No. 4 (241) / 2016 Polish Market by Polish Market

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No. 4 (241) /2016 :: www.polishmarket.com.pl

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medicine science international cooperation ......................

EuropEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first intEgratEd translational CEntEr advanCEd nEuro HEaltH CarE (inC) at tHE Mazovian Brodnowski Hospital

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ONTENT

6. From The President’s Press Office 7. From The Government Information Centre OUR GUEST

26. Professor Tomasz Szapiro, Rector of the SGH: THE WARSAW SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS (SGH) ON ITS ANNIVERSARY AND BETWEEN ANNIVERSARIES

27. WATER CENTRE OF THE WARSAW UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES IN WARSAW

Jarosław Gowin, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Science and Higher Education: GOOD MODELS

28. HALF A CENTURY COMPLETE SUCCESS

10. Adam Struzik, Marshal of Mazowieckie

30. GREY MODELS, GREY THINKING, GREY WORLD

Voivodeship: MAZOVIA THE MOST ATTRACTIVE EUROPEAN REGION

MEDICINE 13. Teresa Maria Bogiel, President of the

Mazovian Brodnowski Hospital: HOSPITAL LIKE A METROPOLIS

14.

Professor Mirosław Ząbek, Founder of Integrated Translational Center Advanced Neuro Health Care (INC) at the Mazovian Brodnowski Hospital: INNOVATIVE AND UNORTHODOX ADMINISTRATION OF DRUGS

16. Professor Krzysztof Bankiewicz, M.D., Ph.D.,

Founder of Integrated Translational Center Advanced Neuro Health Care (INC) at the Mazovian Brodnowski Hospital: ONE LIFE IS NOT ENOUGH TO BRING A PROJECT LIKE THIS TO ITS END

SCIENCE 18. HEARING SCREENING IN POLAND AND IN THE WORLD

20. Professor Marek Krawczyk, M.D., Ph.D., Rector of the Medical University of Warsaw (MUW), head of the Chair and Department of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery: EVERY INITIATIVE IS AN ELEMENT OF A DELIBERATE POLICY

32. Professor Stanisław Dawidziuk, President, Warsaw Management University: LEARNING THE TREASURE WITHIN

33. Maciej Proliński: LESSONS FROM SCIENCE... INFRASTRUCTURE 36. Professor Janusz Dyduch, President of the Association of Engineers: NEW EU BUDGET PLAN IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE ROAD AND RAIL TRANSPORT IN POLAND

37. Professor Leszek Rafalski, Chairman of the Main Council of the Research Institutes: TOWARDS AN INNOVATIVE ECONOMY

INNOVATION 38. POLAND PLC 40. Elżbieta Jamrozy, investor, Polish Institute

of Research and Development: INNOVATION SHAPES THE MARKET

42. Professor Michał Szota, President of the

Association of Polish Inventors and Rationalizers (SPWiR): OUR SCIENCE HAS CONSIDERABLE IMPLEMENTATION POTENTIAL

22. Professor Jan Lubiński, President of Read

ECONOMY

23. Halina Zubrzycka M.D., owner of the SPA

43. Patryk Mirecki: WELCONOMY 2016 IN TORUŃ

Gene S.A.: WE CAN ACHIEVE A SUCCESS

Centre in Raj: FOR THE BODY AND FOR THE SOUL MEDICAL SPA IN NAŁĘCZÓW

24. Professor Alojzy Z. Nowak, Vice-Rector

of the University of Warsaw for Research and Liaison: TO BUILD THE FOUNDATIONS FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT

44. MEETING OF BANKING AND INSURANCE LEADERS

58. Maciej Proliński: BEAUTY OF EASTERN CARPETS

46. Marek Kuzaka, President of AMS: POLISH OOH

Maciej Proliński: WHAT DOES SALOME HAVE TO OFFER?

CONTENTS

45.

Professor Elżbieta Mączyńska, President of the Polish Economic Society: IT PAYS TO INVEST IN POLAND

59.

MARKET NEEDS A NEW OPENING

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

EVENTS 60. THE 3RD SMART CITY FORUM

48. CONQUER IRAN

61. SOCIAL INNOVATION IN INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

49. POLAND-INDIA COOPERATION

62. Jerzy Bojanowicz: THE 22ND EDITION

50. POLAND - DREAM DESTINATION CULTURE 54. Cultural Monitor 56.

Maciej Proliński: “WHERE THERE IS CHRISTIANISATION, THERE IS HOPE”

OF THE GOLDEN ENGINEER POLL

FOOD INDUSTRY 63. LET’S BUILD THE POLAND BRAND! 64.

Maciej Bartoń: CONFIRMATION OF SAFETY UO-TECHNOLOGIA Sp. z o.o. GRÓJEC LABORATORY

Cover: The Integrated Translational Center Advanced Neuro Health Care (INC) at the Mazovian Brodnowski Hospital Photos on issue: www.shutterstock.com

4/2016 Publisher: Oficyna Wydawnicza RYNEK POLSKI Sp. z o.o. (RYNEK POLSKI Publishers Co. Ltd.) President: Krystyna Woźniak-Trzosek Vice - Presidents: Błażej Grabowski, Grażyna Jaskuła Address: 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 Marcin Haber m.haber@polishmarket.com.pl

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Contributors: Agnieszka Turakiewicz

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Editorial

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

IS POLAND AN INNOVATIVE COUNTRY? ARE WE FACING YET ANOTHER REVOLUTION IN THE SYSTEM DESIGNED TO SUPPORT INNOVATION? ANOTHER, BECAUSE A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM REFORM IN THE R&D AREA WAS INITIATED JUST SEVEN YEARS AGO. TODAY, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE EXPECTED BREAKTHROUGH HAS FAILED TO MATERIALISE AND OVERCOMING THE BARRIER TO INNOVATION HAS BECOME A KEY PRECONDITION OF POLAND LEAVING THE “MIDDLE INCOME TRAP.” Changes carried out over the last seven years included a thorough modification of the functioning and financing of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN), its 70 institutes and research centres, 115 state-owned R&D institutes and research programmes conducted by higher schools. The system of grant contests has been introduced and two state-owned research financing centres set up: the National Science Centre (NCD) for basic research and the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBiR) for R&D projects. Competitions for the latter require acquisition of business partners and their co-financing. In addition, these systems have now been substantively and financially synchronised with the EU Framework Programmes, Horizon 2020 programme, and supplemented with funds distributed under the EU Operational Programme Smart Growth. This quite logical system was accompanied by an increase of real financial outlays on R&D. Although this funding only amounted to 1% of the GDP, in combination with the EU aid funds it provided Polish higher schools and institutes with an unprecedented cash injection allowing them to move to another era in terms of equipment and instrumentation. Many scientific and business communities succeeded in taking advantage of the new conditions. However, does the extent of this success allow us to speak at least of seeds of a new tendency? In the rather popular, but also prestigious Global Innovation Index survey in 2015 Poland dropped one place to 46 (out of 141 countries). In Europe we came a distant 31st, behind such countries as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova and Montenegro. In the European Innovation Union Scoreboard 2015 survey we achieved 24th place out of 28 and scores below the EU average in all the main areas of comparison. In Bloomberg’s 2014 ranking titled “Most Innovative in the World: Countries” Poland ended up in 24th place out of 50 analysed countries. What is happening, then? Some experts maintain that until now the “pro-innovation” systems in Poland derived from the conclusion that since 90% of Polish innovations come from the world of science, the problem is greater commercialisation of this sector, that is encouraging scientists to collaborate with businesses and their owners to buy innovations. Meanwhile, the analysis of the data released by the OECD, UNESCO and the World Bank shows that in innovative countries we have exactly the opposite situation – most innovations are created by companies in their research and development departments. So, the problem in Poland does not stem so much from a lack of money, but from the structure of the R&D sector and its funding. A correction of the “Polish error” in the R&D system already began during the structuring of the EU’s 2014-2020 budget plan. The key Operational Programme Smart Growth provided for a much higher level of co-financing research carried out at the R&D units of enterprises and their equipment with the EU funds and the national budget. Work on the White Paper on Innovation and the resulting statute linking the R&D activity of businesses with tangible tax benefits is being completed. According to the report of KPMG “Innovation Maturity in Poland,” although one half of Polish companies consider innovation to be among their strategic objectives, the other half worry about the return on their investments. Thus, supporting innovation must focus on reducing this risk. Will the current actions help achieve this goal? Apart from the new statute, the government is planning to transfer some EUR 16 billion to the R&D sector by the year 2020. This year alone, the NCBiR is to distribute PLN 8 billion. An interdepartmental Innovation Council has been set up. A special support programme called StartInPoland is under construction and supporting innovation has been added as another task of the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency (PAIiIZ) and the Industrial Development Agency (ARP). The programme of the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP) is also being modernised. Does a new pro-innovation offensive await us? Sensible management of the Polish innovation potential may bring about huge effects. The textile and garment industry can be used as an example. It was among the first victims of the flood of cheap Far Eastern imports, destined never to recover. Today, 17,000 businesses in this sector generate 5% of our GDP and are becoming a driving force behind Polish exports. In 2015, the value of exports in this area exceeded the value of imports of textiles and clothes for the first time. But this is a completely different industry. Efficient absorption of approximately PLN 500 million invested in R&D has resulted in new products and technologies. Today’s textile and garment sector in Poland is a manufacturer of biodegradable fibres, implants, bullet-proof materials, innovative materials for medicine, agriculture, aviation, automotive industry and construction. This is a true industry of the 21st century. It is not the only one in Poland, but it is a textbook example showing that we can create effective systemic solutions.

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President

PRESIDENT WITH A TWO-DAY VISIT TO THE CZECH REPUBLIC

THE PRESIDENT IN GNIEZNO: I AM CONSCIOUS OF 1050 YEARS OF THE POLISH STATE

“

The 10th Gniezno Congress is not just a reference to the famous event in the year 1000 attended by Bolesław Chrobry, Polish king, and Otto III, Roman emperor, but an international meeting of intellectuals and clergy from Central and Eastern Europe, as well as our neighbours from Germany, and a discussion about Europe’s future in light of Christianity and the role Christianity has to play in the future of Europe”, President Andrzej Duda said in Gniezno. “I find this place almost magical. I am conscious of 1050 years of the Polish State. Certainly, with intervals when there was no Polish State, for example during the period of partitions or World War 2, when Poland was dismembered by invaders, but it always persisted in the hearts and this is why it still exists today. People fought for it,” Andrzej Duda said. The President stressed that we had regained our independence exactly because deep in their hearts Poles always felt free and this feeling gave them the strength to fight also for institutional freedom. “Today, when I look at this place as President of the Republic, I feel great responsibility for running Polish affairs so that I leave a good legacy to those who come after me and hold this office,” said the President. Asked how he would encourage young people from all over the world to come to Poland for the World Youth Days, the President replied: “I invite them wholeheartedly. This will be a great meeting of young people, a great opportunity to foster friendships because everybody comes here with goodness in their hearts in order to create a community, above all a community of believers. And generally, I invite everybody to Poland because we live in a beautiful place on the map of Europe and the world, we have lots of relics of historical monuments showing our history, 1050 years of culture that we can be proud of.”

n Monday afternoon, President Andrzej Duda with his wife Agata Kornhauser-Duda arrived in Prague. During a gala at the Polish Embassy in Prague the President presented State awards to honoured Poles living in the Czech Republic. The President thanked them for maintaining contacts with Poland, Polishness and for their civic work for their compatriots. – I am with you at all times as the President of the Republic. I would like you to feel this – said President Duda addressing members of the Polish Diaspora. He added that maintaining relations with Poles living abroad was one of the fundamental elements of building the Polish commonwealth understood as a commonwealth of the representatives of Polish nation but also of the interests of the Republic. In connection with the Year of Sienkiewicz in Poland, during their meeting with the Polish Diaspora, the presidential couple read out fragments of Henryk Sienkiewicz’s works: President Duda – “Pan Wołodyjowski”, and the First Lady – “Quo vadis.” The official welcome of the Polish President and his wife took place on March 15. The agenda included a meeting of the presidential couples followed by plenary talks chaired by Presidents Andrzej Duda and Milos Zeman. A press conference was held after the meeting. Minister Krzysztof Szczerski informed that bilateral talks concerned the co-operation in the Visegrad Group, as well as wider co-operation in Central Europe and the EU. After the conference, President Andrzej Duda met with the Czech Prime Minister. In the afternoon the presidential couple visited the Cathedral of St Vitus, Venceslaus and Adalbert and laid flowers on the grave of Vaclav Havel. The visit ended with a meeting between the President and Polish entrepreneurs.

PRESIDENT VISITS HUNGARY

resident Andrzej Duda began his three-day visit to Hungary on Thursday, March 17, with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Katyń Monument. On Friday, the Polish Head of State met Hungarian President Janos Áder, and on Saturday he held a meeting with Hungarian Pre-

mier Viktor Orbán. During the official visit the President was accompanied by the First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda.

6 polish market

“This is a continuation of the president’s visits preceding the forthcoming NATO summit in Warsaw and in the ABC countries (Adriatic, Baltic, Black Sea),” presidential minister Krzysztof Szczerski said. – Even if countries such as the Czech Republic and Hungary do not aspire to strengthen the presence of NATO in their territory, they still support the positions and efforts of countries such as Poland which advocates for such presence,” he stressed. The talks in Budapest also focused on the construction of infrastructural links in Central Europe which, in the words of Minister Szczerski, are necessary to build a community of interests. Other issues discussed included the migration policy, the Eastern policy and the reform of the European Union. Plenary talks with participation of the presidents of Poland and Hungary were held on Friday. On that day, President Duda also met with representatives of Polish business and the Polish Diaspora.

Prime Minister

CONVERSATION BETWEEN PRIME MINISTER BEATA SZYDŁO AND CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL

he European Council meeting scheduled for March 17-18 and issues related to further arrangements with Turkey were the main topics of a telephone conversation between Prime Minister Beata Szydło and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. On March 8, at an EU summit in Brussels, the EU’s leaders and the Turkish PM adopted a draft agreement on stopping the wave of migrants.

MEETING OF PM BEATA SZYDŁO WITH SYED KAMALL

n M o n d ay, Prime Minister Beata Szydło met in Warsaw Syed Kamall, the chairman of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group in the European Parliament. The conversation was devoted to the co-operation on the European Union forum.

PM SZYDŁO ON THE EU-TURKEY AGREEMENT: IT IS GOOD FOR ALL THE PARTIES

rime Minister Beata Szydło took part in a two-day EU summit in Brussels on March 7-8. During the meeting the European Union and Turkey agreed the final plan aimed at helping to resolve the migrant crisis. The agreement does not impose any new obligations on Poland with regard to the relocation or acceptance of migrants. “The aim of this agreement is, above all, to stop the wave of illegal migrants coming to Europe. This is consistent with Poland’s expectations,” said PM Beata Szydło at a press conference after the EU-Turkey summit. The PM added that since coming to power her government had been stressing that the migration problem had to be resolved outside the EU borders. Today we are a step closer to solving this problem,” she continued. She stressed that the agreement incorporated security guarantees for Poland and that there was a chance of resolving the migration crisis. “Whether this opportunity will be seized now depends on how the parties perform the agreement,”the PM said. Conclusions of the EU-Turkey summit The agreement between the EU leaders and the government in Ankara contains the expectations of both parties and takes into account a number of demands made by Turkey. “The agreement is good for all the parties to this compromise,” PM Szydło said. “There are no new obligations regarding migrants allocation. The principle of voluntary admission stands”. She added that the EU wanted to speed up the liberalisation of the visa rules for Turkish nationals, but on clearly specified conditions. Meetings of PM Szydło outside the agenda of the summit in Brussels Beata Szydło met with Donald Tusk, the head of the European Council. During the first day of the summit in Brussels the Prime Minister also spoke with members of the Visegrad Group and Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament. On day two of the summit, Poland’s PM held talks with President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker concerning, among others, his forthcoming visit to Warsaw, which is to deal with important interests of Poland.

4/2016 polish market

Our Guest

GOOD MODELS Jarosław Gowin, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Science and Higher Education

he Plan for Responsible Development, drawn up mostly by Deputy Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, requires close co-operation between the Ministry of Economic Development and the other ministries. One of the objectives of the government is to do away with a style of government where each department resembles a separate, closed silo which does not communicate with other ministries. Thanks to this it is possible to overcome certain barriers at a very early stage or work out joint new solutions. We fully appreciate the achievements of the last 25 years. However, our government and political camp believes that the Polish economy and the state face a number of important traps. The five most significant traps are:

THE MIDDLE INCOME TRAP

According to our diagnosis, while in the past low pay was one of the sources of competitiveness of the Polish economy, in the era of globalisation this particular competitive advantage is approaching exhaustion. It is easy to find countries where wages are even lower. Besides, we do not want to boast of this form of competitiveness. We all want to see wages at the highest possible level.

THE LACK OF EQUILIBRIUM TRAP

Speaking of equilibrium I have in mind the proportion between the involvement of foreign capital in the Polish economy and the rights of Polish entrepreneurs. This is sometimes called the dependent development trap. After 1989

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we needed foreign investors. We still need them, especially in the areas of modern technologies. However, we must be aware of the costs of involvement of foreign capital in the Polish economy. Nearly PLN 100 billion is transferred abroad every year in the form of profits. Our foreign liabilities are close to PLN 2 trillion, which makes our economy sensitive to all fluctuations in the global economy. We do not close ourselves to foreign capital. We want to balance Polish and foreign capital. Capital has a nationality. We experienced this in 2008 during the crisis and every government is obligated to appreciate first of all our own, Polish capital, meaning Polish companies, to the extent to which this is consistent with international law. We are going to gradually limit all unjustified privileges enjoyed by foreign investors.

THE AVERAGE PRODUCT TRAP

Our economy is based on imitation and not on innovation. In previous years we spent tens of billions of zlotys to enhance innovation, but at the same time we now find ourselves in the lowest category in Europe in innovation rankings. This situation cannot be repeated.

THE DEMOGRAPHIC TRAP

This trap is quite obvious. Unless things change, in 2050 there will be 1.5 persons in employment per every pensioner. These proportions would mean a collapse of the social insurance system and a breakdown of the economy. Therefore, the “Family 500+” programme should be seen as an

Our Guest investment. It can be improved, but we believe that this investment in the Polish family will not only have a demographic effect, but will also help maintain an appropriate rate of economic growth.

THE INSTITUTIONAL WEAKNESS TRAP

Just a few figures which show the weakness of our institutions. 40 – the number of institutions which may audit businesses. 44 – amendments to the VAT Act since 2004. A completely unclear law offering room for fraud and arbitral decisions of institutions and inland revenue offices. 685 days – the average length of a court dispute. There are five pillars on which we want to base our development. The most important one is re-industrialisation, although I prefer the term neo-industrialisation of Poland. This is the gist of our plan and of the actions of our government. We are not talking only about industrial development, although without industry there can be no rapid economic growth. Our intention is to provide huge investment funds in the form of public aid or investments in private industry. We do not want to expand the state-owned industry. We want to ensure that large investments are made in clearly defined areas of the economy. We also know that we must support our businesses in foreign expansion. New solutions are being prepared. There will be one institution created to support Polish exports and promote brand Poland. We have begun the formation of economic diplomacy. However, the most important thing is to properly diagnose Poland’s economic potential, select the most competitive areas and direct investments and support these sectors. We want the development of the Polish economy to be balanced. This means ensuring dynamic development not just of large metropolises or economically strong regions, but also finding ways of developing regions or towns which clearly lag behind and lose touch with the leaders of the race. We still have a number of medium-sized towns which are academic centres and are situated in regions with no major industry, for instance, the province of Lubuskie, Podlaskie or Warmińsko-Mazurskie. We want to create conditions for the establishment of specialist business service centres in such towns. Economic development should be regional or inter-regional, but I do not want to go back to the idea of the Central Industrial District (COP) in the 21st century. The COP is based on the state-owned industry, while we want to develop the private sector. However, we would like to create “valleys”, such as the prospering Aviation Valley covering Lubelskie, Podkarpackie and Małopolskie regions.

