vocational education is an opportunity for a well-paid job and gaining independence fast. It does not exclude further enhancing knowledge and acquiring other skills. pm

Why do you think it is so difficult for young people to find their way around on the job market? How to foster their innovation and thinking in technical terms? This is due to the current education system, which - by acting in isolation from the economic environment - focuses on preparing students for test-taking rather than supporting the development of their true talents and interests. Graduates of today’s schools are not able to work in a team. Modern schools should prepare for work and life in an increasingly complex environment, teach independent thinking and finding the information you need in the jungle of knowledge. The priority issue is to raise the prestige, but also the quality of teachers. Teachers are an inspiration for students, they pick and promote talents. I am sure most of us have experienced this in our school life. The teaching profession became a profession of the last choice, namely due to a low salary. In addition, mediocrity is cultivated by the Teachers’ Charter. As long as it does not change and schools are administered by parents, there are no prospects for improvement. Young people are an extremely valuable group for the development of science - their curiosity and boundless imagination, combined with scientific knowledge, can lead to interesting discoveries. It has been our reality for four years at the Robert Bosch Academy of Inventors - an educational programme for high school students, popularizing science subjects and inspiring students to be creative. It is implemented in cooperation with technical universities. Young people who are able to use fantastically equipped university laboratories under the guidance of students create unique inventions rewarded by Bosch. The programme confirms the extraordinary potential of young people. Not only doest it motivate, but also shows how to cover the path from idea to implementation. An important element when working on an invention is team work, sharing tasks, responsibilities, and finally the ability to present the results. pm

Could you give some examples of activities that can help young people choose the right career path, adapted to the requirements of the job market in Poland? For several years, a group of employers affiliated with the Polish-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce have conducted activities aimed at the promotion of vocational and technical education in Poland. These include dual education projects in enterprises. We also strive to build a platform for communication between the representatives of technical secondary schools, and Ministry of Education and employers. This aims to facilitate a constructive and open dialogue between practitioners and representatives of the government, which will result in the improvement of the situation of higher education in Poland, as well as in better preparation of graduates to enter the job market. The result of the meeting between the directors of vocational schools, officials of the Ministry of Education and employers, which was held at Bosch headquarters in Warsaw in January, was collecting and providing the Ministry with a list of demands regarding the Act on vocational education that entered into force in 2011. The most important demands are about promoting and enhancing the image of vocational training with young people through counseling, as well as putting in place incentives for employers to conduct practical training on site. Another positive effect of the activities of the Chamber and Bosch is that dual training, very common in western Europe, has gained popularity in Poland too. In addition, Bosch has already given its patronage to classes in automotive secondary schools, and for the past two years one class from Aviation Scientific School in Wrocław has been doing an apprenticeship at the Bosch plant in Mirków. :: pm

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Powerful Businesswomen

Beautiful our whole Poland Elżbieta Mączyńska Elżbieta Mączyńska, Professor of Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, Institute of Economics of the Polish Academy of Sciences, President of the Polish Economic Society

oland is a country with a great potential for development, but still far from being fully tapped, a conspicuous example of which is underestimation of artistic design, that is creating the look and beauty of utilitarian objects. As defined by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design, “Design is a creative activity whose aim is to establish the multi-faceted qualities of objects, processes, services and their systems in whole life cycles. Therefore, design is the central factor of innovative humanization of technologies and the crucial factor of cultural and economic exchange” (www.icsid.org/ about/about/articles31.htm). This definition points to a far broader, not only artistic but also economic and cultural, status of design. Design is a field of applied art, the potential of which can and should be an important prodevelopment factor, conducive to social and economic development, culture and - most importantly -one improving life quality. Traditions, resources and creative opportunities that exist in this area should be taken into account to a much greater extent in the social and economic policies of the country. Unfortunately, the economic transformation has not become a sufficiently strong stimulus for the proper use of the achievements of Polish design. Such a statement may be regarded as controversial, because Polish design is currently creating and enriching many products, which is visible both on the domestic market and in Polish exports. In practice, however, there are still a number of products, solutions and concepts cluttering everyday life and deteriorating its quality. Ignoring the requirements of functional art cause that art and beauty too often lose with ugly solutions. Clearly, the truth is not

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taken into account in such cases that beauty is wealth and its multiplying factor. Beauty attracts investors, tourists and other customers, which helps stimulate the economy and the welfare of the country and its people. Policymakers most often explain that in the country working its way up basic needs must be satisfied first. Such an approach means entering a vicious circle of impossibility. It is not conducive to perpetuating a beautiful image of Poland illustrated in the poem by Wincenty Pol (1807-1872) “Beautiful our whole Poland”. Historical proof of the beauty of Poland and Polish design can be found not only in museums, showcasing the outstanding works of art. They are also preserved in many institutions and private homes, as evidenced by exposure in some auction houses and antique shops. The tradition is cultivated by the Institute of Industrial Design established in 1950. The creation of such an institution was a pioneering idea in Europe. The achievements of the Institute are not to be underestimated, although still insufficiently promoted and put into practice. “The beauty for every day and for all. Good designs in mass production have their economic value. Good designs also have their cultural value” - these are the main ideas behind the institution’s mission. The use of historically well-established and award-winning achievements of Polish artists can be an important factor in accelerating the economic development of Poland. This may translate into economic success, as evidenced by the internet ranking of business ideas that were turned into millions of dollars, and the businesses went from local to global. In all these cases the fundamental role was played by design (10 Ideas That Made USD 100 Million).

The proper use of the potential of design is all the more important when the demand barrier goes up and when it is hard to find buyers for certain products and services. It is increasingly difficult, especially that the domestic market is flooded with foreign imported trash. Polish design could provide an invigorating factor, stimulating demand. In order for this to happen, it is necessary to strengthen the knowledge of the economic and social players as regards the potential of design. You can travesty there Alvin Toffler, the guru of futurology, and point to the need for the development of “a social movement for design,” movement opposing disregard for aesthetics and beauty. It would be appropriate to create at all possible levels of social and economic life “imaginary centres” aimed at interdisciplinary “brain activation” for beauty and against ugliness. Such kind of “thought stock” can be a source of ideas which technocrats have not even dreamed of. “A manufacturer of glass is looking for a science fiction writer to imagine possible forms of corporate activities in the future. Companies turn to those with heads in the clouds and to spongers not so much to obtain scientific predictions about what is probable, but rather far-reaching speculations about what is possible” (Alvin Toffler, “Future Shock”). It is therefore important for investors and other economic decision-makers to untap the potential design in a similar way. And there is no need to prove that women have a particular role to play here. Their pragmatism combined with creativity, a sense of beauty and sensitivity should be used in practice to a much larger extend. This could be a major factor in social and economic development. ::

Powerful Businesswomen

Every man is the architect of his own future Prof. Małgorzata Zaleska, a member of the National Bank of Poland’s Management Board, talks to Ewelina Janczylik- Foryś.

There is a stereotype that it is more difficult for women than for men to achieve a career success. Do you agree with this opinion? I am not an advocate of stereotypes. I like to break them because they are most often an expression of prejudice or blindness to changes occurring in the outside world. Speaking of a professional success, however, we should consider how to define it, because depending on the gender it may have a different dimension. Men often treat running a company like leading a military campaign in which as a rule the winner does not take prisoners. By contrast, women pay more attention to the social aspect of business. That being said, we can say that such reasoning is exactly a stereotype... pm

Do you, a woman holding a high office, meet with obstacles in your daily life, resulting from the fact that you are a woman? Personally, I was lucky to have never experienced barriers or discrimination due to being a woman. Please note, however, that barriers are often encountered regardless of gender, by people who are less educated or those who lack confidence in their skills. pm

What are in your opinion key factors that make for success in life regardless of gender: genes, education or perhaps determination and perseverance? What should we pay attention to when educating young people and shaping their attitudes so as to make them able to achieve not only a professional success, but also a success in life? Educating young people is a long-term and very complex process. Nevertheless, we should teach them that “faber est suae quisque fortunae”, which means that everyone is the architect of his own fortune. Young people should remember that they are given some tools and capabilities, but how they will use them, and thus the final result, depends on individual decisions and choices. Of course, in the initial stage of human pm

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development key decisions are taken by parents or teachers, so their role is not to be underestimated. Access to education is therefore the most important asset young people can get from their parents and the state of which they are nationals. Do Polish teenagers have access to education at the highest European level or perhaps do they lose to their peers from other countries right from the start? Recent research shows that we have nothing to be ashamed of compared to other EU countries. The latest results of the 2012 PISA survey suggest that Polish high school students are at the forefront of EU countries: they took first place (along with the Dutch, Estonians and Finns) in mathematics, first place (along with the Finns and the Irish) in reading and interpreting and third place (with Finns and Estonians) in natural sciences. pm

These findings are quite optimistic. What about the continually emerging demands to reform the Polish education system? Poles are naturally inclined to complain about different areas of life, including the education system. On the other hand, we cannot rest on our laurels looking at our very good results in international comparative studies in education. We should remember that the education system cannot be changed significantly overnight, and that it must not only keep pace with developments in other areas of our lives, but even overtake them. pm