We want to support such projects and think in a similar way about other parts of Poland’s development. Where can we find the funds for all this? According to our calculations, we can provide more than PLN 1 trillion in the coming years. Half are EU funds, but the State Treasury companies also have their investment potential. The Public Procurement Law is also going to be an important instrument. Every year public contracts worth PLN 160 billion are awarded, which represents 8% of Poland’s GDP. We know perfectly well that large public procurement contracts connected with the infrastructural leap over the last eight years went largely to investors or companies with foreign capital. A Bill amending the Public Procurement Law Act, forming the introduction to the new law and representing a departure from the lowest price criterion will be referred to social consultations. Price will be no more than 40% of the evaluation criteria. Other factors taken into account will include the operating costs, facilities for SME, with points awarded for innovations and social clauses (for example, tenders will be analysed from the point of view of the degree of employment permanency offered by them). I want to stress one more time that under the EU legislation we are not allowed to create formal privileges for Polish companies, but we can create privileges for small and medium-sized enterprises. Such privileges for the SME sector simply offer a significant opportunity for Polish entrepreneurs. This is the backdrop for the actions of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. In order to make the Polish economy permanently innovative we must base this innovation to the largest extent possible on the resources of Poland’s science. Here the situation is very bad and there are numerous difficulties facing both the business and the scientific community. Entrepreneurs may say many bitter words about their co-operation with Polish higher schools. And when I talk to professors the situation is exactly opposite. We plan to amend the Innovation Act. We want to abolish the taxation of intellectual and industrial property. Moreover, we want to increase the tax deductible costs of R&D activity to 50%. Today, in the case of small and medium-sized enterprises these costs are divided as follows: 30% towards headcount costs and 20% towards the remaining costs. We want to raise the amount to 50% with regard to all types of costs. In the case of large companies the situation is similar, but the proportions are different. Until now, it was possible to write off 30% and 10% respectively. We want to increase costs and the headcount costs write-off to 50% and

30% in the case of other costs. These are tangible tax breaks and may act as an incentive. We plan to introduce a cash-back for startups, but also a whole range of facilities for scientists. We want academics and higher schools to have incentives encouraging them to co-operate with the business community. The collaboration between science and business is important. We have PLN 50 billion for spending on innovative research by the year 2020. This money is not going to be paid to higher schools, as was the practice in the past, but entrepreneurs are to seek partners among scientists. Europe lags behind not just the USA, but also Asia when it comes to the implementation of research. Money must be spent sensibly. I encourage business people to participate in grant contests. Last week, the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBiR) completed a contest for quick grants. The amount on offer was PLN 500 million. Alas, applications were few and far between. Their quality was also low. The NCBiR has awarded only PLN 150 million, with PLN 350 million awaiting allocation. These “quick contests” last several months. We are aware that the activity of the NCBiR should be improved. A competition to select its new director is under way. I think that the Centre will function much better. Simultaneously, we are beginning work on a White Paper concerning barriers to innovation. These barriers include not only legislative issues, but also administration and organisation. I invite entrepreneurs to participate in social consultations. Based on this White Paper, we will start drafting the new Innovation Bill at the turn of 2016/2017. Currently, we are eliminating those barriers which are the easiest to remove. On the academic side, research institutes and research and development units are a very important potential partner. The quality of these institutes varies considerably. We have world-class facilities, but also some that are mediocre. There are also institutes where the reasons for their existence cannot be found. We have initiated work on a new Research Institutes Bill. We are seeking good models abroad and want to follow German or Finnish solutions. We plan to link institutes into networks, as is the case in Germany. The Ministry of Science and Higher Education is working on a map of scientific potential, having • in mind applied sciences.

Address of Jarosław Gowin, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Science and Higher Education, during a meeting with entrepreneurs held on March 7 at the Polish Chamber of Commerce (KIG) in Warsaw.

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Our Guest

MAZOVIA THE MOST ATTRACTIVE EUROPEAN REGION

Adam Struzik, Marshal of Mazowieckie Voivodeship (Mazovia), talks to “Polish Market” about Integrated Translational Center Advanced Neuro Health Care (INC) at the Mazovian Brodnowski Hospital and about supporting innovation by the regional authorities. Integrated Translational Center Advanced Neuro Health Care (INC) at the Mazovian Brodnowski Hospital in Warsaw is the most advanced facility of this type in Europe and second in the world. We witnessed the official opening of the centre in February of this year. The authorities should be congratulated on this investment project. The centre is the result of many years of planning, ideas and personal involvement of Professor Mirosław Ząbek. This also means close collaboration with Professor Bankiewicz (USA) that included joint operations, training courses and study visits. Seeing the potential and determination of the medical community we simply decided to offer support. Certainly, I am a physician myself and understand very well the magnitude of the project. We just could not miss this opportunity. It should be stressed that this is not just the most advanced centre of its type in the world, but it faces the task of “creating modernity” and innovation PM

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in the medicine of tomorrow. This is no longer an issue of innovative therapy but of creating a space for ideas how to combat diseases which today render us helpless. Therefore, we cannot treat this centre as yet another necessary lab. This is much more – this is the medicine of the future. The costs of this project amounted to PLN 24 million. How did you manage to acquire these funds? Securing funding is always a challenge and it rarely happens without problems. Also, in this case we faced several difficult situations, but we succeeded in the end and this is the important bit. The project was co-financed by the EU as part of the 2007-2013 Regional Operational Programme for Mazowieckie Voivodeship. PM

How long did it take to create the centre? I can tell you that even our experienced American partners thought that the building

of the centre went very efficiently. We all know that unexpected delays can happen while construction work is under way. Installing the latest technology in a building erected nearly 40 years ago was also quite a challenge. By all means, many solutions found in the hybrid room are completely new. I mean here the presence of a MRI scanner in the operating theatre, so that it is possible to create a separate space for standard neurosurgical procedures. The theatre should be used on a daily basis by neurosurgeons and the MRI equipment utilised to diagnose all patients. Therefore, this is a perfect example of combining vision and the latest technologies with practice. In a project of this type one must not forget the daily needs of patients and the hospital itself. If my memory serves me right, the work lasted just six months – between July and the end of 2015.

Will Integrated Translational Center Advanced Neuro Health Care (INC) contribute

Our Guest to improving the socio-economic situation of the Mazovia region? This may sound a little too bold, but in this specific case we can talk of a global effect. This is the second such centre in the world. Gene brain therapy offers a tremendous chance of combating diseases which still have the upper hand. This is certainly a huge opportunity and hope for thousands of people. Had the Marshal’s Office supported similar projects before? Are there plans to support projects similar to Integrated Translational Center Advanced Neuro Health Care (INC)? Without a doubt, although this project is absolutely unique. the Mazovia region boasts the largest number of renowned scientific institutions in our country. One could event risk saying that an institution capable of conducting research in almost every scientific discipline can be found in the region. Many centres have received EU support from us towards very interesting, innovative projects. The list is long and includes, among others, a centre for research into graphene and innovative nanotechnologies (ITME), modern research laboratories at the Institute of High Pressure Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Celestynów or the extension of the labs of the Biomedical Engineering Centre at the Military University of Technology. PM

What actions are taken by the Marshal’s Office to support innovative solutions of companies? Talking of innovation support we must bear in mind the pan-European phenomenon called regional innovation paradox which can also be seen in our province. Financial and organisational outlays on innovation often fail to produce tangible effects. One of the reasons is the low level of co-operation between research centres and businesses due to the lack of mutual understanding and trust between science and business. Therefore, in the EU’s new financial plan for the years 2014-2020 we put emphasis on R&D projects. Support is offered to R&D projects implemented by entrepreneurs, investments into the development of the R&D infrastructure and the development of this infrastructure in scientific institutions. However, they must form a basis which businesses can use. An additional form of support are the small research and development projects. The third priority axis, focused on, among others, the development of the business environment, increasing the capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises to implement new technologies and creating an international SME sector in the Mazovia region is an auxiliary form of support.

Polish voivodeships have been obligated to implement the smart specialisations concept. How is this obligation being performed in Mazowieckie Voivodeship? We have not created a closed catalogue of sectors or technologies especially for our province. We took into account the diverse character of our voivodeship and identified four smart specialisations areas: safe food, intelligent management systems, modern business services and high quality of life. The main thing is to combine our strong position with the enormous potential of the region. Thus, we do not preclude co-financing a new sector or including activities which until now have not been associated with a given area. By the way, the creation of Integrated Translational Center Advanced Neuro Health Care (INC) at the Mazovian Brodnowski Hospital would perfectly fit the latter area of smart specialisations which is the high quality of life. PM

Mazowieckie Voivodeship has the highest index of economic activity in the country. How can this index be maintained in the coming years? How to encourage new businesses to invest in the Mazovia region? The figures are highly optimistic: Mazowieckie Voivodeship generates in excess of 22% of Poland’s GDP and shows a relatively high increase of the number of enterprises. PM

However, these statistics must be analysed in the context of the entire region. Our Voivodeship is highly diverse internally. Certainly, the driving force behind its development is Warsaw, the capital city of the region and the country. Other areas do not develop so dynamically. We must bear this in mind whenever we draft various strategic documents for the province and whenever we decide on the allocation of the funds provided by the EU. We must direct support towards sustaining and reinforcing good tendencies in business and towards actions designed to stimulate the economy in places where such stimulation is needed. Currently, the strongest tool are the EU funds. Consequently, the support mostly takes the form of co-financing new, interesting initiatives consistent with the development plan for the voivodeship via its Regional Operational Programme. In addition, with more than 15 years of their existence, the local authorities have contributed to the establishment of institutions offering various forms of support for entrepreneurs. The funds such as the Mazovian Fund of Credit Surety and the Mazovian Regional Loan Fund provide refundable support for businesses. The Mazovia Development Agency Plc is a company which promotes the region among entrepreneurs and investors, while the Mazovia Energy Agency

Adam Struzik, Marshal of Mazowieckie Voivodeship and Prof. Mirosław Ząbek 4/2016 polish market

Our Guest

offers organisational, legal and financial solutions for businesses wanting to develop the local power sector, especially from renewable sources. The Mazowsze Network of Advice and Information Centres on Innovation is also very active. It provides entrepreneurs with information how to implement new technologies in their companies. Which companies in your voivodeship are the biggest exporters and are engaged in international expansion? The latest surveys show that over 15.5% of businesses operating in the Mazovia region are exporters. This puts us among the leaders of Poland’s regions in this respect. The largest increase of exports, by 25%, has been seen in the pharmaceutical industry in recent years. The food market is also growing. The voivodeship is Poland’s largest exporter of fruits and vegetables. The food produced in our province is exported to more than 20 countries outside the EU. In some commodity categories the region provides as much as 70-90% of the agricultural produce exported from Poland. However, food is not all. Over 30% of the region’s exports is accounted for by products of the machine, electronic and electrical industry. Our entrepreneurs also export chemical products and non-precious metals and articles manufactured from them. Our transport vehicles are also known abroad. And what about attracting foreign investors? Which regions of the world show the biggest interest in Mazowieckie Voivodeship? We are one of the most attractive European regions. Our excellent location on the map of Europe and Poland, well-prepared investment sites and road infrastructure around them are among our advantages. However, it is necessary to remember that, before taking an investment location decision, foreign companies check the possible locations very carefully. Investment incentives, such as taxes, site development and infrastructure, but also economic conditions, the political and economic situation, and so on, are very important. According to the latest figures released by the Regional Investor Assistance Centre and PAIiIZ S.A. (Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency), within the last 24 months enquiries regarding conditions for investing in our region have come from countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, the USA, Belgium, Turkey, Switzerland, China and Japan. It should be mentioned here that Polish com• panies make such enquiries too.

Photo: Katarzyna Radkowska, Łukasz Giersz

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The Integrated Translational Center Advanced Neuro Health Care (INC) at the Mazovian Brodnowski Hospital.

Medicine

HOSPITAL

LIKE A METROPOLIS Teresa Maria Bogiel, President of the Mazovian Brodnowski Hospital

hospital shares one characteristic with the largest metropolises in the world. It never sleeps. This is not just a matter of looking after patients day and night, but above all the readiness to face an emergency or even a crisis at any time. This readiness for events which cannot be predicted is the reason that the hospital can be put in motion very rapidly. Apart from extraordinary events we have our daily routine. Caring for the patients, planned procedures, work of the outpatient clinics or basic health care. This is a living body, very sensitive to any interference with its rhythm. Every investment, every technical change amounts to such interference and it takes a lot of effort not to disturb the main functions of the medical centre. The same applied to the preparation of the Integrated Translational Center Advanced Neuro Health Care (INC) at the Mazovian Brodnowski Hospital. The challenge facing all those involved in its construction consisted in planning and conducting the work so that the normal functioning of the hospital was disturbed to the smallest possible extent. It is worth pointing out that hospital wards are located both above and under the centre and we were unable to suspend their activity for the duration of the project. Then, there was the time factor. All key works were completed as planned. We had six months for everything and... we did it. A precise action plan, co-ordination between crews and huge commitment of our staff. These were the three elements without which completing such a complex investment project on time would not have been possible.

For a number of years we have been pursuing a strategy of building unique centres within the structures of the Mazovian Brodnowski Hospital. Such was the case with the opening of the first Gamma Knife lab in Poland, and such was the case with the INC. We are raising the bar even further because until now these were the first and often only labs in the country while now we have the first such centre in Europe. One thing does not change, though. People come first. These are two cornerstones of our approach. On the one hand, the patient and his or her needs. On the other hand, the team. Our personnel. We can have the best equipment, but without the commitment or even passion of our physicians, nurses and administration none of these innovative labs is going to work properly. With every new idea we try to determine whether it can fully meet the needs of individual groups of patients. The same applied to the INC. The centre faces the challenge of being a research and development centre for medical ideas which nobody is even considering. However, this does not mean that the equipment cannot serve the largest possible number of our patients. Since we have an excellent MRI scanner and the operating theatre can be arranged so that we can use it independently from the MRI, why not go for it? And this is exactly what has happened. Medicine of the future is the most important task facing the centre, but there is no reason why it should not serve the current â&#x20AC;˘ needs of other patients.

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Medicine

INNOVATIVE

AND UNORTHODOX ADMINISTRATION OF DRUGS Professor Mirosław Ząbek, Founder of the Integrated Translational Center Advanced Neuro Health Care (INC) at the Mazovian Brodnowski Hospital The Integrated Translational Center Advanced Neuro Health Care (INC) at the Mazovian Brodnowski Hospital is the second such facility in the world. The first is located at the University of California in San Francisco. How come the first such centre has been established in Poland? Some 20 years ago, I organised a very large medical event. A journalist from “The Warsaw Voice” arrived and asked me the very same question: why here, in Warsaw? I still have no answer. I think that in life one has to be in the right place at the right time. Creating something on such a large scale in Poland is not easy, primarily because of financial constraints. For this reason, competing with Europe, or the world, is very difficult. Therefore, I cannot give you a rational explanation. I think that this has to be linked to my commitment and the amount of thought I have given to the subject. Because if you are pondering on something all day long, all the obstacles can be eliminated in this thought process. If you think that you can succeed, you usually do. We also try to convey this idea to our patients, to make them think that they can overcome their illness. Then, the therapeutic effect is better. Certainly, many people were involved in the Integrated Translational Center Advanced Neuro Health Care (INC) at the Mazovian Brodnowski Hospital project, but I was the one who connected and powered the entire process of its creation. PM

Professor, can you tell us what is really going to take place here. We have heard of surgeries with realtime brain imaging. What does this mean? Is this a technological breakthrough worthy of a new era? Can

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this save patients who, until now, could not be helped? The technology which is going to be used here is unique. However, it would be premature to talk about a breakthrough. Such talk will be justified when we register a drug based on our work here. However, for this to happen we need to carry out further studies. Nevertheless, I think that we are on the right path and are unlikely to deviate from it. This process may last several more years, depending on the disease we are talking about. Today’s cancer treatment is a combination therapy. Surgery, radio and chemotherapy are recognised methods based on facts. Alas, there is the blood-brain barrier and 98% of protein particles cannot get from blood to the brain. Consequently, it is difficult to manufacture a drug which can enter the brain. Today’s treatment standard in the world is surgery augmented by radio- and chemotherapy. Chemotherapy causes problems because it affects all body cells. In addition, there is a problem with reaching the brain. When this happens, the drug affects the entire brain, and we want it to work in a clearly defined area only. However, drugs used in chemotherapy can be packed in nano-particles surrounded by a lipid membrane which means that the medicine is released gradually without poisoning the entire body and can be administered to a specific spot. Our objective is to turn brain cancer from a fatal to chronic disease, just like in the case of diabetes where we have learned how to control glycaemia. We already have first, highly promising test results from the USA. PM

What are the plans regarding the Warsaw centre? There will be continuous co-operation with its sister centre in the USA. But

what else? Will there be time for training new specialists? We are currently acquiring partners for financing our research. In April we are going to be visited by companies which finance research into Huntington’s and Parkinson’s diseases. We will also apply for the financing of trials using chemotherapy. We have already had talks with the Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW) which has a large, modern animal surgery centre. Research on pigs, which helps understand Huntington’s disease, is being carried out at that centre. Therefore, we can run parallel tests on animals. Do you think that the opening of the Integrated Translational Center Advanced Neuro Health Care (INC) at the Mazovian Brodnowski Hospital may provide an impulse for the development of this medical discipline in Poland? You mentioned the SGGW, but are any other centres going to join in as well? It is very important that we have received huge interest from the government. Professor Bankiewicz and I, we have held a meeting with the Health Minister and visited the Senate, where we talked to Speaker Karczewski and the head of the health committee. The interest is enormous. I am astonished that after just a few conversations, the project has progressed so far. We talked about manufacturing a drug for our therapy in Poland. Professor Bankiewicz has told me of an interview request from British television. We must remember that all this would not have happened, had it not been for Professor Bankiewicz. I once visited him in San Francisco where I learned a new treatment method called deep brain stimulation, not even considered in Poland. On that occasion, I brought the equipment necessary for PM

Medicine this therapy in my suitcase. I started conducting my first operations, provoking various comments in the medical community. Now, this is a registered method financed by the National Health Fund and used all over the country. It is difficult to do something new, but we should remember the following saying: “When everybody knew that something could not be done, there was one who did not know this and did it.” Apart from his impeccable reputation and medical achievements, we should appreciate Professor Bankiewicz’s patriotism. Despite being a Professor in the USA, he came to Poland to earn his PhD. When asked why he was doing this, he always replied with an anecdote. Apparently, his grandmother kept telling him that in America he was a well-known professor and in Poland he did not even have a PhD. What is the most important thing at this moment: developing your method or creating organisational and medical facilities? Or perhaps, everything must be done at once? All this must take place at the same time. The Centre already exists, with clinical trials regarding Huntington’s and Parkinson’s disease bound to commence this year. In April we plan the aforementioned acquisition of funds and in the late autumn we should begin the first treatments. If they are effective and improve the quality of the patients’ life then we will be able to apply for the recognition of this therapy as a drug. I think that the quickest results can be expected in metabolic therapies in children and in treating cancer. If we succeed in creating a new drug, it would pose a certain threat to the existing medicines. For this reason, pharmaceutical companies are very interested in monitoring the process of creating new drugs. Therefore, we expect funding to come from that direction because we share the same goal. It would be excellent if this drug could be manufactured in Poland, where we have the necessary facilities. PM

You mentioned the involvement of the government. But how did things look like here, when the Centre was being established? I can compare this to Robert Lewandowski who is an excellent footballer, but had to learn his skills somewhere and did it in Polish clubs. The same applies to us. Today, we are managing this Centre, but it was created at a State-owned hospital. Province Marshal Struzik and the management of Mazovian Brodnowski Hospital all helped us a lot. We came up with the idea and the rest happened at the Local Government of Mazowieckie Province and the Management of the Hospital. They found the funds to finance the construction of this Centre which was not an easy task, requiring an intervention at the European Union level. The time between the concept and the creation of the Centre was just two years. • PM

IF WE SUCCEED IN CREATING A NEW DRUG, IT WOULD POSE A CERTAIN THREAT TO THE EXISTING MEDICINES. 4/2016 polish market

Medicine

ONE LIFE

IS NOT ENOUGH TO BRING A PROJECT LIKE THIS TO ITS END Professor Krzysztof Bankiewicz, M.D., Ph.D., Founder of the Integrated Translational Center Advanced Neuro Health Care (INC) at the Mazovian Brodnowski Hospital in Warsaw, talks to “Polish Market” about the establishment of the Centre, the technologies which are to be used there and the co-operation with the unit in San Francisco.