The smooth and efficient functioning of each system, including the education one, requires stable, long-term funding sources. Can the education system in Poland serve as a model for other EU countries in this respect? Providing funds for public education not just for children and adolescents, and their effective distribution is currently one of the biggest challenges facing the Polish education system. According to Eurostat data, public pm

expenditure on education in Poland is, unfortunately, below the EU average and amounts to slightly more than 5% of GDP. Building the European Union, its member states decided to unify many areas of crucial importance to citizens such as environmental protection or the banking system. Is the standardization of the education process, through for example the Bologna process, a good solution for education in Poland? The standardization of the education process in the EU is itself undoubtedly a good solution. Thanks to it, a person who has graduated and earned a degree in one country has knowledge and skills comparable to a holder of the same degree in another country. However, some aspects of the Bologna process must be considered negatively, including in particular the introduction in all EU countries of a two-tier education system (bachelor’s and master’s). If a student with a backelar’s degree choses a significantly different field of study for his or her master’s degree they have very little chance of catching up. Fortunately, studies in areas such as medicine or pharmacy have remained uniform. pm

To sum up we can say that education is a necessary but not sufficient success factor in life. What then should young people take into consideration when choosing a field of study or starting a job? First, they must be careful not to give in to fashions. Not everyone in adulthood has to become a psychologist or business manager. Second, it is important to learn foreign languages as it opens a window on the world and becomes more and more useful in everyday life. It is also vital to realize that after graduation we only begin to learn life, and therefore we must constantly expand our knowledge and skills. Without openness and curiosity about the world our success can only be an illusion. :: pm

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Health and a good frame of mind Halina Zubrzycka, M.D., founder of the Fenix Spa & Wellness Centre talks to Marcin Haber. Do you think Poland is at the world’s forefront in terms of the beauty business? For several years there has been a boom in the beauty industry in Poland. These services are largely dispersed: skin, face, neck, hands, feet, and the goal is not only care, but also slowing down the aging process. The broadly understood body care - the skin, the silhouette, which consists not only of weight, but of the correctly distributed fat and muscles is an inseparable combination of health and beauty. Holidays with elements of spa treatments, physiotherapy, rehabilitation and traditional beauty treatments, something extremely popular today, is not an empty fad, but rather a need dictated by a fast-paced life. Companies providing beauty-like services attach increasing attention to proper nutrition (qualitatively as well as quantitatively and aesthetically) and physical exercise (starting from individual through gymnastics, through running, Nordic walking, to dancing and other). Polish spas offer a mix of nature treatments such as mud, hand water massage, paraffin treatments that improve health and beauty. But answering your question, I think that Poles look more broadly at the beauty, care more about health, and a healthy and properly-functioning body means a beautiful face, skin, silhouette. I have been several times to spa in England. Treatments were limited to hand care, bath, colour cosmetics. I estimate Polish spa services definitely higher, as they are characterized by multi-pronged pm

approach to the human body to bring out its inner beauty, good mood, fitness and to maintain its youthfulness. You mean the world’s forefront or rather the leadership in Europe? We are at the world’s forefront. Our spa facilities are no worse than western ones. We have excellent equipment that allow for example to shallow fat pads with invasive and not-invasive methods, our doctors participate in all world congresses on dermatology and aesthetic medicine. A growing interest can be observed in non-invasive treatments. Poles would like to get a young and beautiful face without surgery, and prefer replacing liposuction with radio waves. pm

What can you offer to clients from Poland and abroad? We offer stays where next to recreation our guests take part in the exercises individually tailored to their condition and age, with a healthy low-calorie diet rich in fruits and vegetables. We also offer traditional treatments such as massage, facials nutrients, which are always very popular, as well as medical treatments: ultrasonic, laser, radio wave, vacuum and many others treatments. Stays are preceded by medical consultation to define expectations and needs of the body. Aesthetic medicine treatments are becoming extremely popular. Poles want to improve their appearance and maintain its qualities without a scalpel. They are more willing to restore the skin’s flexibility with the help of mesotherapy or hyaluronic acid injections, which effectively substitute the excision of excess skin. We also try to make our centre a favourite place of relaxation for its old and new guests. pm

You mentioned a wide range of treatments. Which one would you call a hit? People who are struggling with overweight use willingly ultrasonic breakdown of fat cells in combination with massage. Guests pm

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with very active facial mimics deepening wrinkles undergo Botox treatments. A wide range of formulations of hyaluronic acid is highly appreciated by all those who want to maintain firmness of facial skin and slow down the aging process. There is also a group of people who come to relax and refresh the body with massage and aesthetic treatments. What was the idea behind setting up your own clinic? I founded the clinic 22 years ago (1991). It was then quite an innovative and bold move. I was shortly after an a esthetic medicine training in Switzerland and I was mesmerized by this type of services. I believed people will strive to maintain youth, good looks, and well-being. The market seemed to need a company operating in different directions and professionally. The rapid growth of the industry proves I was right. pm

How do you assess in retrospect your decision to set up the clinic? It was difficult due to the crisis. Starting operations took me about two years. I think the climax also is now behind us. On the one hand, a lot of competing companies appear, not totally fair, providing services at a low level. There is also a pressure on low prices. In this business drugs enforce certain prices, they are just expensive. We also gave up advertising, as we rely on a solid group of good customers. I think that our business has played an important social role. It taught a lot of people that health is primarily about good nutrition and exercise, and beauty, massage therapist or aesthetic medicine recede to the background. Over the 22 years we had a huge number of customers, and I think that this educational function was very important. Besides, I think we left our mark on the town of Nałęczów where we operate. When I started the clinic, cardiology prevailed in the town, today it looks completely different. :: pm

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The female face

of Kliczków Castle “The role of women in social life is progressively changing,” Magdalena Piasecka Ludwin begins her story of the place. She is the President of Kliczków Castle and a true Renaissance woman. “Being well aware of this, we are preparing a package tailored to the needs of contemporary women, including those who pursue a career in business.”

estled in the landscape of the Lower-Silesian Wilderness, the Renaissance-Revival Kliczków Castle is located just a few miles from the heart of the Polish pottery-making tradition, Bolesławiec. The castle’s history dates back to the 13th Century and women have always had a significant place in it. One of them was the Count’s daughter – Jenny – whose discovered handdrawn diary and sketchbook became an important part of the place’s history and iconography. The tower in which she died at an early age now bears her name, and excerpts from her diary are regularly published on the Facebook page of Kliczków Castle. The castle staff like to speak of their seven hundred years’ experience in customer service. There’s more than a grain of truth in it and the meticulous care for client satisfaction is readily visible in the castle’s entertainment and conference package, which dedicates a lot of space to catering to the tastes of modern women. “These days, both men and women pursue their careers, be it business, science or other professions,” Magdalena Piasecka Ludwin explains. “As a result, they often struggle to find time for each other and their families. The emancipation of women has also flourished in the business world and Kliczków Castle has an extensive portfolio for any businesswoman,” the President adds. One of the flagship facilities of Kliczków Castle which is designed especially for women is the spa zone. It provides a variety of therapeutic and relaxing treatments, paired with a great selection of renowned and professional beauty products. It also features a modern swimming pool, located in the former manege, and a small gym. “We realise that after an intensive week many businesswomen need to relax for a while, find some time to unwind and forget about the world around them. Kliczków is the perfect refuge from the hustle and bustle of modern city life. What you get is relaxation,

pleasure and peace of mind. Did you know that some of our castle rooms still have thick walls that effectively block mobile phone reception? These are precisely the most-booked rooms!” the President said with a laugh. For business couples looking to spend some pleasant time together, while their kids engage in fascinating activities, Kliczków has prepared a comprehensive entertainment package for children. Treasure hunting, group cooking, horse-riding in the forest, or trips down the Kwisa River will leave your children incredibly excited – and healthy. There is also a large group of businesswomen who want to spend quality time with their children at the weekends, during holidays or over the winter break. It is often the case that both partners work in high managerial positions which involve enormous responsibility and round-the-clock work. Needless to say, this is associated with stress and chronic lack of time. How does Kliczków respond to this? Magdalena Piasecka Ludwin smiles in response. “We have plenty of wonderful ideas to rekindle your family ties and make you enjoy each other. No need to worry about preparing a delicious and healthy dinner for your children or about preparing festivities. Visit us and you’ll see that your only responsibility is to give your dearest ones as much love and time as you possibly can. All the rest is our task.” The castle in the Lower-Silesian Wilderness provides the perfect location for active leisure, with such activities as horse-riding, a fascinating game involving the search for a hidden treasure (educational quests), family fun in the swimming pool and participation in one of the thematic events regularly held at the castle throughout the year (for example the Knightly May Day Picnic). “We know that despite the great amount of time she invests in her work and the huge responsibility she carries, a woman-CEO or a womandirector always sees the good of her family

as the priority,” the woman-President of Kliczków castle says. The focus on children in the context of busy mothers who provide for interesting leisure time and the education of their children also involves the newly opened Prince Manor Farm, in a complex adjoining the castle. Entertaining and successful residential school trips and excursions are organised here. They are strong in educational content which is emphasised by Ms Piasecka Ludwin herself. “We have instructive paths, group cooking opportunities and historic household appliances. We are also planning to open a small zoo. The farm already features a stable, a horse-riding training ground and a huge shelter with a summer kitchen”. Kliczków is not just a place for leisure. Its rich business package and eight historic conference halls make it a popular venue for training courses, gala dinners and function events. “Women exhibit a very different sensibility from men,” Magdalena Piasecka Ludwin points out. “Our experience tells us that a businesswoman who wants to organise a company conference, a benefit or a directorial meeting, at one of our venues, puts a lot of emphasis on the ‘entourage’ and the additional possibilities provided by the facility, such as leisure or the well-thoughtout organisation of free time for the guests. If you expect all this, you’ve come to the right place – we can organise your time taking into account the castle’s history and tradition, but also the magnificent natural landscape around. We have several dozen options in this regard and we can cater to the most demanding of tastes.” Kliczków Castle has always been a place for women and the excellence with which it caters to their tastes today is nothing short of impressive. Visit us – you will feel at home here, and each one of you will find something for yourself, your family and your company. ::