The Integrated Translational Center Advanced Neuro Health Care (INC) at the Mazovian Brodnowski Hospital is the second such facility in the world. The first is located at the University of California in San Francisco. How come the first such centre has been established in Poland? I think this is due to my very long history of collaboration with Professor Mirosław Ząbek and the Integrated Translational Center Advanced Neuro Health Care (INC) at the Mazovian Brodnowski Hospital in Warsaw. Over PM

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the years, this collaboration has intensified, largely thanks to our shared interest in innovative treatment of patients with Parkinson’s disease. Earlier, I had received a proposal to set up a similar centre at the Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris. I spent a lot of time conducting talks regarding the opening of such a centre. After returning to the States I asked myself why not try and do this in Poland? This idea led to a number of actions and considerable efforts. You can see the results today. This centre has been created to develop innovative

technologies first elaborated in the USA. These procedures are so complicated that they cannot be carried out even at the best modern hospitals which have not been properly adapted to conducting such operations. My vision of this centre is based on people who are familiar with this technology because this discipline requires considerable experience. PM

Is the Centre we see today a completed project or are there plans for further

Medicine co-operation between Warsaw and San Francisco leading to its development? I am director of the centre in San Francisco and oversee the centre in Warsaw. Therefore, I can say that there are programmes already implemented in clinical trials in the USA which are also going to be conducted in Warsaw. The centre in Poland is the next step in the project initiated in America. One could say that there are bound to be certain modifications of the technologies and clinical plans, since we are going to learn from the American experiences. The other aspect of our co-operation is the intention to introduce our own innovative technologies. We have a firm plan to manufacture nanoparticles for use in patients. The Polish centre is to become the first place in the world where they are deployed. This way we want to reverse the trend and send technologies to the USA. It is important to understand that in the case of the development of the technology which we use in our patients the path leading to the registration of a given drug is very long. One of the registration requirements is that different clinical teams at several independent centres obtain similar results in their research into the same drug. Professor, please tell us what exactly is going to take place here. We have heard of brain operations with realtime imaging. What does it mean? Is this a technological breakthrough ushering in a new era? Can this save the patients who until now could not be helped? What you are seeing today is the utilisation of magnetic resonance imaging and other technologies at 120% of their capacity. Everything has been designed and equipped with the achievement of a specific goal in mind. Nobody has done this before. This is a centre oriented towards administering drugs to patients with various diseases of the central nervous system. The technology we are going to use is based on an innovative and unorthodox way of administering drugs. It consists in delivering drugs directly to the patient’s brain, exactly to the place affected by the disease process in the brain tissue. We have chosen this technology for two reasons. First, many therapeutic agents which could have a positive impact upon the brain are unable to reach it using the current drugs and methods. Currently, even if we are able to cross the blood-brain barrier, these drugs flood the entire brain and cause many undesirable effects. The brain is such a delicate organ, responsible for so many operations that we do not want a given drug to affect parts of the brain other than those chosen by us as our target. What we have created at the Emergency Neurotherapy Centre is targeted drug delivery. This may sound very simple, but believe me, it cannot be done so easily. PM

PEOPLE FEEL THAT INNOVATIONS ARE VERY IMPORTANT. Sixteen years ago I helped Professor Ząbek introduce the deep brain stimulation technology. It consists in targeted administration of a drug containing electricity. It stimulates the brain at a very specific place. This was the first step to something that today is called interventional neurology. It allows us to affect the brain in a deliberate and controlled way. At present, the most common illness in which we can use our technology is Parkinson’s disease. We are able to significantly alleviate its symptoms. It cannot be cured completely? Alas, no. This is symptomatic treatment. Deep brain stimulation affects the part of the brain which is more activated due to the muffling of the other part caused by degeneration. Our intervention consists in eliminating the consequences of this degeneration. PM

Can this method be developed further? Are we at the initial stage of its application? Or maybe it cannot be improved anymore? Can we expect another medical breakthrough soon? My experiences in medicine tell me that we certainly can. It is said that our current knowledge is obsolete already. My point of view is that I was able to indicate the direction in which these technologies should develop. I am happy to say that this is exactly what has been happening. Other academic groups are joining the efforts. Also, many companies that manufacture the equipment necessary in this technology are very interested in developing their products. Highly specialised tools are needed for administering these drugs. They can include genes, nanoparticles or therapeutic proteins. This is a complex technology because we had to master many unrelated disciplines of medicine and engineering. PM

Are there problems with the implementation of your technologies? Yes, because most of us, physicians, are unfamiliar with these matters. We need experts, people who work at pharmaceutical companies. They, however, can feel a little lost because the technologies are highly innovative and very complicated. It is difficult to combine all the areas mentioned above. I am glad that PM

here, in Mazowieckie Voivodeship, and also at the Voivodeship Marshal’s Office, our work is met with such understanding. People feel that innovations are very important. I hope that we can create here a workshop facility for testing innovative technologies. One of your objectives is educating another generation of specialists able to work in your area of medicine. I always say to my students and post-graduate students that one life is not enough to bring a project like this to its end. Therefore, we need young people who could continue the project. The assumption is that we are going to exchange researchers between the centre in Warsaw and the one in San Francisco. PM

What is the most important thing at the moment? The development of your method or the creation of medical and organisational infrastructure? Can everything be done at once? Unfortunately, we must do everything at once and this is a highly complicated process. We are hampered by things like the different time zones in California and Warsaw. I have to work all the time. PM

How do you divide your time between the centres in Poland and the USA? Today I am in Warsaw. I will return here next month with a group of colleagues from America and the Netherlands who are interested in the project. I urge them to start using our centre for clinical trials of gene therapy. If we manage to negotiate the labyrinth of regulations in Poland and the European Union, and it seems that we can do this, then we will probably be able to start research similar to that conducted in the USA even this year. PM

Everybody stresses that this is the first such centre in Europe. Does it mean that it is going to treat patients from all of Europe or at least from our region? Or are you going to concentrate on patients from Poland? We are going to begin with Polish patients. I have recently received a consent to conducting gene therapy in children with an inherent genetic mutation resulting in brain dysfunction. There are only approximately 120 such children in the world. We have two cases in Poland and 13 in Germany. There are 27 documented cases in the entire EU. We will begin this study by administering this gene to the first child in California this summer. Gaining this experience is of critical importance. We would like to be able to carry out similar operations in Warsaw soon. If we succeed then patients from all over the world will come to us. This is a step which may lead us to establish• ing a European. PM

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Science

HEARING SCREENING IN POLAND AND IN THE WORLD H

earing screening programmes conducted by the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing in the previous years have already encompassed a population of more than one million children from primary schools in rural and town municipalities in Poland as well as 7 and 12-year olds in Warsaw and other Polish cities. These programmes have shown that even as many as 1 in 6 children may have some problem with hearing. These problems may have a significant impact on the child’s development and educational success. Results of the hitherto programmes have confirmed the magnitude of the problem of hearing disorders in schoolchildren. Statistically, a child with a severe hearing loss has education scores three times worse than its well-hearing peers. Early detection of hearing disorders in children is crucial

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for timely implementation of a programme of early intervention aimed at improvement of a communication process. Specialists from the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing are fully aware of this fact, thus early intervention programmes have been one of the chief priorities of their scientific and organizational work from the very beginning. Practical implementation of early medical intervention in a child with a hearing disorder means faster recovery of its auditory functions resulting in better communication competences and financial savings for patient and for the healthcare system. This is why prophylaxis is so important, not only as something we think or talk about. It must be implemented into the daily clinical practice. Screening tests are a perfect example of a broad approach to thinking about detection and prevention of various diseases

a having negative impact on the individual’s development and everyday contacts with their environment. To underline the significance of this problem it is worth noting that many years of work and achievements of the Institute’s team have been seen and appreciated in Europe. A topic submitted and coordinated by Prof. Henryk Skarżyński in collaboration with the Ministry of Health Department of the Mother and Child, “Equal opportunities for children with communication disorders”, has been chosen as one of the priorities of the Polish presidency of the EU Council in the field of public health. During the half-year presidency the experts from the Institute successfully drew the attention of politicians and institutions of the EU and its member countries to the importance of the incidence of disorders of hearing, vision and speech among the children

Science in Europe, and the dire consequences of neglecting these disorders, and proposed solutions to reduce the negative impact of these disorders. One of the most effective measures have been demonstrated to be the universal screening programmes for pre-school and school children. As a result of the activities of the Institute’s team and the negotiations conducted during the presidency, the Ministers of Health of all EU Member Countries have adopted at the meeting of the EPSCO Council the EU Council Conclusions on Early Detection and Treatment of Communication Disorders in Children, including the Use of e-Health Tools and Innovative Solutions. One of the very disturbing observations is that nearly 60% of parents of children diagnosed with hearing loss have not even suspected that this child might have problems with hearing. Without hearing screening tests conducted at schools most hard-of-hearing students would have never had their hearing examined. This is expecially true of children in small towns and villages where access to specialists is even more difficult than in larger cities. Hearing screening is for the majority of children living in rural areas the best chance for early detection of a hearing disorder. In 2014, the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing created the International Consortium for Hearing Screening, which successfully implements a “Programme of Early Detection of Hearing Problems for Equal Educational Opportunities of Children on Four Continents”. The Consortium members are medical centres from such countries as Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Romania, Senegal, Tajikistan and Ivory Coast. In all of these countries, as well as in Ukraine, Western Siberia, Azerbaijan, Congo, Tanzania, Colombia and recently in Rwanda, the experts have conducted pilot hearing screenings in schools. The results were disturbing – hearing problems have been found in 15 up to 30(!) percent of school children. These problems included hearing loss of 20-30 dB, but also high-frequency hearing loss and profound unilateral or bilateral hypoacusis. Hearing screening in Rwanda has been possible thanks to the collaboration between the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing and the Pallottine Missionary Foundation SALVATTI.pl. Screening was conducted among the first graders and abnormal results were noted in 28% of cases. These children who could be helped in their country had been referred for further diagnostics and treatment. Many hearing disorders, however, cannot be treated in African countries due to the lack of specialists and necessary medical

Prof. Henryk Skarżynski and Ass. Prof. Piotr H. Skarżynski during hearing screening in Rwanda. equipment. This is why the next step for ENT doctors from Poland will be to create a centre of telemedicine in Kigali, in a clinic established 30 years ago by Rev. Henryk Hoser SAC, today an archbishop. The clinic is managed by Pallottine sisters. A specialist trained in Poland will conduct diagnostic examinations in the Rwandan clinic. Then, these test results will be sent on-line to the Institute in Kajetany, where the experts will provide diagnostic and medical support for physicians in Rwanda. This will help reducing the risk of social exclusion for people with hearing disorders and allow children with hearing loss to be treated and then to have access to the same education opportunities as their healthy peers. The premise of collaboration between the centres in partner countries is that local

specialists provide otolaryngology care for these children. Many of these specialists have been trained in Kajetany, at different training courses and workshops which are organized in the World Hearing Center on a regular basis. There are already plans of further activities promoting hearing screening in other regions of the world. Currently the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing has submitted proposals for the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020. Popularization of the scientific and clinical achievements of the Institute’s team in the international arena is one of the goals of the World Hearing Center. For this reason the Institute has planned further activities promoting hearing screening programmes • in other parts of the world. 4/2016 polish market

Science

EVERY INITIATIVE IS AN ELEMENT OF A DELIBERATE POLICY Professor Marek Krawczyk, M.D., Ph.D., Rector of the Medical University of Warsaw (MUW), head of the Department and Clinic of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery, talks to Maciej Proliński. Professor, do you think that the “Plan for Responsible Development” for the next 25 years presented recently by Deputy Premier Mateusz Morawiecki is good news for the scientific community, including the medical sector at large? As regards slogans and vision this plan is certainly very promising and can only be welcomed. Greater industrialisation, stimulation of Polish entrepreneurship and creation of strong development impulses including, among others, mobilisation of capital to participate in major industrial projects, more well-paid jobs, support for Polish exports and facilities offered to the business community in the field of innovation, participation of Poland in the digital revolution, support for start-ups based on co-operation with large domestic companies, closer collaboration between science and business, and, last but not least, the time horizon in which 15 years from now the average Pole will be earning as much as the average EU citizen – all this sounds optimistic. However, all this must be followed by certain actions rendering the plan more detailed and offering concrete solutions, as well as ensuring coherent and stable conditions for the development of Polish science and industry, including the pharmaceutical sector. There certainly is a chance for the pharmaceutical industry to be seen as an important branch of Polish industry and one of the drivers of the economy, providing a major contribution to the development of human capital and the labour market. However, the question remains whether companies such as Adamed or Polpharma are still being noticed and appreciated more abroad than in Poland? Seeking funds for research and development remains our main problem. PM

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This plan only mentions in passing that half of the more than PLN 1 trillion earmarked for its implementation is to come from investments by Polish businesses, State Treasury companies and banks. “Humanities are an inexhaustible source of creativity,” declared Jarosław Gowin, Minister of Science and Higher Education, stressing the role of humanities research in the innovation policy. I must admit that this statement makes me happy because in recent years humanities were greatly neglected in our country. After all, without this base there can be no good physicians, engineers or journalists... Restoring humanities to their rightful place is a step in the right direction. For years the situation in this field remained quite dramatic and humanists felt that they were probably not welcome in Poland. It is good that this is going to change now. Medical studies are special studies because their graduates deal with people throughout their entire professional life. Everybody who decides to study medicine chooses a profession which requires commitment, continuous learning and monitoring the developments in science and engineering serving these professions. And without this grounding in humanities, one certainly cannot be a good doctor, that is someone who is focused more on the person than the disease. But Minister Gowin also speaks of several other fundamental things. For instance, he speaks of removing red tape from Polish science and higher education. This is good because bureaucracy is one of the biggest problems facing universities. The procedures are becoming ever more complicated, but are PM

they necessary? There is also talk of drawing up a new Higher Education Act. According to him, the new regulations should come into force in the years 2018/2019. Again, this is only a plan, but one that is beginning to show its framework. According to the minister, the starting point for drafting the new Act will be a competition to select three teams of experts tasked with drawing up competing higher education draft bills. The question is what role - perhaps still a leading one - in the creation of the new law would be played by the existing institutions, that is teams originating from the academic community, such as the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland (CRASP)? The Commission for the Support of public-private partnership (PPP) has been established at the CRASP on the initiative of the scientific community. On March 2 a seminar was held at the Medical University of Warsaw to discuss Good PPP Practices. What was its conclusion? The commission was set up on the initiative of the representatives of schools such as the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Warsaw School of Economics, University of Wrocław, University of Łódź, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice School of Economics and Aarhus University in Denmark. Its members deal in their research work and practice with issues relating to public-private partnership institutions. They have developed, among others, the conceptual assumptions for some of the largest PPP projects in Poland. They also participate in scientific conferences on PPP held at leading academic centres in Europe. They have written numerous publications dealing with partnership, including leading PM

Science commentaries, monographs and papers. The objective of this commission is to create a platform for conducting a comprehensive analysis of the legal and economic issues connected with public-private partnership and to indicate the directions of legislative changes, also in terms of their compliance with the EU legislation and to promote information about this partnership and its institutions, including organising training courses. Summarising, this was a third meeting held in the, recently rather neglected, area. And the initiative of the CRASP returns to the original idea that financing higher schools and their development based solely on national budget funding is an approach which should gradually fade away. The MUW Paediatric Hospital was built in just three years. And it was a huge undertaking. The hospital has been receiving patients since the autumn of 2015. And we can safely say that it is a facility worthy of the 21st century! Yes, it really is a hospital worthy of the 21st century! We are talking not only of its excellent personnel, but also of its state-of-the-art equipment. The Hospital belongs to the MUW. Until September 2015, the University operated two children’s hospitals. Currently all paediatric clinics from Działdowska Street and Litewska Street can be found in a modern building at the Banacha Campus at 63A Żwirki i Wigury St. However, the most important thing is that the new facility is among the most modern paediatric medical centres in Poland. It has 535 beds, including 453 paediatric, 37 neonatology and 45 obstetric beds. Since the start of the 2015/2016 academic year students can learn and watch on screens complex operations fed “live” from operating theatres. And our little patients can now be treated using the latest methods. Three years ago, on January 10, 2012, the cornerstone was laid here. Not everybody believed that my and my team’s ambitious plans announced in 2008 after taking over the running of our University, would be implemented. A clearly defined goal, hard work, consistency, determination and support of many good people led to the opening of the new Paediatric Hospital. The facility is managed by Robert Tomasz Krawczyk (no relation, the fact that we have the same surname is a pure coincidence), who is proving to be an excellent director general. In January 2016, two new units were opened here: the Obstetrics and Perinatology Clinic and the Neonatology Clinic. Having an obstetrics clinic and a neonatology clinic with an intensive care unit for premature babies at the Hospital eliminates the need to transport premature babies requiring surgery. Moreover, a Traumatology and Neurotraumatology Clinic with a Child Ophthalmic Ward is PM

under construction. Soon, children with head injuries will no longer have to be treated in outdated children’s hospitals. It should also be stressed that a landing pad for helicopters is located on the roof of our hospital, which increases the chances of effective treatment of children. With the new hospital in mind, a Child Neurology Clinic was set up in 2014. It was previously based on Marszałkowska Street. A Paediatric Clinic with an Observation Ward has also been created. Moreover, the hospital offers a huge opportunity for the development of child cardiacsurgery which is run here by Professor Maciej Karolczak. The scale of procedures carried out in this discipline will be much wider. Child cardiology was growing by leaps and bounds, but had no direct cardiosurgical facilities at the two existing hospitals. Now, it has been moved to a single building. Another issue is transplantology. This cannot be done in just one academic or even calendar year. However, Professor Michał Matysiak has every chance of setting up the most advanced bone marrow transplant centre in the country. Summarising the project, I must emphasise that our entire University, which has units representing all its Departments (apart from the Department of Pharmaceuticals) at the new Paediatric Hospital, should thank Professor Marek Kulus, a Vice-Rector, for his role in creating this facility. Towards the end of 2015, the Sport and Rehabilitation Centre of the MUW was completed. It is open and running. Yes, this is another technologically advanced facility, with the only Olympic-size swimming pool in Warsaw. The complex has been designed as a sports and rehabilitation centre in one. The teaching part of the building contains separate premises occupied by the Rehabilitation Department of the 2nd Physiotherapy Ward of the Medical Faculty of the MUW which, apart from teaching, is going to conduct research into innovative rehabilitation techniques. This is yet another of our bases for developing this particular academic area which has been missing at our University. Moreover, the Sports and Rehabilitation Centre offers an attractive venue for the organisation of various promotional events. PM