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Powerful Businesswomen

Polish gems

When we think about popular Polish athletes, such names and Małysz, Kubica and, since recently, also Stoch come immediately to our mind. From time to time there are news in the media about Polish volleyball and handball players. But are these male athletes the only gems in Polish sports? Not at all. When listing the greatest names one should remember about Polish outstanding female athletes. They include these days Justyna Kowalczyk and Agnieszka Radwańska while in the past among the most popular female athletes were Irena Szewińska and Teresa Sukniewicz-Kleiber. All these women have common traits, which they themselves admit: determination, doggedness and firmness in pursuing a goal despite adversities. Marcin Haber

A female gladiator In Poland Justyna Kowalczyk, a cross-country skier, has earned an almost divine position for herself. Polish people, not only skiing fans, treat her in a special way. She has become an inspiration for many young athletes. The support and adoration she receives can be compared to the atmosphere created by skijumping fans around Adam Małysz when he was a top ski jumper for many seasons. The same is the case with Justyna Kowalczyk. For many years her sporting results have reflected

Photo: dream-wallpaper.com

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the world’s highest level that she represents. She has stressed in many interviews that the key to her success is that she is an exceptionally dogged person and would try to reach a goal she has set herself at any cost. And regardless of the cost, she was determined to take part in the Olympic Games in Sochi. She came only sixth in the first event – a 15-kilometre skiathlon race. The main reason was that she fell when changing her skis after the first part of the race. After the race, on her official Twitter account Justyna revealed another reason behind her poorer performance – an X-ray of her foot showing that she competed in Sochi with a fractured foot bone. Experts say it is possible to compete with this kind of injury, but it definitely greatly affects the ability of the injured athlete. Justyna is one of the few female athletes who can count on their fans irrespective of the circumstances. Her well-established position and nice, though sometimes uncompromising, character mean that fans are exceptionally devoted to her. There are few athletes who receive comments of the kind:

“Justyna, whether you win or not you are still great for us.”

Record holder Irena Szewińska has won the biggest number of championship titles in the history of Polish sports. The winner of seven Olympic medals and a five-time European athletics champion, she has also been a sports activist for many years and a member of the Polish Federation of Athletics, which she headed

Irena Szewińska during Academy of Polish Success Gala

Powerful Businesswomen

Befriended with hurdles In the 1970s, another woman was the queen of Polish running tracks, though her achievements were not as impressive and widely known internationally as those of Irena Szewińska. The reason was that Teresa Sukniewicz-Kleiber achieved successes mainly at home. But the number of her wins is amazing. In 1967-1970, she won three Polish championship titles in 80, 100 and 200 metres hurdles, and four championship titles in 4x100 metres hurdling relay. She also held four world records in hurdling. Unfortunately, she had to end her sporting career early after a very serious injury. T o d a y , younger generations recognize Teresa SukniewiczK le i b e r mainly because of the second part of her surname. She first Photo: Private archives met her future husband Michał Kleiber, now

Photo: dream-wallpaper.com

from 1997 to 2009. Since 1998 she has been a member of the International Olympic Committee and the Polish Olympic Committee. Irena Szewińska has been chosen the number-one Polish athlete of the 20th century in many polls, including those run by the “Przegląd Sportowy” and “Polityka” weeklies. This shows that her successes have earned her high recognition among sports fans, journalists and experts in athletics. In 1998, Irena Szewińska was awarded by then President Aleksander Kwaśniewski with the Commander’s Cross with Star of the Polonia Restituta Order, the second most important state decoration which may be granted to a civilian. It is awarded for outstanding services, including in the area of sports and the development of good relations with other countries. At the Olympic Games in Sochi, it was Irena Szewińska who presented a gold medal to ski-jumper Kamil Stoch, Poland’s third ever gold medallist at winter Olympics after Wojciech Fortuna and Justyna Kowalczyk. “Ms Szewińska told me she was proud. It was a great honour for me to hear such words from such an outstanding athlete,” Kamil Stoch told Eurosport after the medal award ceremony. His words show that Szewińska enjoys great respect among the young generation of athletes.

a famous Polish scientist and president of the Polish Academy of Sciences, at a railway platform on Christmas Eve. They waited for a train to go to a sports training camp. Prof. Michał Kleiber was then an excellent tennis player. This is how their lives converged. However, Teresa Sukniewicz-Kleiber tries not to meddle in her husband’s professional life. In an interview for Polish Radio, she said: “I am not at all interested in what my husband does. I know he deals with computer methods (…). I do not need to know specifically what he does to be proud of him.” But tennis is still a passion they share. They both play it to stay fit. Teresa Sukniewicz-Kleiber says tennis is a good substitute for athletics because it involves much physical effort and intensive movement at short distances.

With a racquet and millions When speaking about tennis, another Polish sports icon comes to mind: female tennis player Agnieszka Radwańska. She is a gem among Polish tennis players – none of them has won as many titles in prestigious international tournaments. She is ranked among top female tennis players and has reached the highest place in WTA rankings of all Polish tennis players ever. The career of the 25-year-old athlete began in 2005. Soon after receiving the status of professional player, she won her first big tournament, becoming a Wimbledon junior champion. Another great success in her career was the junior French Open title in 2006. This is where her road to winning millions in prize money began. It is estimated that Radwańska, having won 13 WTA singles tournaments, and several doubles and smaller tournaments, has already earned over USD14 million. This is of course the best result ever achieved by a Polish tennis player. Agnieszka Radwańska began the 2014 season with the second place in the Hopman Cup mixed doubles tournament. Her partner

was Grzegorz Panfil. They won all matches in their road to the final but in the last one fell to a French pair. On January 13-25, she took part in the prestigious Australian Open tournament where she managed to make it to the semi-finals for the first time in her career. On the way up, she defeated Victoria Azarenka, the defender of the title, but failed to reach the final. Last year, Radwańska was ranked fourth in the “Forbes” league table of the most valuable stars of Polish show business. The table shows how much individual celebrities are worth for advertisers. Agnieszka’s value was set at PLN764,000. She ranked behind soccer player Robert Lewandowski, actor Marek Kondrat and social campaigner Jerzy Owsiak.

What next? Poland has had outstanding female athletes in many sports. The women mentioned above are the best proof. But what about the future? Agnieszka Radwańska is 25. Her career will last another 10 years at the most. Justyna Kowalczyk said the Olympic Games in Sochi were her last ones, suggesting that she was going to end her career within the next four years. Unfortunately, the two have no successors. When Adam Małysz retired the void he left was filled by young ski jumpers, including the gold medallist of Sochi. But the situation is quite unlikely to repeat itself in the case of the two female athletes. Our hopes should be pinned on better training. Poland should give preference to the several sports in which Polish athletes have been greatly successful and invest a lot in training children. One of the sports is shooting, with much success achieved in it by Renata Mauer, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and three-time world champion. It is also worth mentioning swimming and fencing, at which Polish women are increasingly good. With a population of over 38 million, Poland surely has sporting gems. One only needs to find and polish them. :: 3 /2014 :: polish market :: 65

Culture

Female faces of Polish culture In recent years we have devoted much attention to exploiting the creative potential of women and their role in the economy. Maciej Proliński writes about the women who are institutions in Polish culture.

think there is no need to distinguish between the masculine and feminine in any sphere, culture included. A great artist, creator of some pro-development attitudes, or a pragmatic culture manager is simply a person who has talent, the personality of a leader, knowledge and organizational skills. It cannot be ruled out that men have a combination of these traits statistically more often as a consequence of their historically developed role and position in professional life. But women already have a very strong presence in many spheres of art. Below are some examples. Krystyna Janda, an actress, theatre director and director of Polonia Theatre, has been