The Centre for Preclinical Research (CBP) is also a tool which serves the development of science at the MUW. How is this idea developing and with whom? The Centre for Preclinical Research at the MUW, or in other words, a modern laboratory for the research community, has been expanding the activities of the University since 2014. The project was implemented as part of Poland’s largest biomedical and biotechnological PM

undertaking, that the Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology (CePT) which is to become a leading centre in the development of basic research and technologies. It focuses on explaining the causes and mechanisms of disease development which constitute the biggest problem facing medicine today, such as neurodegenerative diseases, diseases of the cardiovascular system and cancer. This wellequipped laboratory is open to co-operation with the units making up the CePT and with pre-clinical and clinical studies centres in the country. The MUW is a beneficiary of this project and implements it in collaboration with the University of Warsaw, Warsaw University of Technology and seven institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAS). In conclusion: a good and strong message continues to spread to the world from the MUW. And these are facts, and not just plans. Well, going back to the beginning of our conversation, maybe we are simply ahead of certain general ideas? We not only announce, but continue to act, consistently implement the development strategy of our University. This strategy aims at continuously improving the way the University authorities operate. On the other hand, it shows, also to those outside, that every initiative at the MUW is an element of a deliberate policy. This strategy also spurs the department authorities and the entire academic community to taking actions in compliance with this leading document. On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of teaching medicine in Warsaw, Professor Tadeusz Tołłoczko, an outstanding surgeon and humanist, my predecessor in the post of Rector of the MUW, stressed that at some moment in time someone had initiated these projects, investments, someone continued them and someone brought them to their completion. During my terms of office as Rector of the MUW in the years 2008-2012 and 2012-2016, we began, continued and completed many of these initiatives. As regards new developments, we want to extend teaching by offering various simulation teaching possibilities. The old hospital on Działdowska Street is to house these facilities, including the MUW Simulation Teaching Centre. There is a chance that the construction of a Dentistry Centre will begin during my term of office. Our dentistry division is now scattered all over the place – from the Infant Jesus Teaching Hospital to Miodowa Street - and its infrastructure is outdated. Thanks to the goodwill of the Ministry of Health, the design of the new Dentistry Centre to be located in our campus on Banacha Street is being created. We hope that the cornerstone could be laid during the current term of office.• PM

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Science

WE CAN ACHIEVE A SUCCESS Professor Jan Lubiński, President of Read Gene S.A., scientist at the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, talks to Ewelina Janczylik-Foryś.

The objective of Read-Gene S.A. is to conduct genetic research allowing cancer prevention. Yes. We are focused on helping people who present an increased risk of developing cancer. Our company mostly relies on chemo prevention. By administering appropriate agents, we are able to arrest the process of cancer incidence. Despite the increased risk, no cancer will develop, or at least we can considerably lower the risk of cancer. Clinical trials conducted by us for a number of years aim at demonstrating whether a potential drug is effective. The first components studied by us are selenium, iron, zinc and copper. Recently, we have begun research into heavy carcinogenic metals. Our objective is to optimise the levels of microelements, adjust them to the necessary requirements and, by wisely controlling this process, reduce the morbidity risk. PM

Can you give us an example? Of course. The results of our studies indicate unequivocally that if a woman presents a blood selenium level of 75-85 ug/l, the risk of developing cancer is four times lower than in women with selenium below this level. Therefore, we believe that it is necessary to increase the level of selenium to the optimum level, thus lowering the risk of cancer. Supplementing selenium in the right doses means that after reaching the required level in our body we reduce the risk of morbidity or maybe can even reverse an adverse situation. At this stage, we are certain that this is a risk marker. If tests show a level below 75 ug/l, the risk of morbidity is increased. We suggest to our patients that they should rise this level to its required value. We cannot make patients act upon our recommendations, but unfortunately we have no certainty that following them will really reverse the situation. Therefore, we conduct research in this area which is time-consuming and difficult. Our top priority is to work out protocols confirming our suppositions. Tests PM

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require time, hard work and, let’s be honest, considerable financial outlays. When will this product be launched? The tests determining the level of microelements, such as the aforementioned selenium, can be carried out now. All you have to do is visit www.selenowanie.pl and find a laboratory where a sample will be taken under the right conditions. We will test it for various elements, for instance, the concentration of selenium. PM

The company was established in 2005. But even earlier you had professional achievements. What made you form a private business? I am one of the most often cited Polish scientists in medicine. All these scientific achievements can be implemented in practice. Higher schools are not focused on innovative implementations. For this reason, I decided to follow in the footsteps of my Western colleagues and formed our company. PM

You are a good example of co-operation between science and business. Why are many scientists still reluctant to accept such collaboration? I know from my personal experience that running a business is extremely difficult. One has to take responsibility, also financially. Implementations are usually the domain of private companies. Today, our research is being transferred outside on the initiative of the University authorities. The University does not want to bear the risk associated with the provision of medical treatment and is not even formally allowed to do so. Research commercialisation must take place outside the University. Seeing this world order I went ahead with my plans. I was a scientist with extensive implementation experience. We set up a diagnostic laboratory at the school (Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin – ed.) which generates PM

annually several million zlotys in revenues. If our company could earn similar revenues, our financial situation would be excellent. I believe that we will get there, but it takes time. Another issue is the fact that not every research is oriented towards practical implementation. Medicine is a typical implementation discipline – whatever we do serves the good of the patient. However, I must admit that colleagues operating in the implementation disciplines are not always quick to commercialise their research. It is difficult to build something and then sell it. When I set up the company I had a slightly different view of things. I never thought that organising the funding for the business would be so difficult. After a period of an intense search for investors I gave up because people who seriously invest in research and development are few and far between. But you decided to list the company on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Has this move met your expectations? We went to the stock market in search of capital. Thanks to having developed a vision and being able to “sell” it, we acquired concrete funds which we used to build a research and development centre. The beginnings of the company were very difficult. After the IPO we have our laboratories, a place where we can see patients. In my opinion this approach is very wise. Although the stock market is just one of the elements of our funding, it is a very important element. PM

Would you say that after more than 10 years of trading Read Gene S.A. is a success? The company is on the right track to succeed and has huge chances of becoming a global leader. The first step connected with the studies into the levels of microelements and their effect upon cancer morbidity has been taken. The next step, relating to chemo prevention and crowning our work, is still ahead of us. • PM

Science

FOR THE BODY AND FOR THE SOUL

MEDICAL SPA IN NAŁĘCZÓW

Halina Zubrzycka, M.D., owner of the SPA w Raju centre in Nałęczów

esthetic medicine is one of the latest and fastest developing branches of medicine because the desire to slow down the biological clock, maintain excellent health, beauty and fitness is as old as our civilisation. Aesthetic medicine includes various fields of specialisation. Internal medicine specialists work on hormonal balance. And hormonal disorders in men and women result in obesity, cellulite, affect stature, efficiency of muscles, the osteoarticular and cardiovascular system, but also skin appearance and the quality of hair and nails. The work of gynaecologists, orthopaedic surgeons, neurologists and psychiatrists is also very important when it comes to the beauty of the human body and face. Healthy diet and maintenance of the correct balance between nutrition and energy expenditure greatly affect our whole body, appearance and mood. Teeth play an important role in beauty, and dentists look after their health and look. In the last decade a large part of society has been trying to maintain fitness through exercise. Jogging, marathons, marching, water and aerial sports are very popular. Outdoor activities have beneficial effects upon the health of the entire body, psychological wellbeing and beauty. Aesthetic medicine is usually understood as a branch of medicine that focuses on minor, lowinvasive and non-invasive treatment aimed at

eliminating or concealing small defects of the face, breasts and the entire body. One of the first procedures is skin mesotherapy. Preparations injected at various skin depths slow down its ageing process and improve the appearance, for instance: local administration of botulinum toxin temporarily smoothes or eliminates laughter wrinkles injection of hyaluronic acid preparations renders wrinkles shallower, improves face contours, makes skin more supple by nourishing it injection of substances such as enzymes, coenzymes, minerals, biomimetic peptides, vitamins improving skin appearance and metabolism mesotherapy of hairy skin effectively improves hair growth and quality mesotherapy of fatty tissue reduces its volume and treats cellulite The application of various types of threads is a low-invasive treatment which offers excellent face, breasts and buttocks lifting results, also improving suppleness. Aesthetic medicine makes effective use of laser therapy, radio waves, electromagnetic field, electro-coagulation and pharmacological compounds administered internally and externally to improve skin appearance. Over the years the fashion for specific aesthetic medicine treatments has changed. Several years ago large exaggerated lips, prominent

cheeks, completely smooth face with no mimic wrinkles were fashionable. Today, procedures mentioned here aim at rejuvenating the face while maintaining its natural look. Large lips have given way to naturally filled lips with a beautiful shape. Cheeks no longer have to resemble pillows which highlight the zygomatic arch, but are to improve the contours of the face, giving it the fashionable, triangular shape and prevent cheeks from drooping. It is very important to maintain a healthy skin colour by closing broken capillaries, treating rosacea and acne or eliminating discolouration. Aesthetic dermatology focuses on preventing the skin ageing processes as a result of ultraviolet light, and on supplementing water and nutrients in the skin. The multi-directional approach to the body taken by aesthetic medicine in order to maintain it in a good shape should be emulated by a multi-directional approach to the prevention of various diseases, correct exercise and diet and mental health. Aesthetic medicine procedures are just the final touch in maintaining one’s youth and beauty. Only an optimistic attitude towards the future and the surrounding world, a touch of meditation and joy of life combined with quiet work on one’s body and the use of the latest achievements of aesthetic medicine can help us maintain a young and beautiful face and silhouette • for decades. 4/2016 polish market

Science

TO BUILD THE FOUNDATIONS FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT Professor Alojzy Z. Nowak, Vice-Rector of the University of Warsaw for Research and Liaison, talks to “Polish Market”.

The University of Warsaw is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year. Have you planned any special commemorative events? The celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the University of Warsaw are continuing throughout the entire year 2016. On the one hand, we wanted to show the whole wealth of the university, and on the other hand, we intended to showcase its interdisciplinary and diverse character. One or even several special events did not offer a chance to achieve these goals. Another argument in favour of “extending” the celebrations was the participation and increased activity of individual faculties and other units of the university in the 200th Jubilee. As a result, they too have become hosts of these events. Nonetheless, one main gala combined with a concert has been planned for the autumn of 2016. In the meantime, we are going to hold several other central events, beginning in March. I mean here the World Alumni Congress in May, Jubilee Night of the Museums, Memories of Chopin, Warsaw Rowing Regatta, University Time Machine, and other events. There will also be presentations of the achievements of individual faculties and professors of the university. PM

“Two Centuries, a Good Beginning” – this is the slogan of the 200th anniversary of the University of Warsaw. Can you help us understand it? Does this slogan carry a deeper message? Why is there a “good beginning” after 200 years? If I remember correctly, two years ago we announced a competition for the slogan of the 200th jubilee of the university PM

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Science and this particular entry was chosen by the Competition Committee. However, I think that I can say that the entire academic community of our University liked it. In my opinion it does not carry any special message, but offers a look back, as well as a glance towards the future. We do not want to make agebased comparisons but we believe that the achievements of our scholars are sufficiently significant so that we can compete with older universities. However, we understand that although two hundred years in the history of the world is not a particularly long period, it is sufficient for building the foundations for further development of science and teaching and for the pursuit of the academic passions of our faculty members and for enlightening society. What can you tell us about the collaboration between the university and industry? The University of Warsaw can boast of patents and contracts signed by its companies. I would say that it is improving, but there is still a long way to go. There are a number of reasons for this. First, Poland has never had any significant tradition of co-operation between science and business and this tradition must now be created and developed. And this takes both time and patience. Second, for many years scientists did not trust business and probably the same could have been said about the trust of the business community in science. Therefore, this trust too must be built and nurtured. Third, the co-operation between science and business entails a degree of risk, including financial risk. The project may not come off, or business may not achieve its financial success. Buying tried-and-tested solutions and implementing them directly in business is a much simpler and safer option. The only problem is that other societies value nations which also create things and contribute to social development. Fortunately, we increasingly understand this and are able to better exploit the opportunities offered by the co-operation between science and business. I think that the rising level of general education in Poland has also something to do with this. As regards patents, our University has filed some 100 applications and has registered 25 or so of them. This may not be a huge number, but it certainly is a good beginning. PM

And how would you assess with hindsight the co-operation between science and industry? Why are some universities able to effectively commercialise their research and others fail in this respect? As I have already mentioned, in my opinion things are moving in the right direction. On the one hand, the level of trust between science and business is increasing, and on the other hand some of our colleagues from the university and from business closely co-operate with each other. What is more, some colleagues have even abandoned promising academic careers in order to move to business. Now they are our very good ambassadors because they are familiar with the substantive potential of their colleagues and research groups and know that without using this potential it will be difficult to compete in the international arena. I believe that the effectiveness of commercialisation depends on at least two factors. First, on the school type and second, on the way it is managed. As regards the school type, universities of technology or, generally speaking, those which specialise in more applied sciences have more to offer to business than universities which, by definition, rely more on basic sciences and research. Of course, there would be no application research without them, but they cannot directly offer all PM

the results of their studies to business. When it comes to management, the degree of interest among the governing bodies and faculty in co-operation with business and commercialisation of the results of research is important. Sometimes this is not at all obvious, because often the most important driver in academic development and promotions are publications and not patents and commercialisation of research, and second, good research is costly and so some, especially smaller schools cannot always afford it. Consequently, there are no sufficiently good results at the international level. Professor, what can you tell us about the co-operation of the university with other higher schools? Generally speaking, this co-operation is going well. We have signed hundreds of co-operation agreements, either bilateral or within scientific networks. Most of them are functioning, although not all. Every year, some 3,000 foreign students come to the University of Warsaw and we send some 2,500 of our students abroad. This represents 7% of the students. Of course, we would like these figures to go up, to at least 15% of the students, but we have problems with their adaptation. There is a shortage of places at the halls of residence. The advice, medical care, insurance systems, etc. are not yet properly developed. Therefore, one can say that the University meets almost all substantive conditions with regard to the number and quality of lectures and teaching and academic programmes at the BA, MA and Ph.D. levels, but we have problems with accommodation and funding. After all, someone must finance scholarships for the best students. A shortage of funds cannot prevent those with the biggest talents from studying. In addition, several hundred visiting professors come the the University every year from abroad, and a similar number of our scholars goes to work abroad. Research groups are increasingly being set up, and happily not just in mathematics or natural sciences, but also in social sciences and humanities. Our university also publishes journals with international articles and publications. There are masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and doctoral theses. We publish joint books and articles. Researchers also come to our own research groups. In other words, international exchange and co-operation in the true meaning of this term is developing at the University. It is also worth mentioning that our colleagues from the International Relations Office acquire over EUR 5 million in grants for student exchange programmes from the European Commission alone. PM

Does the labour market influence the directions of teaching? Has the university had to adjust its programmes of study to the current market trends? This is a complex issue. On the one hand, changes in the labour market should affect the programmes of study. And it happens, to a certain extent. Especially when we are talking of the global or at least European labour market. However, when it comes to the Polish labour market (of course, the situation differs depending on the segment) the courses offered by the University should be ahead of the expectations of the labour market or at least shape this market. Universities should educate young people who are open to changes and who create these changes. This means that they should adjust their programmes to the labour market actively, not passively. We at the University of Warsaw also want to educate not just employees, but also employers, that is people who are creaâ&#x20AC;˘ tive, bold in facing risks and forward-looking. PM

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Science

THE WARSAW SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS (SGH) ON ITS ANNIVERSARY AND BETWEEN ANNIVERSARIES Professor Tomasz Szapiro, Rector of the SGH Professor Tomasz Szapiro – Rector of the SGH. Master of Physics (University of Warsaw), Doctor of Mathematics (Polish Academy of Sciences), Professor of Economics (SGH). Adjunct Professor at the University of Minnesota. His research is focused on the analysis of methods of decision-making in economics and management. Publications and academic co-operation in Poland and abroad. Numerous awards and distinctions. The year 2016 is a jubilee year. The Warsaw School of Economics is celebrating its 110th anniversary. On such occasions we often look back to history. At the time of its establishment, in 1906, the school was focused entirely on economics. And what about today? I will repeat the words of Alphonse Karr, the editor of “Le Figaro”: “Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose” (The more it changes, the more it’s the same thing. – ed.). August Zieliński, the founder of the SGH, believed that Polish society and state would be protected from threats not only thanks to a strong army, but also thanks to the ability of Poles to manage their economy professionally, including international trade. This idea continued to make itself apparent throughout the entire history of the School inextricably linked to Poland’s difficult history. The 110 years of the SGH is a programme of studies for professionals acquiring knowledge resulting from familiarity with academic research and wide open to the world and the ability to function in that world. Of course, changes in the environment meant that at various times we did it differently, but the overriding idea has always been to serve society. Today, there are no restrictions when it comes to the freedom of research, and being open to the world means being really open to the content of teaching, students and faculty members. In the past, access to knowledge and people was limited. Now political constraints have disappeared and thanks to the Internet and supporting the mobility of students and scholars, the world has become more accessible. The SGH is drawing from this opportunity and is able to exploit it. How do we do this? We have been consistently building the culture of co-operation PM

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between the school and its economic and social surroundings. During our studies we offer an open environment where the needs of various groups, students, faculty and companies can meet. This is aided by the flexible system of studies allowing students to adjust to the requirements of their employers, by appreciating academics overseeing student projects and investments such as those into the co-working infrastructure. Project activity is part of certain study programmes at the SGH, but also constitutes independent student activity which supplements their courses, helps develop their organisational talents and shapes the ability to apply the knowledge acquired during lectures to resolving specific problems facing businesses. This is important because contacts with companies give rise to new interests or depreciate earlier fascinations, thus positively affecting the choices made by students who can influence the syllabus content. Does the labour market verify the directions of teaching? Did the school have to adjust its programmes to the current market trends? Certainly. However, this is not just a market challenge, but also an academic one. In the early 1990s we left the artificially created reality of a centrally planned economy and moved to the global academic world. Publications and teaching contents compete on an unprecedented scale. Our initial position in social sciences and economics was difficult, but we have made a huge leap forward. We publish in global journals, participate in international projects, attract scholars from dozens of countries to international conferences held at our school. The generation studying after the 1989 watershed, PM

including students born after 1970, can easily compete against their peers elsewhere in the world. Today, the “forty-somethings” who decided to take advantage of this educational opportunity are professionals capable of working in international teams and dealing with the difficult problems facing the contemporary economy, as well as participating in research as employees of public and private sector institutions. We find them in the offices of politicians where they work as economic experts and in global corporations where they successfully occupy managerial positions. Training teachers and students is more important for the quality of teaching than the study programmes. And here the SGH does really well. Professor, what are the challenges facing you as Rector of the SGH? There are three such challenges. In order to successfully pursue our mission, we must educate young people in Poland so that they are ready to take on the global world. They must communicate in foreign languages, be able to function among different cultures and be knowledgeable, skilful and creative. Thus, first, we must oversee the quality of this education. Second, we must meet the needs of economic education of the entire society. Our school together with our Children’s University and the collaborating Third Age University are successfully extending the education formula in an important direction, responding to these needs, but are yet to find mature organisational forms. The biggest challenge for us is to be a friendly school in our relations with people, in providing content and in taking up research topics. All that is required of us today. • PM