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an institution in Polish theatre and film for years. Polonia Theatre is her private undertaking combining attendance and artistic success. “Theatre seems today to be, in terms of ideas, one of the purest, happiest and safest places in the world, a place where people – benefiting from the wonderful agreement under which some of them enter the stage while others listen and watch - still meditate on the most important notions of humankind: love, morality, truth, friendship and humanity,” Krystyna Janda once told “Polish Market.” Ever since the Krystyna Janda Foundation for Culture started its activity, she has enriched Warsaw’s cultural life but has not neglected cinema either. Among her

biggest successes in this sphere is her double role in “Sweet Rush” (Tatarak) directed by Andrzej Wajda, a truly moving film about acting and death. Aleksandra Kurzak, a young soprano from Wrocław and a daughter of outstanding singer Jolanta Żmurko, has for years successfully performed in La Scala, Covent Garden and Metropolitan Opera. At 21, she won the Moniuszko International Vocal Competition in Warsaw and joined the Hamburg State Opera. In 2011, she signed a contract with the legendary record company Decca Classics and recorded her first album. When in October 2010, Kurzak debuted in Seattle, singing for the first time the main part in “Lucia

Culture

di Lammermoor” by Dionizetti, reviewers wrote that “her talent and professionalism reach up to the stratosphere” … One of the most important and busy ambassadors for Polish film in the world is Agnieszka Holland. She has for years made films, which are no doubt important, brave, much needed and often “salutarily painful and provocative.” In 2012, one of her greatest films, “In Darkness” (W ciemności), hit cinemas in Poland. It tells a story of Leopold Socha, a sewer maintenance worker who sheltered a group of Jews from the Lvov ghetto during World War II. Ewa Ewart, a journalist, documentary film-maker, director and winner of the most prestigious awards for documentaries, includi ng th ree awards from the Roya l Telev ision Society, is one of Poland’s best female docu ment a r ians. Her famous film Ewa Ewart – photo: Piotr Bławicki / “C h i ld ren Ddtvn/ East News of Beslan” earned her a Peabody Award, regarded as an equivalent of Pulitzer Prize for television. She specializes in extreme topics, reaching places which no one else has managed to reach. She has revealed the existence of death camps in North Korea, talked to the bosses of the Colombian drug mafia and commanders of the Basque separatist organization ETA. She was the only journalist to have conducted an interview with Mikhail Gorbachev one day after the failed Yanayev coup. In Poland she works for the TVN24 television station. “I have perfected my skills for 20 years at the BBC. My television adventure began with news. In the early 1990s I worked for three years for the Moscow office of the American CBS station, but then I reached the point of satiety,” she told “Polish Market.” “Instead of reporting that “something has happened,” I decided to talk about ‘why it has happened’. My initial idealism, which made me believe that I will be making the world better with my films was short-lived. Then, it became important for me that my films should help individuals. Even if it is only one person or a few, as was

the case with “Children of Beslan,” I will be satisfied. Because I think that only such an approach helps us understand and grasp reality. It helps us devote attention to the inscrutable. It helps us believe. For me the main character is always the most important. And only a documentary treated from the human perspective is a work with which the viewer can identify. And consequently all this may appeal to them, even if the topic is economics.” Agnieszka Odorowicz has done a great service to Polish cinema, contributing for many years to its development and international promotion. From June 2003 to July 2004 she was the culture minister’s commissioner for structural funds and a member of the team working on the National Strategy for the Development of Culture. In 2005, she assumed the post of director of the Polish Film Institute (PISF). In July 2010, she was again selected for this post through contest. Among the most important tasks of the institute is providing funding for film production and distribution, promoting Polish cinema internationally, supporting debuts and the artistic development of young film artists, providing film education and supporting the maintenance of film archives. “I am glad that increasingly good films are made and that audiences have returned to cinemas to see them. I will just say that in 2005 viewers bought only 800,000 tickets for Polish films while in 2011 over 11 million,” she has said recently. Elżbieta Penderecka is director general of the Ludwig van Beethoven Eastern Festival. I am convinced that the fe st iva l’s loyal audiences will again have an opportunity this year to enj oy the presence of great stars and virtuosos. The Elżbieta Penderecka – photo: Archives 18th edition of the Ludwig van Beethoven of the festi- Association val will be held on April 6-18. The festival, first held in 1997, has quickly become a very important fixture in the cultural life of Poland and Europe. The European Festivals Association based in Geneva showed its appreciation for

the Easter Festival by admitting it as a member in October 2001. The programme of every edition is different, but always interesting and presenting a varied selection of European music. It enables the audiences to see where Beethoven draw inspiration for his compositions, what impact his oeuvre had on other composers and what place it occupies in contemporary European art. It is worth adding that Elżbieta Penderecka was the originator and organizer of the Krzysztof Penderecki Festival held in Warsaw in November last year. In 2013, Bożena Gargas became president of the Industrial Design Institute (IWP) in Warsaw. She assumed the post having vast professional experience as an expert on European UnBożena Gargas – photo: Archives of the ion fundIndustrive Design Institute ing and ma nager. “What I want in the first place is for the Institute to consistently introduce design to the economy. Design is closely associated with the economy. How skilful the use of design is in the production process reflects a country’s economic development level. This sphere is an important stimulus to industrial development and enhancing competitiveness,” she has recently told “Polish Market.” We have a great need and opportunity to take measures aimed at developing and strengthening all sectors of the economy. Design, associated with material culture in public and private life, can excellently serve this purpose. This is why it is important to stimulate imagination and create awareness of what design is about. Unfortunately, the awareness of the importance of design, as an essential factor behind product and process innovation, is still insufficient in Poland. The vision of the new president of IWP may become a tool in building the awareness that design is an excellent way of ensuring a better “dialogue” with the world and supporting the development of the Polish economy. ::

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Culture

A rich museum Zofia Gołubiew, Director of the National Museum in Kraków, talks to Maciej Proliński.

Let me start somewhat perversely... We are currently celebrating the successes of our athletes in Sochi. And what “Sochi” does Polish culture need today to finally make the vast majority of Poles believe in its - if not driving, then definitely civilizational - power? Polish culture has many gold medalists, but they are not always widely publicized. This is definitely a great and yet not exploited role of the media which can effectively create fashion for culture and cultural heroes by presenting art and its various forms, and awakening a lot of positive emotions. Unfortunately, some of them do not always want to write about culture, art, our heritage. I even thought - when Kamil Stoch won his second gold medal - that once it was culture that was a reason for glory, the subject of disputes, contribution to the well-understood snobbery, to earning gold medals, to being at the heart of global exhibitions and competitions. Now this is the role of sport. But there is a lot of money pumped into it. Polish culture would need today massive investment and certainly consolidation of many public spheres, including the media, to get promotion. And one more thing that is already starting to slowly wade into the consciousness of decision makers: the smallest indivisible unit of time in culture is three years. Not a financial year, not an electoral calendar, but a minimum of three years. Any ad hoc actions in this matter - without a possibility of planning and setting a realistic budget - will always keep us outside the mainstream of international circulation of cultural goods. We need to keep that in mind! pm

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2014 will be the first full year of implementation of the “Museum for 1 zloty” program - a ticket to each of the state museums for children and youth up to the age of 16 will cost symbolically PLN 1. It is probably one of those very broad measures intended to stimulate cultural activity, is it not? Yes. It is a very successful and fruitful project of Bogdan Zdrojewski, Minister of Culture and National Heritage. I am here of the same opinion as he is - children and young people simply need to be encouraged to get to know culture. And this is after all one of these fantastic and simple encouraging actions. Currently, the program covers 40 institutions and is systematically joined by new ones. We at the National Museum in Kraków do not stop thinking about how this young smartphone-using audience can be attracted to us. We use multimedia. Let us remember that young people are today the most “voracious” art buyer. And there are a lot of things we do in order to best satisfy them. All these new media - touch screens or applications for smartphones, etc. are at play here. This year we will launch a new portal MNK and blog for young people. We are very active in the social media like Twitter and Facebook, we are expanding to new media (such as Instagram), and therefore we are more effectively reaching Internet surfers and new technologies lovers. pm

The National Museum in Kraków - as a brand - has been a very attractive place on the map of leading cultural institutions in Poland. What are the most important challenges facing it today?

fot. Jacek Świderski, MNK.