Science

WATER CENTRE OF THE WARSAW UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES- SGGW

One of the most important research and scientific facilities of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences- SGGW is the Scientific and Educational Centre of the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering – Centrum Wodne (Water Centre) of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW) that was opened six years ago. The project was co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund within the scope of Measure 13.1 priority 12 of the Operational Programme Infrastructure and Environment, Higher Education Infrastructure. The total value of the investment project, including furnishing the laboratories reached PLN 60 million.

he Water Centre is the largest research facility of this kind in the country that deals with the water issues; it comprises 20 laboratories of various disciplines and a water park. It is also a research ground for the scientists and students of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences in Warsaw. The Water Park, which is a model of a river, and a scientific-educational building are located on an area of around 14,500 sq.m. The river model represents natural water circulation in the environment. One can observe here how the water is backed up and what plants grow along a river. Water is a global issue in the next centuries and we study it and teach how to protect, store and limit its use – explains Professor Alojzy Szymański, PhD, the Rector of the SGGW. The Water Park comprises a model of a watercourse connected with trophic reservoirs. The whole water system represents water circulation in the environment. The system is divided into the part which represents a mountain catchment basin and the part which represents lowland river catchment basin. In the reservoir, there is a dock ending with a glass wall which allows to descend into the water reservoir and observe the development of the coastal area of the water region. The Water Park is fitted with models of typical hydraulic structures, situated along the river course and in reservoirs. The models present sample construction solutions

for the hydraulic engineering industry and make it possible for the students and candidates for doctor’s degree to acquaint themselves with modelling systems of hydraulic and hydrobiological conditions. The facility is unique in Poland, no other university has such well-developed infrastructure of water engineering and hydraulic engineering construction. There are, among others, laboratories for four faculties of the SGGW, educational rooms and two conference rooms for a total number of 250 people. An outside water cascade and a fountain inside the laboratory building also serve teaching purposes namely to study their construction and properly prepare water. The lighting not only adds glamour to these structures, but also allows to examine the water flow. There are 20 laboratories in the building ranging from 50 to 75 sq.m in size. The Scientific and Educational Centre comprises the following laboratories: Water Monitoring Laboratory; Groundwater Flow Monitoring Laboratory; Water Quality Laboratory; Water Chemistry, and Sewage Sediments Laboratory; Chemical Analysis Laboratory; Fluid Mechanics Laboratory; Sedimentation Laboratory; Irrigation and Drainage Laboratory; Laboratory of Water Ecosystems Ecology; Laboratory of Ecotechnology; Physics of Porous Media Laboratory; Geoinformation Systems, Geoinformation and Geodesy Laboratory; Physical Properties of Soil and Rock

Laboratory; Mechanical Characteristics of Soil and Rock Laboratory; Dynamics Characteristics of Soil and Rock Laboratory; Geosynthetics Testing Laboratory; Physical Processes in Construction Laboratory; Strength of Materials and Building Constructions Laboratory; and Numerical Modelling Laboratory. The laboratories are equipped with 310 sets of modern scientific and research equipment and over 80 computers together with specialist software and equipment. Apart from the laboratories, the building comprises two lecture halls that can jointly accommodate over 250 people. The lecture halls, besides their teaching purpose, are also used during scientific symposiums and conferences, in particular to host PhD students and junior scientists. The laboratories and the lecture halls, besides standard equipment, are equipped with air-conditioning, high class structure network (category 7 structured cabling) and information and communication technology (ICT) network. In the building of the Scientific and Educational Centre, next to the laboratory rooms, there are exhibition rooms which present and popularise the research fields of the modern water and sanitary engineering. The Water Centre of the SGGW is also offered on a free of charge basis to high schools to supplement their educational efforts, and it is used in promotional activities • of the University. 4/2016 polish market

Photos: Opole University of Technology

Infrastructure

HALF A CENTURY COMPLETE SUCCESS

n 2016, Opole University of Technology celebrates its 50th anniversary: 30 years as the Higher School of Engineering in Opole (WSI), 20 as Opole University of Technology. Today, the school is among the most important institutions in Opole Silesia. It has approximately 10,000 students attending six interdisciplinary departments (the seventh, technical department in Kędzierzy-Koźle is under organisation) offering 25 subjects, not just typically technical, but also humanities or economics. The university is famous for steadfastly adhering to the principle of the “Golden Mean” understood as co-operation between science, business and local government. Just in the previous quarter of this year, it organised two large meetings of such character: an international conference called “One Belt, One Road” during which entrepreneurs, academics and local government officials discussed co-operation opportunities offered by the New Silk Road project (the meeting was attended by Deputy Foreign Minister Katarzyna Kacperczyk and Chargé d’affaires of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China Lin Jian) and the first Polish-German “Bridge” conference attended by Deputy Premier Jarosław Gowin and Minister President of Saxony and President of the Bundesrat Stanislaw Tillich, being a symbolic, and yet practical bridge between science, market economy and the governments of both states, sanctioned by participation in the European Cluster of Excellence Merge. Opole University of Technology skilfully acquires foreign partners. It is the first engineering

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school in Poland to have established collaboration with Asian countries through the best Confucius Institute in Europe, and the only centre of co-operation between Poland and India in the country, the Foundation for the Polish-Indian Cooperation Centre “Yoga and Ayurveda Institute in Sulisław.” The school serves the region, attracts young people and has an impact upon culture in the region. It is also an example of the best utilisation of the EU funds in the region. In recent years, it has received over EUR 25 million for its development, including the new building of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Automatic Control and Informatics, outfitting the laboratories with the latest equipment (for instance, a unique NeuroScience Laboratory researching interactions between the brain and computers). The university also has excellent sports facilities, including an Olympic-size swimming pool and a track-and-field facility currently under construction. They turn Campus II into one of the most advanced sports complexes in the country. In terms of the quality of its research and the competitiveness of its certificates the university does not lag behind others.

HOW DID IT ALL BEGIN? Towards the end of the 1950s, the region which still struggled after the war, needed engineers. Therefore, the local authorities and the representatives of the Polish Federation of Engineering Associations decided to meet with the Minister of Higher Education and put forward

a proposal to establish a school of engineering. This happened on July 4, 1959. The modest facilities at the disposal of the city prevented the creation of an independent school, but a promise was made to set up a consultation centre of the Silesian University of Technology. Thus, the developing industry demanded a school of engineering. While industry acted as a catalyst in creating the school, it now attracts industry to the region. The presence of a good school preparing qualified personnel is listed by investors among the main factors affecting their decision to locate their facilities in the region. This was the case with Ifm Ecolink, a giant in the electronics sector, which is building a research and development centre here, and with Polaris, a manufacturer of quadbikes from the USA.

HOWEVER, LET’S GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING The Consultation Centre was officially inaugurated on 21 October 1959. On that occasion 92 students collected their student books. The facilities continued to grow and finally, on May 20, 1966, the then Prime Minister Józef Cyrankiewicz signed the historic Act on the Establishment of the WSI. The fact that the investment made 50 years ago has paid off is also confirmed by the numerous awards received by the school from various organisations and its place in the rankings, including 4th place in the Prodok ranking of Polish universities most friendly to PhD students. •

Science

GREY MODELS, GREY THINKING, GREY WORLD M ost of scientific research is carried out using uncertain, incomplete and scarce data. The grey systems theory gives the basis for considering complex technical, economic and social systems whose structure and functioning is not fully known. It was created in 1982 by the Chinese scientist Professor Deng Jilt-long. However, this theory remained obscure for a long time; its first systematic presentation in the English language was published in 1989 and the first English language textbook available to a larger number of readers appeared only in 2005. Despite the initial difficulties with its popularisation, this theory has found many interesting applications, in particular, in technical sciences and economics. Currently, the main directions of the grey systems theory research include: algebra of grey numbers, numerical data sequences smoothing operators, grey analysis of relations, grey taxonomy methods, grey decision-making methods, forecast models, grey linear programming,

grey theory of games and hybrid models combining grey systems theory methods with other data analysis methods. The grey systems theory, apart from fuzzy logic, rough set theory and statistics is yet another method of information analysis taking into account the uncertainty of the surrounding world. In March 2016, the Faculty of Engineering Management of Poznań University of Technology played host to Professor Naiming Xie from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Professor Naiming Xie belongs to the youngest generation of scientists working on the development of the grey systems theory. He works at the prestigious Institute for Grey System Studies forming part of the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He is Secretary of the Grey Systems Society of China and deputy editor-in-chief of the “Grey Systems: Theory and Application” journal. He is the author of the most often quoted articles published in “Grey Systems: Theory and Application” in the years 2011-2013 and

Professor Naiming Xie from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics

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in “Applied Mathematical Modelling” in the years 2007-2011. Professor Xie came to Poznań at the invitation of the academic community of the Faculty of Engineering Management and the municipal authorities as part of the “Academic and Scientific Poznań” programme. During his visit he delivered an open lecture entitled “Grey information, grey models and grey world”. The lecture dealt with the basic theoretical assumptions and systematisation of the types of grey analytical models. The lecture proved very popular among students, post-graduate students and faculty of Poznań higher schools. It should be stressed that the aforesaid visit was yet another step taken by the academics at the Faculty of Engineering Management towards gaining the opinion of the most important centre in Poland engaged in researching the economic applications of the grey systems theory. Until now, their scholarly activity in this area has included publications in prestigious journals and participation in international conferences. In addition, two faculty members went on a month-long internship at the Institute for Grey System Studies of China. A module concerning the grey systems theory has been added to the programme of doctoral studies as part of the “Intelligent Methods in Management” course. The Faculty of Engineering Management is also conducting a research project for young scholars covering the issues of decision-making using grey models. Moreover, academics from the faculty participate in projects funded by the National Centre for Research and Development and the European Social Fund, successfully using methods and models of the grey systems theory to resolve scientific and practical problems. There are plans to create a national scientific society for researchers interested in the theoretical and practical aspects of grey analysis at the Faculty of Engineering Management of • Poznań University of Technology.

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LEARNING THE TREASURE WITHIN Professor Stanisław Dawidziuk, President, Warsaw Management University The name of the school clearly indicates who you want to train. Do you monitor the labour market to verify that your graduates really end up in managerial positions in business? When we established the university 21 years ago, the first faculty was management and marketing. The school owes its name to this area. Currently, we offer 11 degree programmes but management still remains our driving force. As regards other programmes some do better than others. Alas, law is not very popular, despite its considerable prestige. The second most popular subject is administration. I am also at a loss to explain why computer engineering attracts a relatively small number of students. We have invested nearly PLN 8 million in its development and in the labs. The Marketing Faculty not only monitors the market, but also the careers of our graduates (approximately 50,000). The university still has no information about any unemployed alumni, but plenty about their professional and social advancement. “Learning – the treasure within” – this statement made by UNESCO contains the four pillars of upbringing and education (humanisation of the education process) that is to learn how to: study, act, function in a society and live. It is worth considering that already in the 16th century (“Such will be the Commonwealths as the upbringing of their youth” – Hetman J. Zamoyski, A. Fr. Modrzewski and others) and in the 18th century (H. Kołłątaj, St. Staszic: “The Commission of National Education” – “The King and the Parliament”) people pursued this mission, deciding not to indicate the institutions and people who had thwarted the actions of such outstanding and forward-thinking compatriots. Our legacy is PM

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the “Teacher’s Day” (“The Commission of National Education Day”), and local functionaries and “miracles” decide about education. Please cast your mind back to your school years and confront them with today’s education. Despite talking a lot and training, no global evolution can be seen. Do syllabuses include content relating to the above issue and the pillars of learning? Do teachers have the time and competencies to include this part of education in the learning process? These omissions cannot be remedied in full in the course of studies. Recent years have been difficult for higher schools. The low birth rate has led to a reduction of the number of potential candidates for university places. How are you coping with this trend? Can attracting foreign students be a solution? As regards the population decline one has to look at two issues: demographics and our approach to it, as well as the related political activities. When it comes to the approach taken by the university, there are two ways of handling this problem. One of them is a wide range of the post-graduate courses and studies we offer. They are very popular in view of the nature of the labour market where employers appreciate employees who increase their knowledge. This is quite important to us because such courses generate an income of nearly PLN 800,000. In addition, in the West many points are added for this. The other way is to open out-of-town departments. We have two: in Ciechanów and Bełchatów and one abroad in the Czech Republic. As regards the second, the political issues, it seems to me that there is no full PM

understanding of the problem. The Ministry of Science and Higher Education, under the previous government, concluded that it was necessary to raise the level of education. However, the chosen way of achieving this objective was rather unusual. The minimum academic staff complement requirements for higher schools with academic status was changed. The existing minimum of 6 professors or habilitated doctors and 6 doctors per programme was increased by two professors or habilitated doctors. This method of improving the quality of teaching is at least debatable in a situation where the population is declining. Quantity does not determine quality. There is also another aspect of the staffing minimum which should be indicated. In humanities there should be 180 students per professor or per habilitated doctor and doctor. Some of the programmes at our university have approximately 300 students, but we must have the full minimum. It is obvious that these two conditions exclude each other. In this situation we would only need two professors or habilitated doctors. Of course, these professors or habilitated doctors must be paid for all the “empty” hours. I participated in meetings of the Parliamentary subcommittees as an expert of the Business Centre Club, but nothing has really come out of them. As regards the foreign students, until now we have had over 150 graduates from Ukraine. Currently, there are some 700 students from that country reading international relations. We also have approximately 30 students from Georgia. A much smaller group comes from Belarus, mostly for administrative reasons. There are a total of some 800 foreign students. At present, nearly all full-time students come from abroad. Poles (approximately 5,400) mostly choose part-time studies. •

Science

LESSONS FROM SCIENCE... All laureates of Honorary Pearls statuettes came to the 10th Honorary Pearls Gala, which was held at the Royal Castle in Warsaw. Among them were those who had received the award in the Science category: Professor Henryk Skarżyński, Professor Alicja Chybicka, Professor Jan Lubiński, Professor Maria Semionow, Professor Bogdan Marciniec, Professor Karol Myśliwiec, Professor Marian Zembala, Professor Witold Rużyłło, Professor Krzysztof Matyjaszewski, Professor Marek Krawczyk, Professor Andrzej Buko, Professor Bogusław Maciejewski, Professor Tomasz Dietl, Professor Stanisław Woś, Professor Henryk Samsonowicz, Professor Andrzej M. Pawlak, Professor Mariusz Jaskólski.

Towards the end of 2016, at the Pearls of the Polish Economy Gala, we will present for the 11th time the Honorary Pearls of “Polish Market” awarded to the most outstanding personalities in areas such as economy, culture, science and the promotion of civic and patriotic values. The Pearls in the science category are not just an opportunity to point to our great scientists who today serve as role models for the younger generation, but also a time to reflect on the conditions for the development of science. Maciej Proliński outlines selected profiles of our laureates who prove that also in this category the decisive elements in striving towards one’s goals are intellect, passion, sensitivity and persistency.

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ignificant fact. The first Honorary Pearl in this discipline, back in 2006, as well as a Special Honorary Pearl in 2012 went to PROFESSOR HENRYK SKARŻYŃSKI, an outstanding surgeon, otolaryngologist, precursor of innovative methods of diagnosing and treating hearing disorders and rehabilitating patients suffering from them. More than 20 years ago, Professor Skarżyński conducted the first operation in Poland and Central and Eastern Europe implanting a cochlear implant restoring hearing to a profoundly deaf person. The World Hearing Centre in Kajetany near Warsaw, managed by him and opened in May 2012, carries out the largest number of operations improving hearing in the world. Together with his team, Professor Skarżyński conducts there pioneering research in the area of epidemiology and prevention of hearing impairments, developing and implementing modern screening tests programmes for children of different ages, epidemiological research programmes and programmes of modern therapy methods and rehabilitation of hearing, voice and speech disorders. His initiatives may not only have a positive impact on the quality of life, but also release civic and economic energy on an unprecedented scale. Professor Skarżyński is a paragon of civic virtue. However, our other laureates in this area are also such paragons. They include: Professor Alicja Chybicka, Professor Maria Siemionow, Professor Bogdan Marciniec, Professor Marian Zembala, Professor Marek Krawczyk, Professor Henryk Samsonowicz, Professor Andrzej M. Pawlak, Professor Bogusław Maciejewski and Professor Mariusz Jaskólski. PROFESSOR ALICJA CHYBICKA, head of the Department of Paediatric Bone Marrow Transplantation, Oncology and Haematology at the Wrocław Medical University – is a graduate of the Faculty of Medicine at the Piastów Śląskich Medical University. As an outstanding student she was offered an individual education programme under Professor Janina Bogusławska-Jaworska who, at that time, was creating paediatric oncology in Wrocław. Since 2000, she has led the Clinic in Wrocław and since 2007 she has been President of the Polish Paediatric Society. She not only fights for the lives and health of children, but is also a friend to their parents. She always takes the patients’ side. Her areas of expertise are haematology, oncology and stem cells transplants. PROFESSOR MARIA SIEMIONOW is a world-famous Polish transplant surgeon working in the USA. She graduated in medicine from the Poznań Medical Academy. After emigrating to the USA she received a scholarship and specialised in surgery of the hand. In 2008, a team led by Professor Siemionow carried out the first successful face transplant in the USA. The patient, Connie Culp, 46, had been shot by her husband. During the operation which lasted 22 hours the woman received some 80% of the face from a dead donor. The transplant consisted in face reconstruction including bone, cartilage and vascular structures. In 2008, the American media called this transplant the most shocking procedure in recent decades. The name of Professor Siemionow appeared in the most important media in the world and she gained a place in the history of medicine. She is currently working on new therapies to support transplantions, so that in the future the use of immunosuppressant drugs to avoid tissue rejection is no longer necessary.

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PROFESSOR BOGDAN MARCINIEC – head of the Department of Metalorganic Chemistry at the Faculty of Chemistry at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. In 1990, he created the UAM Foundation, and in 1995, the Poznań Park of Science and Technology, the first such facility in the country, where he is the director. Today, the Park is a host to dozens of innovative companies, and the Professor is building laboratories for further businesses. The author of the first book in the world on the hydrosilylation processes and the creator of the first Park of Science and Technology in Poland, received our Honorary Pearl for his outstanding academic achievements and effective practical implementation of the “science for the economy” slogan. “The role of the state is important in the transfer process between ideas and industry, but its policy is not entirely conducive to such initiatives. Elsewhere in the world, and I have had the opportunity to look at the Australian and Japanese structures, innovative companies developing and implementing new technologies are exempted from tax. Unless we introduce a similar solution, our industry will not be interested in innovations”, he pointed out on our pages in 2009. PROFESSOR MARIAN ZEMBALA, former health minister (in 2015) is a heart surgeon. Since 1993, he has managed the Silesian Centre for Hearth Diseases in Zabrze, putting his entire heart in this job. The Silesian Centre is a hospital that is well known in Poland and abroad. It is a brand that symbolises the city of Zabrze and modern, solid, Silesian and Polish medicine. Its team comprises talented, highly trained physicians: cardiologists, heart surgeons, and anaesthesiologists. The Hospital boasts three adult cardiology clinical departments led by outstanding Polish cardiologists: Professor Zbigniew Kalarus, President of the Polish Cardiology Society (Cardiology 1), Professor Lech Poloński (Cardiology 2) and Professor Mariusz Gąsior (Cardiology 3). It is also an academic centre with close ties to the Silesian Medical University providing practical training for students. “As regards transplantology, its pioneers were before me. I see myself as their messenger who tries not to lag behind, but develop, because otherwise there would be no progress. I assume that my students will be better than me,” Prof. Zembala said during our 2010 gala.

Science PROFESSOR MAREK KRAWCZYK, Rector of the Warsaw Medical University (WMU), head of the Chair and Clinic of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery. Thanks to him, the first successful transplant of a fragment of the liver from a live donor was carried out in Poland. Hitherto, over 1,000 liver transplants from dead donors have been performed at the Clinic led by Professor Marek Krawczyk and over 200 liver fragments have been taken from live donors. His numerous academic publications are known all over the world. And his work at WMU demonstrates that with a good management strategy, high quality of teaching and care for the students, it is possible to earn high places in various rankings, not only domestic ones. A long interview with the Professor is included in the April issue of “Polish Market”. PROFESSOR HENRYK SAMSONOWICZ – outstanding historian, expert on the Middle Ages, member of the Polish Academy of Learning, Academia Europaea and other academic institutions. He has published nearly 800 papers, mostly on Poland’s medieval history, including 16 books and university textbooks. In 1975, he organised the first History Olympics in Poland. As a “Solidarity” activist, he took part in the “Round Table” talks. In the years 1989–1991 he served in the pioneer government of Tadeusz Mazowiecki as Minister of National Education. He is a Knight of the Order of the White Eagle. “At the time when Poland did not exist on the maps of the world, Ignacy Jan Paderewski was its herald. He could represent the best traditions and give testimony that they were still alive! The year 1978, when Karol Wojtyła was elected Pope, or the year 1989, this watershed time of the first free elections in Poland after World War 2, are the dates which perfectly symbolise our freedom, understood as the natural way of our existence. What happened to us at the time was like a revitalising injection, while at the same time referring to the values held dear by the Poles for at least 200 years. We should not forget this today, as we continue to create this beautiful country with its significant heritage built over the centuries, with the enormous capital in its people,” he wrote on our pages in 2014. PROFESSOR ANDRZEJ M. PAWLAK is a world-famous inventor called the “innovation genius,” and a high class expert in the automotive industry. The holder of over 150 patents, including an electronically controlled heart valve and the ABS system. Professor at Lawrence Technological University in the USA and lecturer at the two best universities in the world – Stanford University and University of California in Berkeley. He has worked for Japanese manufacturing companies, including Hitachi Polska and has devoted many years to researching electromechanical and electromagnetic devices for General Motors and Delphi. His work on step motors and torquers, magnetic sensors, driver elements and fast-reacting solenoids,

as well as his work on an electronic heart valve and electromagnetic heart pump is known all over the world. He is the only scientist to have received four “Boss Kettering Awards” and the first employee of an automotive company among the recipients of “The Industrial Research Institute Achievement Award,” for his overall research activity. PROFESSOR BOGUSŁAW MACIEJEWSKI is in charge of the Oncology Centre – The Maria Skłodowska-Curie Institute, Gliwice Branch, which is among the leading highly specialised, modern and well organised clinical and research centres in Poland. The most spectacular events at the Centre include a successful full face transplant which at the same time saved the patient’s life. The procedure began in the morning on May 15, 2013 and lasted 26 hours. It involved 26 physicians. “I think that science is simply a search for the truth about reality. However, a face transplant is only a fragment of our work and the activity of our team of surgeons who, while specialising in oncological surgery, have also become experts in reconstruction and micro-reconstructive surgery,” he said during our 2013 gala. PROFESSOR MARIUSZ JASKÓLSKI of the faculty of Chemistry at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. He was appointed Professor in 1997. He is a corresponding member of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN) and two foreign organisations: European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) and Regia Societas Scientiarum Upsaliensis (Sweden). In 1994, he set up Poland’s first proteins crystallography laboratory – the Biocrystallography Research Centre at the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the PAN in Poznań, which he continues to manage. Recipient of numerous distinctions and awards, including the Polish Science Foundation Award, which he received in 2002. Professor Jaskólski and Dr Alexander Wlodawer from the National Cancer Institute in the USA were the first winners of the Polish-American Science Award awarded jointly by the Polish Science Foundation and the largest scientific association in the world. The award was established in 2013 and is given to a pair of scientists, one working in Poland, the other in the USA, for outstanding scientific achievements resulting from their co-operation. The Jaskólski – Wlodawer tandem received it for their structural study of proteins of medical significance which contributed to the development of new treatments for human diseases, such as AIDS and leukaemia in children. In 2008, our Honorary Pearl in the promotion of civic values category went to the POLPHARMA FOUNDATION. The Foundation was set up by the largest Polish manufacturer of drugs and pharmaceutical substances in 2001. Its mission is to support the development of pharmaceutical and medical sciences through financing research in these areas. It is expressed in the slogan: “We Help the People of Science.” “We believe that the leader’s role carries obligations towards both society and the scientific communities. This is why we have created the Polpharma Scientific Foundation to support Polish scientists,” explained Jerzy Starak, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Polpharma SA. “The Foundation mostly finances basic research without which there would be no progress in science and we see our mission in such activities. The Scientific Council comprising outstanding figures from the world of pharmacy and medicine co-operates with the management of the Founda• tion on a pro bono basis.”

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Infrastructure

NEW EU BUDGET PLAN IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE ROAD AND RAIL TRANSPORT IN POLAND Professor Janusz Dyduch, President of the Association of Engineers

he opportunity for the road sector in the new EU budget plan for the years 2014-2020 is the implementation of the national road-building programme for 2014-2023 approved by a resolution of the Council of Ministers of September 8, 2015. This programme provides for building 3,900 km of motorways and dual carriageways and 57 ring roads at the cost of PLN 107 billion. Tasks aimed at improving road safety, costing PLN 4.8 billion over the 2014-2023 period, form an integral part of this scheme. Another component are expenditures from the state budget for maintenance of the existing road network, tasks preparation and management, estimated at PLN 46.8 billion in the years 2014-2023. Investment expenditures are to be made from the National Road Fund with participation of the EU aid funds. Thanks to a well-developed network of road links, the travel time is going to be reduced. Transport accessibility of many towns and regions will improve. Using modern technologies, first at the design and construction stage, and then during traffic management, will increase the throughput of roads, making road transport both faster and cheaper. Shorter travel times are bound to bring tangible benefits, both in passenger and freight transport. Time saving is important for travellers, especially those moving over long routes or routes leading to or from the outlying regions. Expanding the national road network will reduce travel times and facilitate mobility. Similarly, in the case of businesses, new road links will provide access to a larger market, cut delivery times and reduce the costs of reaching customers. Building motorways, dual carriageways and ring roads will help eliminate bottlenecks in road transport, reducing the risk of traffic jams and increasing traffic flow. The application of modern and durable technologies and the adjustment of road surfaces to axle-weight of 115 kN will guarantee the necessary durability of road projects and extend their life. The high quality of national roads will also mean reduced costs of operating vehicles and higher

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profitability of freight transport. Climate conditions will be taken into account in the process of designing and building the transport infrastructure. The new EU budget plan also offers considerable development opportunities for the rail sector in Poland, although some of the conditions and factors will depend on the development of the entire economy and the transport market, while some will remain in the hands of politicians. The latter should make sure that the expenditures on the rail infrastructure envisaged in the National Rail Programme (NRP) and pegged at approximately PLN 67 billion are fully used. Potential threats to full utilisation of the NRP funds are at the same time an opportunity for the development of other important projects which, being reserve projects, should be prepared in parallel. In particular, the needs regarding rolling stock replacement are still very significant. Probably, some of the unused funds from the NRP can be redirected to finance investments into passenger rolling stock. Moreover, it is necessary to continue the railway stations modernisation programme because such are the expectations of the public. However, in my opinion, the most important challenge facing the railway sector in Poland in the new EU budget period is the need to return to the suspended programme of building and launching high speed trains. The departure from this scheme should not have taken place, and I consider its suspension to be a serious systemic error of Poland’s transport policy. Two other issues are also very important for the development of the entire rail sector in Poland. First, it is necessary to ensure that the maintenance contract of PLK S.A. (Polish railway infrastructure operator – ed.) is kept at a level allowing the company to maintain the infrastructure, especially the part modernised in recent years, at the appropriate technical level, with the lowest possible rates charged for access to this infrastructure. Dynamic development of the railway infrastructure maintenance services market is also desirable, as is a bolder look at the

outsourcing of these services. Second, the central and regional authorities must have at their disposal appropriate funds for ordering public services from passenger rail carriers. Without these funds at the right level no further development of the rail passenger market will be possible. This is also a challenge facing politicians responsible for Polish transport. Two great reforms of the Polish railway sector must also be completed in the new EU budget period. One is completing the reform of regional rail travel, including final decisions as to the scope and manner of functioning of the Przewozy Regionalne company. The other is bringing to the end the reform of PKP S.A. with decisions as to its functioning after the repayment of its historic debts and decisions regarding the legal status of railway lines. In particular, it is necessary to eliminate a situation where the land under the railway lines is owned by PKP S.A. and the improvements thereon (the actual substance of railway lines) belong to PLK S.A. This solution should have been abandoned a long time ago. Other matters in the railway sector will be largely resolved by the transport market. Road transport has been gaining in this market for many years, while the share of rail transport has been diminishing. Chances of arresting this unfavourable trend pose a question and also a challenge. Although every respectful politician dealing with transport keeps announcing an increase of the share of railways in the market, so far nobody has succeeded in actually making this happen. Here, one should consider in the future the introduction of appropriate and effective transport policy instruments resulting in a structural shift of the freight transport demand towards railways. A similar situation exists in the passenger rail transport market which has been seeing a decline in recent years, albeit not as pronounced as in the previous decade. In the new budget period, the growing competition with coach carriers, as well as with air carriers and private cars is going to be a challenge for the railways • in this market segment.

Infrastructure

TOWARDS AN INNOVATIVE ECONOMY Professor Leszek Rafalski, Chairman of the Main Council of the Research Institutes

ne of the priorities of the Polish government is linking science with the economy to boost innovation in both areas. This is one of the reasons behind the creation of the Innovation Council chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. The Main Council of the Research Institutes has welcomed this fact with great satisfaction because it has frequently signalled the need for setting up a body tasked with co-ordinating activities aimed at supporting research and its practical application, and linking science with business. Representing 115 research institutes with nearly 200 accredited laboratories employing approximately 40,000 staff, I am aware that they are a serious element of the scientific, research and implementation life. These research institutes collaborate on a daily basis with entrepreneurs, conduct projects with them and put the results of their studies to practical applications. Wishing to create an innovative economy in the country, it is worth using the body of achievements of Polish science, including, to a large extent, the achievements of our research institutes which translate scientific developments to meet the needs of the Polish economy and society. However, the question arises what should be done in order to improve the competitiveness of Polish scientific establishments and enterprises in the international arena? We are faced with many challenges and problems which need resolving. Increasing innovation performance requires concentration of the resources

earmarked forresearch and applications. Therefore, it is necessary to define research areas offering the greatest development potential for Poland. It is also important to link these areas with the economic and social goals of the country. A matter of key importance is providing research funding in Poland equal to at least 2% of the GDP. Otherwise, competing in the international research market would be very difficult for Polish academic institutions. In highly developed countries, we must compete against very strong scientific structures in the form of universities or groups of research institutes. Their potential has for many years been strengthened by stable and consistent funding of research projects. Achieving the ability to create our own innovations and to participate in highly advanced teams requires considerable financial outlays, tremendous amount of work, as well as motivation based on economic incentives and favourable legal solutions. This pertains, in particular, to costly applied research, which should produce a result allowing its practical applications. Funds are needed in order to finance activities preceding research and its practical applications. Moreover, it is also necessary to ensure that project managers react quickly, to abandon bureaucratic procedures which give no changes in the market race and allow ideas to be stolen. Entrepreneurs, but also numerous creative scientists are effectively discouraged by the existing procedures and audit systems. Removal of red tape and simplification are extremely important

conditions of increasing the interest of entrepreneurs in carrying out ambitious research projects and applying their results in co-operation with scientific institutions. It is also necessary to develop and introduce a new system of support for the practical application of research results in Poland. Its elements could include bold tax breaks for those who apply research results and special funds for financial research and applications. I believe that funds at the disposal of companies owned by the State Treasury still remain an untapped source of support for practical applications. Encouraging these companies to act may significantly increase the effectiveness of practical applications of domestic scientific solutions. I think that in order to increase the competitiveness of Polish scientific institutions, it is necessary to modify the rules of the Operational Programme Smart Growth. Allowing projects to be run in the form of consortia made up of businesses and scientific institutions, as equal partners, would resolve many problems relating, among others, to intellectual propety rights, selection of the scientific unit and the level of projects carried out. It would also be worth conducting an inventory of the research capabilities of individual institutions, and in particular, the equipment financed in recent years using budget funds. It would certainly facilitate co-operation between scientific units, bring benefits to business and attract foreign partners to our modern â&#x20AC;˘ laboratories. 4/2016 polish market

Innovation

POLAND PLC R ecently an expanded meeting of the Board of the Polish Chamber of Commerce for High Technology was held. It was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development Mateusz Morawiecki. The participants discussed the future of the Polish economy. The development assumed by the government means rapid growth, new jobs and better living conditions of Poles. As it turns out, the objectives of the government are identical to those of the Chamber for High Technology. Opening the meeting, Professor Jerzy Buzek said: ”In order to develop quickly, one has to be competitive. Competitiveness comprises a number of factors, such as a stable financial system or access to credit. Cheap energy is another important element of competitiveness, as is a well-organised internal and external market. And, last but not least, it is innovation which in itself is a prerequisite for competitiveness.” Business and science coming closer to each other, creation of clusters, platforms, regional development mechanisms and a friendly law are important for the chamber. Innovation is very important in the activities of the chamber. Professor Ryszard Pregiel, President of the Board of the chamber said: “The chamber is the only institution which brings together all entities whose co-operation determines the actual functioning of industry. Members of the chamber include high technology enterprises such as KGHM Polska Miedź S.A., Bumar, Wasko, but also companies formed by academics, higher schools and institutes, banks and financial institutions. In other words, all institutions operating in the business environment. Its objective is comprehensive development of the high technology industries. The chamber is not a sector organisation and is open to all those who operate on the basis of high technology. We achieve our goals through statutory activities aimed at strengthening the ties between science and business in the area of commercialisation of research results and opening channels bringing ideas of high technologies to industrial practice. The statutory activities also include initiating clusters of consortia and platforms grouping individuals and enterprises in

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specific sectors. The chamber comes up with the idea of setting up laboratories and is also their owner. These laboratories are not situated at research institutions, but at production facilities. Another objective of the chamber is to provide consulting services to start-ups and companies in the initial process of formation. We have already supported some 540 businesses, including the founding of 67 start-ups. We acquire financial support from banks and the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Finally, the chamber also participates in the process of drafting laws which are conducive to the development of science and industry.” The chamber welcomed with considerable interest the assumptions of the Plan for Responsible Development, also known as the Morawiecki Plan. The plan clearly emphasises objectives which reflect important statutory tasks of the chamber. The author of the Plan for Responsible Development, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development Mateusz Morawiecki, took part in the debate and presented the assumptions of his plan. Mateusz Morawiecki said: “Another phase of development of the capitalist, market economy is very important. It is not the government that creates the biggest value added, but the entire ecosystem. And the ecosystem is made up of entrepreneurs, research institutes and universities, national and local administration and employees. Only in such bloodstream it is possible to create a modern economic system and the better these parameters work together in a healthy macroeconomic and financial environment, the healthier the industrial policy in a given country.” After this statement, met with enthusiasm, the Deputy Prime Minister sketched a panorama of the Plan for Responsible Development: “Some mechanisms used by us over the last twenty years may be less useful in the future. I am going to present a number of basic components and the first is a rather considerable increase of the debt. Today, our debt, including commercial credits, amounts to 160% of the GDP. Speaking of public debt, I also mean the debts of households and businesses. In my opinion, there is no need to differentiate between public and private debt. The example of

Ireland teaches us that despite a high private debt it was converted into public debt because the state decided to underwrite the former. We have already contracted quite large loans and I am not talking here only about the loans in the banking sector, but also about the loans which are not visible in statistics and which amount to nearly PLN 0.5 trillion. These are commercial loans, often contracted at parent companies by their local subsidiaries. The second fuel is savings. Alas, we do not have any and have not accumulated them over the last 25 years. In the Third Republic consumption was the mantra of popular culture and the nation. We are a powerhouse when it comes to consumption, but weaklings in terms of savings. Since our savings are low, we are unable to invest them. The third fuel is the absence of the CO2 costs. It is increasingly obvious that the climate policy of the EU is going to give us less and less leeway in this respect. We are still receiving aid funds, but in the coming years their stream is going to dry up to a large extent. Another fuel is the ability of businesses to adapt technologies. However, in previous years technologies used to be absorbed mainly from abroad. Our entrepreneurs were able to successfully absorb Western technologies, resulting in strong increases of productivity.” After outlining the current situation of the Polish economy Deputy Prime Minister Morawiecki listed five traps mentioned in his plan: -Demographic trap. This trap is quite obvious – society is ageing. Forecasts indicate that the number of people in work is going to decrease systematically; -Institutional weakness trap. Here, the main challenge facing the government is finding an answer to the question what should be done for the ministries to cease being a hindrance and start co-operating with each other; -Dependent development / lack of equilibrium trap. It is worth stressing that in recent years we have not only increased our debt, but we have done it abroad. As at the end of 2015, our net investment position was PLN 1.3 trillion which amounts to 66% of the GDP. On this account PLN 80 billion leaves Poland in the form of dividends, interest on loans, bonds, etc. This