Well, we have to draw upon our resources. We are a very rich institution with more than 800 thousand exhibits. Our collection includes objects from all periods. Its core is Polish art - painting, sculpture, drawing, and goods of different arts and crafts. While developing and presenting these collections we always look for references to the complex Polish history. We need to balance today between a venerable history and a multimedia

Culture

Your museum is a leader among Polish museums in attracting European funds. What is your recipe for success in this matter? We calculated that since 2007 we have managed to obtain over PLN 100 million in EU funding! It is really a lot for a museum. pm

In the past year, thanks to EU subsidies, we completed the renovation of our Zakopane branch - the Karol Szymanowski Museum in Villa Atma, as well as the 19-century Czapski Palace, where the European Centre for Polish Numismatics was established, exhibiting the world’s most valuable collection of Polish coins, medals and banknotes. Its core is the collection of count Emeryk Hutten-Czapski, which counts more than 11,000 objects. But let us move on... In the garden of the Czapski Palace we want to build a pavilion of Józef Czapski, a great intellectual, painter, writer, witness of the Polish history in 20th century. The building will accommodate the room of Józef Czapski as he left it at the editorial office of “Kultura” in Maisons-Laffitte. I can already boast that this investment will also be subsidized - this time from the Norwegian funds. A recipe for success? Educated, experienced, knowledgeable and committed people. What are the events at the National Museum in Kraków that you are the most impatient about in 2014? In May we are planning the first in Poland, extremely attractive exhibition, which will comprehensively present the life and work of a cinema giant, the great artist - Stanley Kubrick. The exhibition will include about 1,000 exhibits, with a number of audio-visual materials. Kubrick’s work will be shown by film documentations: scripts, photographs, costumes and props. Many of these archival materials will be shown for the first time. The pm

Ksawery Pilatti, Maksymilian Gierymski; Wł. MNK.

modernity. Today’s museums are becoming actively operating institutions. They pursue wide unusual programmes - music, theater, film, publications - that complement their core business. And we are heading in this direction by creating our wide and diverse range of programmes. It is worth mentioning at this point our new educational initiative - “Music in the Museum”, that is music lessons organized in our museum in cooperation with the Academy of Music in Kraków. Secondary school and high school students are welcome to attend them. During these meetings, the youth will hear selected tracks from different periods from the Middle Ages to the present day, and then will be able to confront them with the works of visual art created at the same time. Each meeting, focused on selected works of art and some corresponding songs, is led by an art historian and a musicologist. Classes will be held once a month. This year’s great challenge is for us preparing the competition for the reconstruction and expansion of the museum’s main building. It is a truly epoch-making task. Although it keeps me awake at night, I think the result will become a very valuable and ultimately a measurable contribution to Polish culture.

curators have planned four tracks: biography, war, technology and madness. At the same time, we want to show posters for Andrzej Wajda’s films’ collected from around the world. Earlier, in April, the National Museum in Kraków, together with the National Museum in Warsaw will execute the project “Gierymski Brothers” as part of which exhibitions will be staged of the outstanding Polish artists: Maksymilian Gierymski (Kraków) and his younger brother - Aleksander (Warsaw). Both exhibitions, complementing each other, will be a unique opportunity to discuss the work of the Gierymski brothers and their role in the development of Polish art. In the fall, I invite you to Kraków for an exhibition I have dreamt of for years. We will present the most outstanding works of Olga Boznańska. The intention of the authors of the exhibition is to present the work of Boznańska in the context of the world painting that inspired our painter. Therefore, we will present both flagship items derived from the largest public collections of the National Museums in Kraków or Warsaw, as well as works that have never been exhibited in Poland before, for example, from the Musée d’Orsay and the Louvre.

Also in the fall, we will show an intriguing exhibition - namely the French prints from the collection of Feliks Jasieński, by foreground peintres-graveurs like Pierre Bonnard, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Édouard Vuillard. We hope that the exhibition of over 150 most valuable works will arouse great interest from the audience. I highly recommend it! And that is not all... ::

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Cultural Monitor

Cultural Monitor – March 2014

“Pan Tadeusz” -DVD + CD - National Film Archive

t is impossible to talk about Polish history, tell something about Poles - our history or national characteristics - without knowing our national epic “Pan Tadeusz” by Adam Mickiewicz. The poet depicted in 1834 the painting of the lost homeland - beloved Lithuania, the country of his childhood, which he missed while staying in exile. The reconstructed copy of the film “Pan Tadeusz” from 1928 is fantastically remindful of the meaning of this book, so fundamental for Poles, as well as of the fact that Andrzej Wajda was not the first to bring it to the big screen. The beautifully rendered album includes: DVD with the film “Pan Tadeusz” directed by Ryszard Ordyński from 1928 with modern recorded music by Tadeusz Woźniak (soundtrack on CD) and a reprint of the original pre-war programme for the film. It is worth mentioning that in this pre-war film (blockbuster of those years) the most important and most spectacular scenes of the poem were used. When putting on the screen the masterpiece by Mickiewicz, screenwriters - Andrzej Strug and Ferdinand Goetel, and the film’s director Ryszard Ordyński decided to realize a string of live images in the style of drawings by Michał Elwiro Andriolli, the author of 60 illustrations for “Pan Tadeusz” (issued in 1881 in Lviv’s F.H. Richter Bookshop). The production brought together brilliant film stars. Its creators took also great care to make image correspond with reality - outdoor scenes were shot in Czombrów near Świteź where Mickiewicz was a frequent visitor in his young years. According to scholars, Czombrów was the original model for Soplicowo where “Pan Tadeusz” is set. The film enjoyed great success before the war. It can also do today! A digital reconstruction carried out in the National Film Archive in 2012 using advanced 4K technology (under the programme NITROFILM “Maintenance and digitalization of the pre-war films in the National Film Archive in Warsaw”) only adds luster to this film. Not to be missed!

“Lutosławski/world” – 5 CDs + 1 DVD - National Audiovisual Institute

he unique box showing the artistic achievements of Witold Lutosławski in a new and inspiring way - in the broad cultural, social and historical context - and presenting lessknown works of the artist. We could find here, among others, original versions of immense historical value prepared under the baton of the composer himself (like Third Symphony with the Symphony Orchestra of the National Philharmonic), interpretations of the most talented young artists such as Apollon Quartet Musagète or Jakub Jakowicz. There are also songs by Lutosławski performed by Irena Santor, Kalina Jędrusik or films from the 1940s with the music by the composer. History, modernity, meanings, everyday life, symphony, film - these are the leading themes that form the basis for each CD. The selection of songs is accompanied by texts (in two languages: Polish and English) by Polish musicologists, which are helpful in understanding the composer’s artistic achievements from the perspective of the contemporary listener.

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Kraków’s singers pay tribute to Henryk Mikołaj Górecki -DUX - CD

t is a unique choir created specifically to make the recording of this album. Włodzimierz Siedlik, conductor and artistic director of the project, invited great singers associated with the best Kraków’s choirs to work on the project. The CD will certainly enrich our understanding of this unique composer of our times who combined the originality and greatness of his art with a commercial success. Productions destined for a capella choir, among which the largest group are those devoted to Virgin Mary, were made in May 1986. Górecki makes use of these materials in a highly creative manner - this contemplative music harbours national character and international dimension, as well as so specific tonal-harmonic language of the composer.

This month Maciej Proliński recommends classics.

Cultural Monitor

Jarzębski, Vivaldi, Bach, Pachelbel, Haydn, Lutosławski – DUX - CD

he songs making part of the album have for years been a permanent repertoire of orchestras and CD recordings. The fullness of melodious sound and the balance of the form are in my opinion the main characteristics of this production, which graces the 35th anniversary of the Philharmonic in Łomża, an institution greatly distinguished in promoting musical culture among children. The participation of Krzysztof Jakowicz - one of the greatest Polish violinists - adds to it glamour and undying fullness of colour!

Henryk Mikołaj Górecki, Mikołaj Górecki –DUX - CD Mikołaj Górecki - Works for String Orchestra –DUX - CD

he music by Henryk Mikołaj Górecki has played for decades a significant role in the panorama not only of Polish music. After the composer’s death in 2010, his son, Mikołaj Górecki, continues the composing traditions. This unique creator lives away from contemporary Polish musical trends (he lives and works in the United States), aware of his roots and heritage. Listening to the two CDs the first one puts recordings of Mikołaj in parallel with significant works of his father - the famous concerto for harpsichord (piano) and string orchestra, and Broad Waters for a cappella choir) - one may rightfully think that Mikołaj is a natural creator - the original and persistent composer... In his music he follows sometimes in the footsteps of his father, while retaining the personal tone of emotionality and mysticism at the same time. In his works musicality can be felt in bringing out lyrical phrases; they are characterized by strong emotionalism and a sense of colour. Nocturne for Orchestra, Concerto Notturno for violin and string orchestra, Divertimento for string orchestra, Farewell for string orchestra are my favorite Mikołaj’s tracks so far. A “farewell” seems to be the key word about all his works. It is extremely roomy, and conveys not so much pain as the light... Polish philharmonic musicians were involved in the recording of the CDs - from Silesia, Sopot and leading Polish virtuosos.

Tansman, Lutosławski, Orbán, Selmeczi –DUX - CD

collection of works of the 20th century’s Polish and Hungarian composers brings out the most delicate shades of sensitivity, a strong intellectual feature, the rigour of the structure and even some tendency to mathematical perfection... And it is all available in a masterly performance by Erdödy Chamber Orchestra conducted by Marcin Nałęcz-Niesiołowski - young virtuosos whose lightness and finesse is remindful of the innate musicality of Hungarians and Transylvanians.