Photos: Edward Piekarski, Polish Chamber of Commerce for High Technology

Innovation

From left: Professor Ryszard Pregiel, President of the Board of the Polish Chamber of Commerce for High Technology, Professor Jerzy Buzek, Mateusz Morawiecki, Deputy Prime Minister and Ministrer of Economic Development, Jadwiga Emilewicz, deputy Minister of Economic Development is the result of basing our development on foreign loans, of our inability to build a savings position and our excessive consumption. We are now paying the price. We must expand abroad so that we too can repatriate capital back to Poland. Ownership in the Polish system is gigantic. Two thirds of exports from Poland is accounted for by foreign firms. It is good that we have the exports, but two thirds of the margin are profits of foreign, not Polish businesses. A half of Poland’s industrial output is the production of foreign companies. We need more Polish ownership in our industry, more Polish capital building the welfare of Poles; -Middle income trap. Our workers work twice as much as their colleagues in the West and the margins on products sold by Western entrepreneurs are 3-4 times higher. A Polish employee works 2,000 hours on average compared with 1,350 in Germany and 1,320 in Holland; -Average product trap. Too many Polish companies base their competitiveness on supplying simple products at the lowest price. We have few economic champions and small and medium-sized enterprises are unable to market innovations. After presenting the traps facing the Polish economy Deputy Prime Minister Morawiecki described how the government wanted to respond to the middle income trap. The response of the government is going to be the Morawiecki Plan setting out a number of pillars of responsible development. 1. “We have called the first pillar of the Polish economy re-industrialisation. Industry is a natural environment for innovation and expenditures on research and development. We want industry to be the biggest value added possible, to absorb knowledge. Polish

industry has a huge potential and can compete in the global markets. 2. Development of innovative companies We want innovative companies that operate in a business-friendly environment. We all talk about innovation. If our actions matched our words, we would have left behind the Scandinavian countries. The basic weakness of the economic system is the inability to connect the dots. We have excellent research institutes, good business that needs innovation, but are unable to combine these two worlds. We must build bridges between science and business. At the ministry we are only creating a mechanism which should increase the efficiency of the ecosystem. In Poland only 7% of small enterprises co-operate with higher schools. The corresponding figure for the West is 21%. We are moving in the right direction. We must become more effective in commercialising individual ideas, inventions created at universities or institutes. We have 42 business incubators, 41 technology parks. Alas, not all of them are functioning as they should. The ministry’s task should be to ensure that laboratories and business incubators are properly utilised at various phases of industrial production and business. 3. Capital for development Increasing the level of investment is a key task. The measures that must be applied here include expanding financing instruments offered by the state or efficient use of the EU funds, but also encouraging Poles to build capital for the future. 4. Foreign expansion For a country such as Poland, for Polish entrepreneurs, international expansion offers prospects of greater benefits, the economies of scale, and lower unit costs per product. This, in turn, gives a higher margin on products and

bigger profits which can be used for research and development. Polish companies which have already grown to a certain scale are finding the domestic market too small. We want to help them expand abroad. 5. Social and regional development. We put emphasis on solidarity and social mechanisms. We want to create better conditions for development in the more neglected areas, either by developing the infrastructure or by investments. A more efficient state is to be the foundation of this programme.” Amendments to a number of key laws are to ensure that the state functions properly and that the ambitious goals set by the government are attained. One of them is the Public Procurement Law. Premier Morawiecki said that in the past it had not been sufficiently used to improve the Polish economy. He pointed out that in almost 90% of cases, public procurement contracts had been awarded to foreign companies. The Ministry of Finance estimates that 70 eurocents out of every euro return to the European Union. Deputy Prime Minister Morawiecki also believes that apart from financial considerations, the fact that we often develop not in accordance with our needs but in accordance with the needs of foreign companies is an additional hidden cost. The government plans to use the public procurement law in full compliance with the EU legislation, so as to increase the promotion of Polish businesses and allow small and medium-sized Polish enterprises to enter tendering procedures and even win them. However, reducing bureaucratic barriers and building space for entrepreneurship is of equal importance for the correct functioning of the state. Without eliminating barriers, even the best plans can fail. The government itself believes that public administration functions to rather mediocre standards. Deputy Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said: “All this makes up the programme. Of course, these are its outlines and in the coming months we want to flesh them out. This programme has no ambition to build a Byzantine superpower, a new industry. I believe in the market economy and in the wisdom of our entrepreneurs. However, I am not naive and realise that there are more factors at work than just the invisible hand of the market. I think that this invisible hand of the market should be supported by a visible hand of a smart public administration. Only this combination can result in a strong economic system. I dream of building together a high-margin innovative industry, or Poland plc.” • 4/2016 polish market

Innovation

INNOVATION

SHAPES THE MARKET

Elżbieta Jamrozy, investor, Polish Institute of Research and Development, talks to Marcin Haber about the gist of innovation and presents the work of the institute and the development opportunities for the Polish economy.

Today, almost everybody is talking of innovation, research and development. Their importance for economic development is stressed, but so is the enormous risk accompanying innovation. Your institute analyses solutions which may be potentially profitable. Please tell us how this analysis looks like? It is good that you mentioned risk, because actually whenever we talk of true innovation, and not its imitation, we must place the equality sign between innovation and risk. The more innovative the product, service or technology, the greater the risk related to bringing the innovation into the market place. For as long as people are not aware of this and do not acknowledge PM

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this state of affairs, they should not engage in innovation management. The term “innovation” is overused in Poland and the European Union, which seriously hampers the development of start-ups, technologies, science, as well as investing in research and development. We virtually always face the killer questions: Has your innovation technology been implemented elsewhere in the world? Can it be somehow verified? Or what other technology can it be compared to? If a technology is to be innovative, it cannot be compared to anything whatsoever, otherwise it is merely incremental. There has been some kind of misunderstanding in Poland and the EU. Namely, on the one hand we want

to develop in a smart way and on that base build our competitive advantage, on the other hand, we keep saying that we want to be innovative. These two paths of development should be differentiated. Each innovation can contribute to competitiveness, however, competitiveness does not have to mean being innovative.. Therefore, the way we plan expenditures of the public funds should incorporate one of those paths or both simultaneously ascribing each of them a completely different implementation model. Very often, industry, government and local government authorities understand “innovation” as something that is new, very useful and needed by the market. And that is a basic mistake.

Innovation We cannot say that the market needs innovation, beyond the highly ideological meaning of this phrase. Most often, the market is unable to determine that it needs a specific innovation. If it knew what it needs, it would have done half of the work. It would have known which development problems to overcome. It would have been able to precisely describe the necessary technologies, hire scientists, build the required machinery. Innovation is characterised by the fact that it shapes the market. If the industry orders a particular technology or service, it may be innovative, but this is not the norm. Very often, in such instances innovation is equated with purposeful research or studies commissioned by the industry. Alas, the industry is mostly driven by economic criteria. If it finds a solution which improves its efficiency, it does not pay a lot of attention to its innovativeness because the industry’s goal is not to shape the market and build awareness or to create a particular solution that has never existed before, which is risky itself. In Poland there is still a reluctance to admit that innovations are connected with very high risk. We, as the institute, despite being in the market for more than six years, and we have been professionally working for more than 17, still have no ideal model for alleviating this risk. This happens because each time we deal with a different technology, which means a different potential market and completely different challenges. We try to minimise this risk with our ideas, experience, analytical mechanisms and most of all close co-operation with the capital market and industry. We succeed, but there always remains a certain degree of uncertainty whether a given solution will still be innovative after two years of study, or whether we can take it beyond the laboratory stage. If we overcome this barrier there remains the market risk. Those who talk of innovations should always realise that this is an undertaking, a network of interlinked processes, which must shape the market so that it is willing to accept these innovations. Therefore, it is not enough to announce a contest with fixed criteria, which are non-market as a rule, to build technology in the time which is set in the contest regulation. If we want to be a competitive economy, we have to listen to the market because we are going to sell our product to the market. Since we have decided to be an innovative economy, we have to be aware that it is too risky. Let us be a competitive economy thanks to innovation because it is our competitive advantage that others can perceive, from Asia to Europe. Let us promote our own identity instead of copying others and calling it good practice. We are not Canada, nor Israel or the Silicon Valley. We really do not have to compare ourselves to the declining economies. We have a lot of our

own values. However, we do not feel that we do. While kneeling before others, we will always have the impression that they are taller than us. I wonder why we speak so little about the fact that there are those who want to copy us. If our ambition is to be one of the most advanced economies of the world, we have to start developing faster, and that means overcoming the barriers in administration and our mentality. Today they are a barrier to our growth, rather than the lack of capital or ingenious ideas, because we have more than enough of the latter. We also need to bet on the sectors with a large growth potential such as the mining industry, and there is a reason that the world talks about Poland as the Kuwait of Europe), or agro-food industry. These sectors are going to be our focus of attention in the Bridge Alfa programme. Together with the National for Research and Development Centre you ran a programme aimed at identifying the most innovative solutions at the initial stage of development so that they can be offered financial assistance and a chance for commercialisation. Has this programme been successful? Yes, it has been a success. It was our proprietary mechanism prepared many years ago for specific technologies created at the National Center for Research and Development. This programme, in case of our institute it was called Bridge Alpha, did work. On the one hand, its implementation demonstrated to us that we had managed to make a very large step forward, but there were still many smaller steps remaining. It was a pilot programme which ended in December 2015. After just under a year, out of more than 1,000 projects 11 could be brought to a stage where we decided to set up a special purpose vehicle for each of these technologies. SULROCK Sp. z o.o. – modern building materials – road construction industry; NANOCERAMICS SA – nanomaterials production – electronics industry; FERRISTORM SA – new EMC absorbing materials – telecommunication; NCT SA – cell proliferation technology – regenerative medicine; REDS SA – optimization of energy consumption by over a dozen % - rail carriers; LGM SA – technology of hardware optimization of energy generators; RELIABILITY SOLUTIONS Sp. z o.o. – industrial installations and vehicle fleet flow maintenance technology; ELMILL SA – electromagnetic mills – food, paper and biogas industries; OLYMPUS SKY TECHNOLOGIES SA – authentication technology for swarms of objects communicating within the Internet of Things and communicating cars; REVOLVENT SA – intelligent and energy saving air conditioning and ventilation systems; PIMERGE SA – ironworks and mining waste ash merging technology. Today, each of them is ready to be subject to sales contracts in the global market, for example

LET US BE A COMPETITIVE ECONOMY THANKS TO INNOVATION BECAUSE IT IS OUR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE THAT OTHERS CAN PERCEIVE, FROM ASIA TO EUROPE.

Kuwait, China, India, Iran and Nigeria. I would like to particularly stress very emphatically that the SPVs from our portfolio were set up towards the end of last year. I mention this deliberately because frequently a start-up is created first because there is subsidy which may be used and it is only later that everyone is wondering how to survive when the subsidy ends. It is also quite frequent that start-ups are founded only because the founders are convinced that they have a wonderful product. However, it is the market that will decide about its wonderfulness. Therefore, we promote actions that are reversed. That is first we analyse a technology, care about its proper and international protection, adjust it to the market reality and finally find a company. A start-up is nothing else but a short moment in a series of interconnected technological and commercial processes. It is the moment which is another death valley itself, that is it should be created only if we are 100% sure that we are going to find a customer for our technology. A correct move is to create a start-up at the moment when we have at least a potential business partner who our company will be developed with. Otherwise, it is going to die without capital or frequent high costs spent unnecessarily on management or marketing. We first checked the technologies and only then founded the companies. It is necessary to thoroughly analyse each technology first. This is exactly what we do. Together with our engineers and scientists we verify every idea and if it is necessary, we start a new research programme so that in the end we have a technology that is desired by the market. If necessary, we set up a team of experts in a given discipline and in the neighbouring disciplines and deconstruct a given technology. • 4/2016 polish market

Innovation

OUR SCIENCE HAS CONSIDERABLE IMPLEMENTATION POTENTIAL Professor Michał Szota, President of the Association of Polish Inventors and Rationalizers (SPWiR), Director of IFIA and Vice-President of AEI, talks to “Polish Market” about a vision for improving the innovation performance of the Polish economy.

According to the latest information, Poland is way down in the innovation ranking. What is the view of the Association of Polish Inventors and Rationalisers (SPWiR) regarding this matter? What should be done in order to join the most innovative countries? The problem lies elsewhere. Polish science has a considerable implementation potential. The problem is co-operation between science and industry. In my opinion, the financial instruments designed to support technology transfer available today do not stimulate the development of the Polish economy in the right way. PM

Why? I believe that there are even too many funds which support technology transfer in Poland, but their utilisation is not completely effective. In fact, most projects designed to foster technology transfer and innovation are used by the biggest market players. For such companies, the risk of investing in innovations is a calculated business risk. In the case of small companies, investing in innovations, which usually carries high risk, may result in the business going bankrupt. Second, the support tools are used, but the effects of these investments are not monitored long enough. During many meetings and conferences organised by the Polish Federation of Engineering Associations (NOT), Ministry of Science and Higher Education and Ministry of Economic Development, we mentioned, as the representatives of the scientific community, that all sorts of grants towards the costs of technology transfer should be treated like technological credit subject to gradual amortisation, but only if the investment has been PM

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right and generated specified profits. In this model, funds would be utilised much more effectively, and badly utilised funds could be a source of support for further projects. There are also no appropriate incentive mechanisms for small- and medium-sized enterprises. A lot can be done here by the Ministry of Finance, as there is room for possible tax breaks. In such situation, it would be easier to monitor the effects of grants because companies would be more eager to boast about their expenditures on innovations. Then it could be said quite clearly that these investments offer market advantage, allow businesses to develop and increase their turnover. Currently, large companies do not like to disclose how much they spend on innovations. For this reason, it is difficult to say how much is spent on innovation in Poland. There is also another simple solution. If only a small part of the grants and programmes supporting technology transfer were to be used for insuring the investment risk, then companies from the SME sector would be much more eager to invest in innovation. And in the future, this would give them a much better position in the global rankings. Maybe then, we would also be able to create our global trademark – recognisable the world over. What you say closely corresponds to the vision of the Ministry of Economic Development which lately has been promoted on every occasion. Do you think that something specific may result from these announcements? We have been developing an effective model with the representatives of various ministries and the Office of the President of PM

Poland for several years now. We hope that the current government will continue these talks. We are a non-political organisation and, therefore, we are open to such co-operation. In my opinion, what is badly needed is a model National Technology Transfer Centre covering different technology transfer models, depending on the nature of the invention, its author, the implementing entity and whether a transfer of intellectual property is required. If we work out such tools, this is bound to have a positive effect on our economic development. There is one more problem, though. Our community co-operates with almost all higher schools and research institutes and many businesses. I conclude from this collaboration that the government is not listening to the voice of inventors. We have often put forward many observations in the form of potential solutions designed to improve this co-operation, but I do not know if anybody draws any conclusions from this. Today there is a lot of talk in the government about innovation. Things should get better… So far, this is only a bald slogan. The representatives of inventors or businesses which base their market success on the implementation of innovations are not invited to sit on the advisory bodies and the Parliamentary commissions dealing with innovations. Nobody takes into consideration the opinion and fate of the main interested parties who have already developed various mechanisms, observations and experience. We are able to share these experience and observations for the good of the Polish • economy. PM

Economy

WELCONOMY

2016 IN TORUŃ

Patryk Mirecki

ust like the previous editions, the 23rd edition of the Welconomy Economic Forum in Toruń, one of the largest economic events in Poland, provided an opportunity for meetings, discussions and debates of politicians, business people and academics. This time the main theme of the Toruń event organised by the Integration and Cooperation Association was: “economy – science – innovation”. This year’s edition of the Forum placed particular emphasis on innovation in the economy and science and on co-operation between these areas. Three letters of intent were signed during this year’s Welconomy concerning: building a Green Bus & Coach factory in Włocławek, creation of a Polish-Ukrainian cluster (possibly incorporating Georgia in the future) in the area of medical tourism and fostering closer economic ties between Poland and China. During the inaugural session Marek Cywiński, CEO of Kapsch Telematic Services, said that the toll collection e-system on Polish motorways implemented by his company was stopped half-way, since it did not cover all the roads where it could operate. For this reason, as much as 30% of the traffic generated by international freight passes through Poland without a charge, while in Germany such freight represents the second-largest

group of payers paying toll charges for using that country’s roads. During the panel discussion where the participants tried to identify the opportunities, challenges and dilemmas facing the banking sector in Poland until 2020, Bartosz Urbaniak, member of the board of BGŻ BNP Paribas, stressed in particular the current problems of our banking industry: the expected imposition of the banking tax accompanied by low interest rates discouraging customers from opening term deposits. Professor Leszek Dziawgo from the Nicolaus Copernicus University was an optimist. “Things will get better. We live in fantastic times with low energy and food prices and low interest rates” he observed. ”We must come to terms with this. After all, would we rather have expensive energy and food and high interest rates? The banking sector is still going to make a profit thanks to higher charges and commissions. A lot depends on the State administration. Companies which keep quite a lot of capital in their bank accounts should be encouraged to release it by investing. However, entrepreneurs must first feel that they are at home in their own country; they cannot be treated by the State like potential criminals or reduced to the role of providers for the budget.” During another panel discussion, Zbigniew Paszkowicz, Vice-President of the Lotos

Group, announced extending co-operation between his company and PGNiG in the area of natural gas exploration. He also drew attention to an important change strengthening the energy security of our country. Soon, Poland will cease being dependent on the supplies of gas from Russia thanks to the LNG (liquefied natural gas) terminal in Świnoujście and the planned pipeline from Norway. Maciej Matera, Director of the Ammunition and Rockets Bureau at Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (Polish Armaments Group), spoke of the production of military hardware: “Companies making such equipment do not display it on shelves. It cannot be made straight away. Each time the product must be adapted to the requirements of the customer. This necessitates a relatively time-consuming technical dialogue between the manufacturer and the contracting party.” Professor Henryk Skarżyński, Director of the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing and the World Hearing Centre indicated the telemedicine (remote treatment) project being developed at the Institute as an example of sensible financing of innovative solutions. Physicians at the facilities managed by the Professor use telemedicine both for diagnostic and treatment purposes while dealing with patients in Poland, Asia • and Africa. 4/2016 polish market

Economy

MEETING OF BANKING AND INSURANCE LEADERS The 11th edition of the Banking Forum and the 7th edition of the Insurance Forum were held on April 6-7, 2016 at the Sheraton Hotel in Warsaw. The conference was attended by key representatives of the financial and insurance sector, central administration and the largest companies providing services and solutions for these sectors. The event attracted 769 participants who witnessed 10 panel discussions, 2 Oxford-style debates and 13 individual addresses. There were a total of 98 speakers.

he main part, shared by both events, was opened by an Oxford-style debate concerning re-polonisation of the financial sector. An interactive ballot was conducted among the participants before and after the discussion, allowing them to express their opinions. The speakers also discussed the impact of the new capital requirements and public levies on the future of the banking and insurance sector in Poland, and in the insurance part also addressed the issues such as the future role of the insurance customer and digital channels used in insurance distribution and support. On day two of the Banking Forum, the topics relating to the future of universal banks, Payment Services Directive (PSD II) and its effect on the future of the banking industry, digitisation in banking and ICT security were broached. Day two of the Insurance Forum began with a panel discussion focused on the vision of the agent of the future. Subsequent panel discussions dealt with IT solutions in the sales channels, the role of modern technologies in increasing the profitability of insurance and management of customer experience in the insurance sector. The Meeting of Leaders of Banking and Insurance was attended by, among others, Leszek Czarnecki (Getin Holding), Lucyna Stańczak-Wuczyńska (EBRD), Alicja Kopeć (Provident Polska S.A.), Cezary Stypułkowski (mBank), Piotr Kaczmarek (Getin Holding), Jacek Szymański (Atena S.A.), Marek Zefirian (Starter24), Krzysztof Kalicki (Deutsche Bank Polska), Sławomir S. Sikora (Citi Handlowy), Dariusz Piotrowski (Microsoft Polska), Krzysztof Pietraszkiewicz (Polish Bank Association) and Tomasz Bogus (BGŻ BNP Paribas Bank Polska).

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Day one of the 11th Banking Forum and the 7th Insurance Forum ended with the 5th Grand Gala of Leaders of the Banking and Insurance World during which statuettes for special achievements in 2015 were presented. The leaders of the banking and insurance sector collected awards in 10 categories. We invite you to read the full list of the winners and a photographic report from the Grand Gala: Winners of the Leaders of Banking and Insurance Competition. •

WINNERS OF THE LEADERS OF BANKING AND INSURANCE COMPETITION. BEST BANK: · large (equity greater than PLN 3 billion)mBank · medium and small (equity less than PLN 3 billion)-

From left: Stefan Kawalec, President of the Capital Strategy, Leszek Czarnecki, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Getin Noble Bank, Mariusz Grendowicz, Chairman of Advisory Board Banking Forum, Michał Adamczak, TVP INFO, Lucyna Stańczak-Wyczyńska, Director for EU Banks in Financial Institutions Group and Janusz Jankowiak, the economist.