Arne Nordheim - Solitaire – DUX - 2CD

Ars Duo - Saxophone Conversations - –DUX - CD Ars Duo is a duo of excellent Polish saxophonists, playing classical music - Dorota Samsel and Alicja Wołyńczyk. Along with the saxophonist Szymon Nidzworski and pianists - Agnieszka Kopacka and Bartosz Bednarczyk - they have recorded a debut album, which provides us with transcriptions of songs and literary works fairly well-known to saxophone music lovers, but also compositions somewhat forgotten. Among the composers are, i.a.: Alojzy Thomys, Aleksander Tansman, Christian Lauba. Listening to this album is a sheer pleasure, as these are beautiful compositions arranged with great flair and an immediately perceptible space. It is a precision conversation coupled with ease and sensitivity of taste.

t is a project dedicated to the achievements of Norwegian electronic music pioneer, Arne Nordheim (1931-2010), and in particular to his activities in the Polish Radio Experimental Studio, where he made his debut, collaborating with eminent Polish composer and sound engineer, Eugeniusz Rudnik. The production features Pace, Solitaire, Warsaw and other works- his most famous works and a group of songs that only a few years ago saw the light of day. This music is a synthesis of natural material and technical method of performance. It exploits not only the human voice, instrumental sound, but the entire available material - anything that can be recorded, converted and assembled. For me, however, the value of this art, discovered only in 2014, is neither an experiment nor a sound effect, but the sound grown out of human experience.

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Culture

Culture means development!

In 2014-2020 Poland will receive from the European Union budget over EUR 1.2 billion for cultural development. Investment projects worth PLN 1.5 billion, reforms and facilitating access to culture these are the most important tasks that the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage has set itself for 2014.

Maciej Proliński

Investment in infrastructure continues! “The year 2014 will be a period marked by dynamic changes in the area of culture, many reforms - those completed and commenced - and care for the national heritage,” says Bogdan Zdrojewski, Minister of Culture and National Heritage. In 2014, 23 EU-funded investment projects will be completed worth a total of almost PLN 1.2 billion (including cofinancing from the EU: nearly PLN 703 million). These included the European Solidarity Centre in Gdansk, Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre and a concert hall of the National Symphony Orchestra of Polish Radio in Katowice. Projects financed from the budget of the Ministry of Culture and worth approximately PLN 300 million will also be completed: the Family Home of John Paul II Museum in Wadowice and the Museum of the

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Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre- in progress; archives of the GTS

History of Polish Jews in Warsaw in its find form together with the main exhibition. In October Krystian Zimerman will grace the opening of the concert hall of the National Symphony Orchestra of Polish Radio in Katowice. The eminent Polish pianist will play a concert by Eugeniusz Knapik, the favourite student of Henryk Mikołaj Górecki, a composer, musician and educator strongly associated with Katowice. “Contrary to what is being said, there is no decision to abandon the construction of the Museum of the History of Poland. No decision has been made yet as to its funding. Past problems were also due to the fact that there was no certain location. I can also assure you that the Museum of the Polish Army is part of our plans too. And in April we will open the Family Home of John Paul II Museum in Wadowice with a multimedia interactive exhibition. In fall, the Museum of the History of Polish Jews will be inaugurated with a permanent exhibition. Its

director will be Dariusz Stola,” says Minister Zdrojewski.

1% expenditure “A durable increase in expenditure on culture to 1% of the national budget was one of the main provisions of the so-called Pact for the Culture - the social contract between the government and the movement of Citizens for Culture, signed on May 14, 2011. Given the current rate of increase, the level - in line with the document - will be achieved in 2015,” says the minister.

No reading, no music no development... One of the reforms implemented in 2014 is the National Programme for the Development of Reading launched in January. It will

Culture cost PLN 1 billion over six years. “The document provides for new systemic solutions, ordering and enhancing the existing activities. Its range covers most of the areas associated with readership: promotion of reading, support for publishing valuable literature and cultural magazines, training for booksellers and book market regulations. Due to the special situation in Poland, libraries are

for me the most important cultural institutions. The first task was to introduce broadband Internet access to all libraries in towns with less than 15,000 inhabitants. Soon all of them will have it. Mergers also occur between libraries and culture clubs. In cases where it is disadvantageous for libraries I do not agree,” claims Zdrojewski.

Library + The multi-year programme CULTURE +, has been operational since 2011. One of its aims is to transform public libraries in smaller towns into local centres of culture , knowledge and social life following the example of such institutions in Nordic countries and Western Europe. “The implementation of the programme will cost PLN 150 million. So far 225 libraries have been built or modernized (of which 78 projects are completed) for a total amount of PLN 132.3 million. In 2014, approximately 90 more will be completed. The programme will be extended to 2020,” says Minister Zdrojewski. A separate block of tasks is education of children. On September 1, the reform of arts classes will be accomplished in public schools. On March 12, 2008 an agreement was signed between the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of National Education for the dissemination of cultural education. Changes have been introduced gradually since September 1, 2009. Starting from the school year 2014/2015 music and visual arts will be taught to all students of elementary, junior-high and high schools - according to estimates - nearly 4 million children and young people. The Minister also announced that by the end of 2014 he will carry out the assessment of the current law on organizing and conducting cultural activities so as to be able to proceed with further changes in 2015. Those concerned will mainly be art

institutions. Projects worth EUR 90 million are being prepared for 150 art schools of the 1st and 2nd degree. 2014 will be the first full year of implementating the “Museum for 1 zloty” programme - a ticket to each of the state museums for children and youth up to age 16 costs a symbolic PLN 1. “Currently, the programme involves 40 institutions, and is systematically joined by others. Also, the 3rd edition of the “Free February” will be organized. Four royal residences: the Royal Castle on Wawel, the Royal Castle in Warsaw, the Łazienki Park and the Palace Museum of King John III in Wilanów will once again open their doors to visitors for free. In the first two editions of “Free February” the number of visitors reached almost half a million. These programmes have resulted in an increase in the number of classes conducted in museums. They will be 10 times more numerous in 2014 than five years ago,” Minister Zdrojewski says.

Cultural resources on the Internet The National Audiovisual Institute will begin the digitization of archival recordings of a brilliant Polish singer, Ewa Demarczyk, recordings of Chopin Competitions and archives devoted to the work of the great Polish theatre ambassador, Tadeusz Kantor. Collections will be made available free of charge at www.ninateka.pl. The site www.trzejkompozytorzy.pl will be extended to further recordings of two exceptional musical collections by Wojciech Kilar and Andrzej Panufnik. The site www.polona.pl announced the publication of major works of contemporary Polish literature licensed under the National Programme for the Development of Reading. More than half a million items from the 2nd to the 21st century will be made available. Great thematic collections will be enriched by World War I and Oskar Kolberg.

Bogdan Zdrojewski, Minister of Culture and National Heritage

2014 - the Year of Kolberg Born in Przysucha in 1814, Oskar Kolberg was one of the pioneers of Polish folklore studies. He was the first to collect knowledge of Polish folk art - music, dances, customs and dialects-and categorized it by region. He preserved about 10,000 folk melodies. “Kolberg did the giant work, but only 8% of Poles know who he was. The Year of Kolberg is meant to change that. The results of the surveys are alarming and clearly indicate that spreading knowledge about Kolberg’s work is a necessary task to be performed by the state. The Year of Kolberg aims to bring to public attention both him as a person and his work,” says Bogdan Zdrojewski. The Institute of Music and Dance has been entrusted with the organization of the celebrations. Inaugural concerts will be held on February 21, 2014 in Przysucha and on February 24, 2014 in Warsaw. Minister Bogdan Zdrojewski has also announced a special programme “Kolberg 2014 - Promise”. It is designed to prepare through out the year the largest number of artistic, scientific, educational and documentary initiatives related to the person and the work of Kolberg, as well as traditional art and culture. The program involves creating a Kolberg-dedicated website and launching a Kolberg’s interactive guide to Poland, digitizing and making available Kolberg’s manuscripts and published works. ::

Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw- fot. Wojciech Kryński

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Culture

Treasures of the Royal Library Throughout 2014 the Royal Castle in Warsaw will be holding events marking the 30th anniversary of its opening to the public. This time, I would like to encourage the readers to visit the Royal Library, which reopened a few years ago after a thorough renovation enabled by funding from the Foundation for Polish Science and the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. Maciej Proliński

he Royal Library building was constructed in the years 1779-1782 on the initiative of Stanisław August Poniatowski, the last king of Poland. The building, designed by Italian architect Domenico Merlini, was to house the steadily expanding royal collection of books, drawings, prints, maps and manuscripts as well as other items like minerals and engraved gems. Merlini had arrived in Poland at the age of 20 and worked in the country for the rest of his life. He held the post of royal architect, first for King August III and then for Stanisław August. The Royal Library is one of the most splendid Neoclassical interiors in Warsaw. After the completion of the renovation project, in mid-2010 the Royal Library became home to “Imago Poloniae,” a priceless collection of old maps, manuscripts, books and prints donated to the nation by Tomasz Niewodniczański (1933-2010), a nuclear physicist with a passion for collecting, a bibliophile who built one of the world’s biggest private cartographic collections. “I have been a collector ever since I can remember,” Niewodniczański said. He collected stamps while at school and then old banknotes. But a gift from his wife, who bought him his first old map at an antique store in Warsaw in 1968, was what aroused a real collector’s passion in him. In June 2010, at the official opening of the collection, his wife Marie-Luise Niewodniczańska said: “Everyone should find in their life something that they have a real passion for, something that fascinates them. This is a sort of backbone in life. For my husband the passion was history. He was a physicist, then he became an entrepreneur but in fact history was what fascinated him. History was present in his collections. He devoted not only all of his money but also all of his free time to his passion. He had enormous knowledge. Collecting documents

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associated with Poland’s history was like a personal kingdom for my husband, a kingdom to which his collaborators and selected individuals from across the world, most of them very interesting people, had access.” At present, the Royal Library is the only place in Poland where one can see such collector’s gems from the Niewodniczański collection as three copperplate views of Warsaw, displayed next to each other, by Bernardo Bellotto, called Canaletto, a view of the Column of King Sigismund III Vasa in Warsaw by Willem Hondius according to Agostino Locci (Danzig 1646) and a map of Warsaw with 17 views of the most important buildings by Pierre Ricaud de Tirregaille (Warsaw 1762). Also on show is an exhibition devoted to Poland’s national hero, Duke Józef Poniatowski, featuring a selection of his portraits, with the largest and most famous depiction showing him drowning in the Elster river by Philibert Louis Debucourt, based on a painting by Horace Vernet (Paris, ca. 1820). Another

interesting exhibit is Poniatowski’s early engraved portrait by Jean Pichler according to a painting by Joseph Grassi (Vienna 1790). The exhibition includes 12 letters either signed by Poniatowski or written wholly by him, like for example the letter to Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in which he thanked him for being awarded with the golden sabre of honour (Cracow, Oct. 23, 1809). On display are the most interesting cartographic and historical objects from the Niewodniczański collection, including maps of the old Republic of Poland dated to the 16th, 17th and 18th century, Chopin’s manuscripts, royal documents, parchments, and antique books, as well as publications devoted to exhibitions organized by Niewodniczański. Several manuscripts with poems by Julian Tuwim (1894-1953) are also shown in connection with the Tuwim Year proclaimed by the parliament to commemorate the 60th death anniversary of this great Polish poet in 2013. ::

Culture

National Opera preparing for a premiere of Wagner’s “Lohengrin” “Lohengrin,” one of Richard Wagner’s most popular operas, will premiere at the Grand Theatre National Opera in Warsaw on April 11, 2014. This staging of the opera, directed by Antony McDonald, is a co-production with the Welsh National Opera in Cardiff. In May last year, the co-production received very favourable reviews when shown in Wales. I am waiting impatiently for the premiere in Warsaw.

Photo: Bill Cooper

Maciej Proliński

“

Lohengrin” was first performed in Weimar in 1850. The opera is set in Antwerp in the first half of the 10th century. It is a mythical tale about a confrontation between good and evil, love, loneliness and longing – the themes that fascinated the composer so much that he devoted almost entire life to them. In this case, the love between Elsa and Lohengrin cannot be fulfilled, not only because of Lohengrin’s background – as a knight of the Holy Grail, God’s messenger and a superhuman being – but also because of the tragic nature of human fate in general. And even the famous “Bridal Chorus” Wagner wrote for his niece - now a popular march played at the beginning of many wedding ceremonies – cannot help here. There is an aura of decadent pessimism coming from the opera. And the composer himself said that only unawareness can save a relationship between a mortal and a superhuman being. Richard Wagner is among the biggest reformers of stage music in the 19th century. Born in Leipzig in 1813, he moved in artistic circles from his youngest days. He not only composed music for his stage works but also wrote librettos. His works show all

features of German Romantic opera. “The Flying Dutchman,” “Tannhäuser” and “Lohengrin” are Wagner’s most important operas. These works have undoubtedly had an enormous impact on the history of opera. “There is no doubt that Richard Wagner’s oeuvre is universal in nature and is a great treasure of humankind, however a treasure on which not all nations equally draw or want to draw,” says Prof. Michał Piotr Mrozowski of the Institute of Romance Studies University of Gdańsk. “This was the case in the past, in the 19th century during the composer’s lifetime, and this is the case today. However, one has to note that in some countries the attitude towards Wagner and his work has undergone, quite quickly, a radical and positive change.” Leipzig, Dresden, Munich and Bayreuth are the four German cities where Richard Wagner spent most of his life and where he worked. But the 200th anniversary of his birth last year was celebrated not only in these places. Wagner’s operas are very rarely staged in Poland. This is why it is worth remembering about last year’s premiere of “Lohengrin” at the Castle in Szczecin co-produced with

a German partner – Theater Vorpommern. Directed by Dirk Loschner, with the orchestra conducted by Golo Berg, it was a truly interesting staging of a Romantic opera. I hope the Warsaw premiere will be a “powerful epilogue” to the numerous undertakings associated with the Wagner Year. “It is another masterpiece of this great composer on our stage, after ‘The Flying Dutchman’ and the ballet version of ‘Tristan and Isolde’,” says Waldemar Dąbrowski, director of the National Opera. Antony McDonald, “Lohengrin’s” director, was praised last year for the simplicity of his concept, precision of gesture, beauty of stage scenes and ingeniousness of some solutions, especially the famous scene with the swan, so difficult for directors to render. I believe that Warsaw’s staging of “Lohengrin” will attract not only older opera lovers but also younger audiences who have only started to discover the world of opera and of Wagner. Lithuanian tenor Kristian Benedikt will perform the title part while Hungarian conductor Stefan Soltesz will lead the National Opera’s Choir and Orchestra. :: 3 /2014 :: polish market :: 75

Events

The Arbiter of Polish Success Marcin Haber

n 31 January 2014, the Royal Castle in Warsaw hosted the Academy of Polish Success. Since 2000 the Academy has actively supported the development of the Polish economy by recognising its most active entrepreneurs, companies, and institutions. These recognitions are awarded by the business world for actions driving the economy and for being effective without compromising transparency and integrity. Professor Henryk Skarżyński, the President of the Academy of Polish Success Foundation, describes its aims as follows: “The Academy of Polish Success is about the systematic identification, recognition, and promotion of the most interesting Polish accomplishments at the local, regional, national, and international levels. It is the promotion of creative, innovative, and pro-European attitudes, companies, managers, and creators oriented towards cooperation. The Academy is composed of people who are proof that success – including international and global success – can be achieved by Polish entrepreneurs, scientists, artists, and sportspeople and that it can encourage others to reach for the splendour of success as well. And this should motivate the creative work of their communities and our society.” This year, the Gold Medals of the Academy of Polish Success were awarded to the Mayors of Warsaw - Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, Kraków - Jacek Majchrowski, Rzeszów - Tadeusz Ferenc, Katowice - Piotr Uszok, and Gdynia - Piotr Szczurek. There were also awards for the representatives of the world of culture: Andrzej Seweryn of the Arnold Szyfman Polish Theatre in Warsaw, Waldemar Dąbrowski of the Grand Theatre and National Opera in Warsaw, and Andrzej Rottermund of the Royal Castle in Warsaw, as well as for representatives of the biggest and best Polish companies and state institutions representing Poland abroad, and journalists. The council of the Foundation is composed of well-known figures from the worlds of science, culture, and sports. Thanks to this, the Council has a broad and multidirectional outlook on the economy. Such a diverse

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The Council of the Academy of Polish Success Foundation

President of the Foundation Professor Henryk Skarżyński Foundation Members: Prof. Michał Kleiber, Prof. Andrzej Rottermund, Prof. Bogusław Liberadzki, Prof. Janusz Dyduch, Prof. Ignacy Goglewski, Prof. Longin Pastusiak,Prof, Adam Koseski, Zygmunt Solorz, Zbigniew Jakubas, Marek Mikuśkiewicz, Irena Santor, Anna Maria Wesołowska, dr Witold Rybczyński, dr Stanisław Leszek, dr Franciszek Gaik, Ryszard Konwerski, Bogusław Dębski, Irena Szewińska, Wojciech Siudmak, Cezary Giza, Beata Mońka, Andrzej Wodzyński, Dariusz Sapiński, Elżbieta Wanat-Połec, Krzysztof CzeszejkoSochacki,Krzysztof Przybył, gen.Mirosław Hermaszewski, Krzysztof Borkowski, Jerzy Bar, Mariusz Hildebrand, Krystyna Woźniak-Trzosek, Andrzej Siezieniewski.

composition also allows more precise assessment of the candidates nominated for the awards, since their accomplishments are evaluated with the consideration of their various experiences, and the slightly-different value system of each member of the Council. It also includes such figures from the Polish world of science as the aforementioned President of the Foundation Professor Henryk Skarżyński, Professor Michał Kleiber, Professor Andrzej Rottermund, and Professor Janusz Dyduch. The notable representatives of the world of culture include Irena Santor, Krystyna Woźniak-Trzosek, and the former Polish Ambassador in Russia - Jerzy Bar. The list of prominent individuals in the Foundation council goes on and on, as they include such great athletes as Irena Szewińska, who is currently active in the promotion of Polish sports, and representatives of the world of big business such as Zygmunt Solorz-Żak.

The awards given by the Foundation are treated by the community as a token of exceptional respect. The gold, silver, and bronze medals relating to sports awards are treated by Polish business as a free pass to serious investments and business negotiations, on European and global markets.

Prof. Michał Kleiber

Events

The Chairman of the Council of the Academy of Polish Success Foundation, Professor Michał Kleiber, who is a prominent scientist and the President of the Polish Academy of Sciences, stresses the following: “We have to believe in success. We have to believe that we can reach the level of success which is currently being exhibited by Finland and several Asian countries. Such faith must be based on the reliable identification of the opportunities and an honest self-examination, as well as a brave and long-term vision, which is attractive to everyone that pursues it – to all of us.” With these words, Professor Kleiber encourages Polish entrepreneurs to undertake brave but sensible investments, not just in Poland, but on foreign markets as well. This fits into the main ideas promoted by the Academy of Polish Success and its promoted models. Such attitudes provide the opportunity of being noticed by the business community and the Foundation Council, and being nominated for an award. The next contest is just one year away. It should be noted that the companies can submit themselves for the awards, which are the specific voice of the business community.

President of the Foundation Professor Henryk Skarżyński and the Chairman of the Council of the Academy of Polish Success Foundation Professor Michał Kleiber

All submitted businesses are assessed by the Foundation Council, which discusses their accomplishments and operating modes. Next, the Council makes the decision of awarding

either the gold, silver, or bronze medal to the potential enterprise. :: photos: Academy of Polish Success ADVERTISEMENT

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Events

The future of Polish infrastructure through the eyes of experts

he 5th national conference entitled “Polish Infrastructure”, organized by the Executive Club under the auspices of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development, was held in Warsaw’s Sheraton Hotel. The leading infrastructure companies and public administration members summed up the past year and discussed challenges facing the sector. The participants were welcomed by Marek Michałowski, President of the Executive Club’s Board who summarized the year 2013, while also explaining why it was a very special year. The ending of the EU financial period 2007-2013 required exceptional mobilization from the infrastructure sector, and yet there were numerous problems with the use of allocated funds. At the same time, despite the huge amount of construction projects underway, sales began to fall and it was a difficult time. But, according to Marek Michałowski, 2013 brought some opportunities too. A smaller number of tenders made it necessary to reflect on the desirable amendments both legal and procedural. The new EU financial perspective, which is considered to be advantageous for Poland, brought a flair of optimism. There is hope that subsequent years will result in steady growth of the Polish infrastructure sector, in further development and making up for lost time. Stanisław Żmijan, President of the parliamentary Committee on Infrastructure, summarized 2013 on behalf of the public administration. In his opinion, two areas of activity were of particular importance, namely practical implementation of road projects and new environmental regulations meant to improve the implementation of upcoming infrastructural projects. The first panel, devoted to the procurement law that is extremely important for the infrastructure sector, featured: Robert Audsley, Head of the Engineering Centre under Crossrail programme at CH2M HILL, Dariusz Blocher, President of the Board of Budimex, Rafał Jędrzejewski, Director of the Legal Department at the Public Procurement Office, Wojciech Kowalewski, Member of the Management Board of Siemens AG Sp. z o.o., and Stanisław Żmijan, President of the Parliamentary Committee on Infrastructure. The discussion was chaired by Grzegorz Banasiuk from Gide Loyrette Nouel law firm.

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Panelist during the discussion

A debate on the legal aspects of infrastructure was particularly lively, as both representatives of businesses and legislative bodies have very strong standpoints in this respect. Both sides namely have divergent views on public procurement. The legal constellation is being changed by directives on public procurement adopted by the parliament, and works on amendments to five laws that have substantial meaning for the infrastructure sector. The expected changes and desired amendments from the perspective of businesses carrying out investment projects were addressed by Dariusz Blocher, President of Budimex, who stressing that the legislator’s mere declarations are not enough. Assessing the Public Procurement Act currently in force Dariusz Blocher pointed out: “I met with the opinion that everything we have managed to build in Poland so far was built on the basis of special laws or regulations. And that is how I regard the Public Procurement Act from the perspective of a construction company and general contractor. If I could recommend something, I would suggest rewriting it from scratch.” On the second panel discussion, titled “Time to hit the road,” the speakers - Sławomir Barczak, Board Member, Mota-Engil Central Europe, Jon Harding, Head of Programme Implementation, Halcrow (A-one +), Tomasz Latawiec, expert and conciliator, FIDIC Association of Engineering Consultants and Appraisers, Zbigniew Rynasiewicz, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development, Lech Witecki, General Director, General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways - discussed road projects. The moderator of the panel was Józef Zubelewicz, President of Erbud SA.

The second part of the conference, covering other two panel discussions, was devoted to financing of rail and road projects and the future of these important business lines. The third panel discussion, “Financing rail and road projects”, was attended by: Maciej Korbasiewicz (moderator), President of the Board, Bolix SA, Mariusz Grendowicz, President, Polish and Development Investments SA, Adam Świrski, Vice-President of the Board, Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego, Krzysztof Mleczak, President of the Board, Exito Broker, Michał Ulatowski, Vice-President of the Board, Chief Financial Officer, Torpol SA, Aleksander Wołowiec, Member of the Board of PKP PLK, responsible for the implementation of the EU new financial perspective. The fourth panel “Take any train you like...” featured: Jan Roliński (moderator), Partner at Wierciński, Kwieciński, Baehr law firm, Krzysztof Celiński, Director of CH2M HILL (Halcrow Group Sp. Branch in Poland), Nicolas Halamek, Managing Director, Alstom Transport Poland, Ireneusz Wasilewski, Managing Director for Resources Management, PKP Cargo SA. The summarizing panel discussion was titled “Consent builds, discord ruins” and organized in the form of a roundtable in which representatives of contracting bodies and those ensuring implementation and financing sought optimal cooperation strategies for the private and public sector. The discussion proved that both parties are aware of the need for change and have concrete ideas on how to implement them. Consequently, one may hope that investments in infrastructure will be implemented more efficiently and faster, and the sector will record better results. ::

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Food Industry

Biofach 2014 The Biofach Fair has been organized for 25 years in Nuremberg. Held every year in February, it is the biggest organic food fair in the world. Maciej Bartoń

his year, it hosted 2,500 exhibitors from over 100 countries on 100,000 square metres. During four days (Feb. 12-15, 2014), the fair was attended by 40,000 visitors, including business partners, organic food wholesalers, retailers, producers, and processors from all over the world. Together with Vivaness, an international specialized fair for natural cosmetics, the Biofach Fair forms a global market offering a diverse selection of organic food and natural cosmetics. Biofach provides sales representatives in the field with the opportunity to obtain practical information on individual products from renowned experts, to sample the products, and acquire new inspirations for the development of their companies. The experiences and pleasures are conditioned by the following elements: presentation and sampling, workshops, and information shared during dialogues with culinary connoisseurs, the true experts in the field. The Biofach fair also hosted Polish organic food producers and processors. The stand of the Polish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development included an exhibition of the Polska Ekologia (Polish

80 :: polish market :: 3 /2014

Ecology) Association. The Polish exhibition was very popular. It included culinary-arts presentations and sampling, whereas the media support for the Polish crew was taken care of by Carlos Gonzalez-Tejera, a renowned journalist and enthusiast of organic food and cooking, and Maciej Fabisiak of the Belvedere Hotel, who have been working with the Association for many years. The presentations included traditional Polish dishes made of organic products and resources such as sour rye soup, dumplings, and pork loin served in apple sauce. There were also samples of Polish cheese, smoked meat, juices, and honey. The exhibition of the Ministry of Agriculture was also the place for B2B meetings of business partners and collaborators. The Polish organic products were very popular among the potential partners from eastern markets such as Russia, China, and the markets of the Near East. The exhibition also presented new products to the Polish market; including the first organic hop and hop granulate of the Marynka Polish variety, from Mr Sebastian Podstawka. It aroused the interest of western producers of organic beer.

The Biofach Fair shows the diversity of the organic product market and provides inspiration for the Polish organic food producers and processors. The value of the Polish organic food market is EUR 150 million, whereas the value of the German market amounts to EUR 7 billion. The organic food market, which has thus far been “niche” and exclusive, is showing exceptionally dynamic growth, particularly in comparison to other food sectors. The growth in organic food sales and the development of this sector in Poland are attracting interest from both small retailers and supermarket chains. There is every indication that this sales growth will be maintained throughout the next few years, with the potential of over 50% growth, which is shown by examples abroad. The organic market is evolving regardless of the economic crisis. Despite the falling prices, the revenues generated by the companies are encouraging investments in this field. ::

GRUPA CARBOAUTOMATYKA

KGHM IS A WORLD LEADER IN THE PRODUCTION OF SILVER