Deutsche Bank The most interesting innovation for the bankHCE from MasterCard The most innovative bank Bank Millennium The fastest growing bankBGŻ BNP Paribas Bank BEST INSURANCE COMPANY- PZU The most interesting innovation for the insurance- Bezpieczna Jazda z Link4 The fastest growing insurance company- AXA Special award for person who create insurance sector - Piotr Maria Śliwicki, President of Ergo Hestia Group

From left: prof. Małgorzata Zaleska, President of the Warsaw Stock Exchange in Warsaw, Józef Wancer, Chairman of the Board, Bank BGŻ BNP Paribas, Leszek Czarnecki, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Getin Noble Bank, Mariusz Grendowicz, Chairman of Advisory Board Banking Forum and Artur Olech, Chairman of the Advisory Board Insurance Forum / President of the Management Board, Ubezpieczenia Pocztowe.

Economy

IT PAYS TO INVEST IN POLAND Professor Elżbieta Mączyńska, President of the Polish Economic Society (PTE), talks to Ewelina Janczylik-Foryś about the “domestication” of banks and their development in the Polish financial system. What is the difference between “re-polonisation” and “domestication” of the financial sector? In the debate about the domestication of banks in Poland it is important to distinguish between two categories: domestication and re-polonisation. These terms are not identical, although they are often treated as synonyms. Domestication means that the bank’s head office is located in Poland and the decisions are also taken by this bank in Poland. However, such a bank may combine different capitals, Polish and foreign. Large investment projects are and will be implemented in Poland, including those involving infrastructure. This and other factors indicate the need to gather capital which could be used to finance them. Moreover, in the event of domestication banks can respond better and quicker to the requirements of Poland’s development strategies. Re-polonisation, in turn, would mean banks with exclusively Polish capital. In the latter case there are concerns that Polish capital could be insufficient, and secondly, under globalisation conditions, where capital knows no borders, it would be a highly doubtful solution and a departure from the changes occurring in the world economy. It is also important to distinguish between re-polonisation, domestication and nationalisation. PM

Quite. So, re-polonisation and domestication cannot be equated with economic nationalism? Nationalism would mean the nationalisation of banks, and this is not the objective here. Banks are to remain private and be listed on the stock market. The fact that banks are listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange PM

(WSE) under conditions of free market capital, chosen by us at the time of our accession to the EU, allows free movement of capital. If nationalisation were to mean increased involvement of the state in banking, then this direction would be contrary to the gist of the transformation consisting, after all, in privatisation of enterprises. The stake held by the State Treasury in companies should decrease, rather than increase. But there are no signs indicating that the government is moving towards nationalisation. The aim is to adjust the development of the banking sector to the needs of the Polish economy. Banks have their nationality, as does capital. It turns out that in critical situations domesticated banks are more inclined to respond to the needs of the economy in order to alleviate the consequences of possible crises. Problems usually appear in a crisis. It has to be remembered that fluctuations in the economic situation and crises and bankruptcies of businesses are part and parcel of the market economy. Banks may reduce crisis threats, but if their headquarters are based abroad then domestic interests come to the fore. There is no issue of nationalisation understood as increasing the participation of the state in this sector. Besides, we continue to refer to domestication in a highly negative context, as if Poland were to become a country in which the state needs its own enterprises. In my opinion, this interpretation is simply wrong. True, domestication is needed, but Poland is highly interested in the influx of foreign investment and foreign capital. The crux of the matter is restoring the appropriate proportions. If we take a look at the statistics, we can see that we have one

of the highest stakes of foreign capital in the banking sector in the world, and certainly in Europe. The situation in the neighbouring countries, such as Germany, is the opposite. We are trying to restore the correct proportions in Poland. So, the government should start domesticating banks? Domestication of banks requires, above all, conditions which are conducive to the development of the banking industry in Poland. Here, and in other countries, the trading conditions have deteriorated slightly following the increased capital requirements after 2008, prudential requirements, as well as additional regulations connected with the functioning of banking in the European Union. The banks have been compelled to increase the commitment of their own funds and to reduce debt. The banks outside Poland function in an environment in which interest rates are low or even negative. In Poland, the interest rates are relatively high (currently the base rate of the National Bank of Poland stands at 1.5% ed.). Therefore, the possibility of generating earnings on banking transactions is greater than elsewhere. At the same time, the banking tax which has a slightly adverse effect on the functioning of banks, has been introduced. Nonetheless, the conditions under which the banking sector operates in Poland continue to be encouraging. Moreover, we should take into account the fact that Poland is a large country with a market of nearly 38 million people. Every business is located in a particular market with a view to exploiting the possibilities and market potential, and in Poland this po• tential still remains very high. PM

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Economy

POLISH OOH MARKET NEEDS A NEW OPENING Marek Kuzaka, President of AMS 25 years of AMS also equals 25 years of Polish outdoor advertising as such. How has this form of advertising changed over the last quarter of a century? AMS was established in 1990 together with the re-birth of the market economy in Poland. Polish entrepreneurs opened themselves to new trends and the then grey cities quickly filled with colourful advertisements. It was a “whiff of the West”, although nowadays we tend to look at it differently. As years went by, city lights integrated with bus/tram shelters started playing an increasingly important role. In 2004 we entered the European Union. Paradoxically, instead of providing a strong modernisation impulse, this move resulted in a quantitative and not qualitative growth. Non-systemic advertising, i.e. lone boards and signs, began appearing in large numbers creating a feeling of visual chaos. PM

In order to stand apart and organise public space you introduced the Systemic Urban Advertising. What is the idea behind this concept? It is hard to imagine a modern city without a friendly and rationalised public space. It is made up of urban planning schemes and social communication. It is implemented through, among others, modern information and advertising systems. AMS offers such solutions as part of its Systemic Urban Advertising. The concept allows systematising information and, thanks to an individual approach, it can contribute to building the visual image of the city while the use of technology enables interaction with the contemporary advertising recipient. The basic assumption here is appropriate integration of advertising with public space. PM

How does AMS implement this concept? One of the areas where this concept can be used with success is building street furniture integrated with advertising media. We are the leader in this area in Poland. We have built and PM

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operate nearly 4,000 public transport shelters in 30 cities and metropolitan areas. Currently, we are running an unprecedented project – new shelters for Warsaw. This is the largest such undertaking in our country. Should outdoor advertising in Poland be limited to city lights? Is this the prevailing market tendency? Of course not. Just like elsewhere in the world, in Poland too there is room for various types of media. It would be hard to expect a city light to be effective if positioned next to a dual carriageway. On the other hand, there is understandable resistance among the public to building gigantic structures in city centres. A well-designed concept of advertising presence in public space is needed. Also, the readiness of (out-of-home) OOH advertising companies to adjust. This was how outdoor was systematised in countries with a wellestablished market economy. PM

How does the Polish outdoor market compare to our western neighbours? There are a lot of myths here. For example, it is claimed that in the whole of Paris there are just 2,000 billboards. In fact, statistics show that there are more than 74,000 systemic advertising spaces. By comparison, in Warsaw only some 11,000 spaces have been reported to the Outdoor Chamber of Commerce (IGRZ).

The Landscape Act, in force since September 11, 2015, is supposed to deal with these problems. Is it going to fulfil the expectations? The enactment of this law shows how a generally sound idea changes its character after getting into the hand of politicians. Apart from the possibility to introduce a single advertising regulation covering the entire city regardless of the zoning plans, or the possibility to conclude contracts for placing advertisements in the roadway, this Act is a rather feeble piece of legislation. It introduces a system of charges favouring large advertising formats. It also provides for draconian penalties for displaying advertisements which breach the commune code which dishonest entrepreneurs can easily circumvent. It limits innovation in outdoor advertising. There are also doubts as to the constitutionality of many of its provisions. It has already been amended. We believe that its thorough review is necessary. PM

So, if the statistics are so good, why do we see something completely different in the streets? Because apart from systemic advertising there is a huge number of individual advertisement – signs, plastered-over shop windows, temporary billboards, advertising trailers, etc. This can be seen especially in the suburbs of large cities. In this situation systemic advertising often loses the unequal fight and is lumped together with the “urban landscape defacers”. PM

What are the needs of the OOH sector and what is its future? The sector needs a predictable, long-term perspective and a sense of stability. It won’t happen just like that. It must be worked out, preferably through a constructive dialogue with the market: customers, competitors and local government partners. The things we have been doing and discussing at AMS in recent years are examples of such initiatives. We believe that others will follow in our footsteps and that a few years down the line the entire Polish market will not differ from good, global standards. The first signs of this are here already. Just take a drive through Warsaw and see the modern bus/tram shelters. They are proof that bold projects make sense, that outdoor advertising which is well integrated with public space is a very effective and friendly medium. A medium which cannot and does • not have to be ad-blocked. PM

53%

mieszkańców miast korzysta z komunikacji miejskiej i spędza na przystanku przeciętnie

11 minut

dane: Gfk Polonia „Zwyczaje komunikacyjne mieszkańców miast”, czerwiec 2014

W TYM CZASIE MOŻNA OGLĄDAĆ PLAKATY REKLAMOWE, ALE NIE TYLKO...

skorzystać z darmowego WiFi wygrać kupon rabatowy lub bilet do kina posłuchać muzyki poczytać newsy pobawić się gablotą interaktywną JESTEŚMY OTWARCI NA TWOJE POMYSŁY. OD 1990 ROKU. LIDER INNOWACJI OOH

ams.com.pl

Science

CONQUER IRAN D eputy Minister Radosław Domagalski-Łabędzki has held a meeting at the Ministry of Economic Development, attended by Andrzej Piłat, Vice-president of the Polish Chamber of Commerce (KIG) and Karol Zarajczyk, President of the Board of Ursus, summarising the effects of the trade mission of Polish entrepreneurs to Iran which took place in early March. A group of more than 70 Polish companies visited Iran, led by Deputy Minister Radosław Domagalski-Łabędzki who held talks with Iranian officials, including, Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance M. Khaza’ie, Deputy Minister of Industries and Business M. Khosrotaj, Deputy Minister of Petroleum Z. Nyan and Deputy Minister of Health and Medical Education Dr I. Hariji. Trade seminars combined with B2B meetings between businesses from both countries were an important part of the mission. The Minister Domagalski-Łabędzki indicated the sectors of particular interest to the Iranian market. Deputy Minister Domagalski-Łabędzki stressed that Poland and Iran had plenty to offer each other. “The Iranian market has 80 million consumers. It requires major infrastructural investments and is an interesting proposition for investors from all over the world. I can see opportunities for co-operation in sectors such as general infrastructure, railways, shipbuilding, pharmaceutical industry, health care and the agri-food sector.” In the opinion of the deputy minister, the value of trade between Poland and Iran is soon going to increase significantly. “We want much more. It seems that we have offers and are well received there. Now it is just a matter of good communication and frequent contacts. I am glad that we are opening a chapter

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in the Polish-Iranian contacts and hope for a fruitful economic co-operation”, he said. This enthusiasm is easy to understand. Currently, our trade with Iran is worth USD 75 million. The Ministry is unable to provide the exact figure which would satisfy our Government in terms of bilateral trade, but in its best period it reached USD 700 million. Deputy Minister Domagalski-Łabędzki added that during the visit to Iran, Ursus signed a contract with Motorsazan the Iran Tractor Manufacturing (ITMCO) Group for the delivery of tractor parts. Karol Zarajczyk, President of Ursus, said that contacts with Iran had been established back in 2012. “ITMCO is practically the only supplier of agricultural equipment in Iran. We knew that it was an interesting partner for us in the context of foreign suppliers. We asked ITMCO and Motorsazan, which is a subsidiary of this Group, to build a joint strategy designed to counteract the expansion of Asian companies. The products of Ursus are of very good quality and we offer them at reasonable prices. Our partners in Iran understand that together we do not compete against each other and are able to create added values for the Iranian market.” Ursus also began talks with a supplier of buses to the Iranian market. What are other positive effects of the trade mission? Significant barriers to trade in the form of bilateral payments were abolished. The mission included representatives of PKO BP, the President of Export Credit Insurance Corporation (KUKE) and Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK). The problem of payments between Poland and Iran was resolved. Alas, the lack of a direct air link between Warsaw and Tehran remains a significant problem. Andrzej Piłat from the KIG said that this was not the first trade mission to Iran. 120 company managers took part in a mission organised in the

autumn of 2015. Many businesses taking part in that event already maintain independent relations with their Iranian partners. This time, the mission consisted of 70 companies. We already know that the form of trade missions will be continued in May 2016 during Iran Agro and Oil&Gas fairs. Moreover, another 200-strong mission is planned for the autumn of 2016. The relations between Poland and Iran are a special example of good international relations going back more than half of a millennium. We have never been neighbours and our countries are two thousand kilometres apart. We have always had different religions, customs and languages. There is a long history of PolishIranian contacts. Is there a chance today of returning to these good relations and continuing our co-operation? The opening up of the Iranian economy stimulates the imagination of many entrepreneurs, also in Poland. The Iranian economy is one of the most dynamically growing economies in the Middle East and one of only a few in the region which also develops other sectors unrelated to oil. Polish companies realise that this is a great opportunity. The first steps have already been taken. The “Go Iran” programme inaugurated in mid-2015 by the then Ministry of Economy is a sign of the interest shown for this country. The aim of the programme is to strengthen bilateral economic relations and encourage Polish companies to seek trading and investment opportunities in the region. There is a general consensus that good relations require not just meetings at the political and economic level, but, above all, hard work and time. The mission took place at a special time, just several weeks after the lifting of the economic sanctions imposed on Iran. •

Science

POLAND-INDIA COOPERATION O n 12-16 February 2016, a trade mission of the Polish Government visited India. It was headed by Professor Piotr Gliński, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture and National Heritage, with the Ministry of Economic Development represented by Minister Radosław Domagalski-Łabędzki. The mission was organised by the Polish Chamber of Commerce and the Indo-Polish Chamber of Commerce. It was attended by 20 companies operating in sectors such as energy, agricultural machinery and food. The aim of the trip was to take part in the international “Make in India Week” fair and business forum in Mumbai. The main objectives of the Government’s delegation to Mumbai included fostering economic co-operation, establishing individual contacts with the Federal Government of India, state governments and representatives of local business. During the visit the Polish delegation took part in the Make in India Week, an economic event hosted in Mumbai. Apart from Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, the forum was also attended by government officials from around the world and businesse people from India, Asia, Europe and America. Deputy Minister Domagalski said: “The Make in India conference aims at encouraging foreign companies to invest in their production facilities in India. This is why we had to attend it. We went to India with a large group of Polish companies and a strong representation of our public administration”. Meetings with the representatives of the Indian Federal Government and state governments

were an important element of the mission. Talks were held with, among others, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Minister of Finance, Information and Broadcasting Arun Jaitley, Minister of Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy Piyush Goral, Minister of Steel Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister of Food Processing Industry Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Chief Minister of Maharasthra State Devendra Fadnavis and Chief Minister of Haryana State Manohar Lal Khattar. Deputy Minister Domagalski said: “We also talked about projects in the mining industry. The Indian side confirmed its interest in cooperating in this area. We also discussed the possibilities of co-operation in the agricultural industry and environmental protection technology. Now it is up to us to ensure that Polish companies prepare appropriate offers.” Commenting on the visit in Mumbai Minister Domagalski-Łabędzki said in a special interview with “Polish Market”: “During the first mission, in mid-February, we held a number of meetings at political and economic level. The meeting between Deputy Prime Minister Gliński and Premier Modi was very well received by our Indian partners who in subsequent contacts made frequent references to the conversation between the two Premiers. They stressed that they appreciated the fact that we had come to their flagship Make In India programme with such a strong delegation containing a deputy premier and two deputy ministers. Towards the end of February we made a second trip to India and Bangladesh, also accompanied by Polish entrepreneurs.

The atmosphere of our political talks is better than ever before. This offers additional opportunities for our business people. We must find a co-operation formula which will help us turn these good political relations into economic results.” Another trade mission of the Government to India organised soon after the first one attended a mining fair in Kolkata on 24-27 February 2016. The delegation was headed by Radosław Domagalski-Łabędzki, Deputy Minister. The International Mining, Exploration, Mineral Processing Technology & Machinery Exhibition 2016 (IME) is organised every two years and is among the largest such events in Asia. The industry mission was organised by the Ministry of Economic Development and the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency. Entrepreneurs took part in meetings with potential Indian counterparties and presented their companies and business proposals at Polish national stand. The IME is one of the largest events in the mining machinery and technology industry in the world. The event encompasses geology, open-cast and underground mining, tunnel digging, engineering and planning, health and safety in mining, slag heaps, mining, recycling, metal working as well as transport and logistics in mining. In 2014, during the previous edition of the event, Poland was given the status of partner country and the exhibition of Polish companies took first place in • the best stand competition.

4/2016 polish market

International Relations

POLAND DREAM DESTINATION

oland is blessed with a picturesque landscape, rich cultural heritage, magnificent castles and diverse architectural and historical monuments. The country is endowed with spectacular coastal beaches, beautiful lakes, bountiful islands, river beds and dense green forests, which fascinate tourists from all around the globe. The eastern plains of Poland are surrounded widely by water bodies, while the northern part is dominated by sparkling sand and beaches. The crystal clear water of the Baltic Sea has the lowest salt content in the world and its beaches are outstretched with clean fine sand. The southern region of Poland is outlined by a range of mountains. Poland is a fascinating country, which surprises the majority of first-time visitors. It is a dream destination for those who like sightseeing. Poland has 16 UNESCO sites, some of which are whole city complexes, as the Old Towns of Warsaw, Kraków, Toruń, and Zamość. Many more cities have historical city centres, castles, and palaces. Due to Poland’s turbulent history, each Polish city is different in its culture, style, and history. Travelling through the exotic beaches and sanctuary is definitely amusing. Children admire the seal sanctuary, the butterfly house and lofty sand dunes along the coasts. A journey through the Jurassic Park in Bałtów enthralls the visitors. Tourists can walk without fear with the wild animals and also feed them in the Wild Animal Park in Kadzidłowo or, Deer Farm in Kosewo. The gracious glaciers dazzle in the shape of pyramids, moraines, kames, drumlins, terraces, cirques and hanging valleys in the Suwałki Landscape Park. The secluded routes through wild vegetation and sound of birds chirping all around are an exotic experience for newlywed

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couples. The Museum of Romanticism in a neo-baroque palace mesmerizes the couples. Poland is also a paradise for nature lovers. It is one of few countries in Europe which is lucky to have a great variety of landscapes: a long Baltic Sea coastline with beautiful sandy beaches and rolling sand dunes, lake provinces with more than 10,000 lakes, lowlands, hilly regions and diverse mountain ranges. Our 23 national parks are located in all of these regions. Eight of these parks are also on the UNESCO List of World Biosphere Reserves. You can observe here animal and plant species which are extinct elsewhere in the world. Poland has over 200 SPA resorts in 40 health centers. One can choose from luxurious resorts or smaller spa centres, centres located near big cities or in the middle of nature far from the crowds. Polish health and spa resorts take advantage of various kinds of mineral waters and mud available in Poland, for healing and relaxation, combined with the use of modern equipment. Increasingly popular are also salt caves. Polish land has abundant natural springs, hot springs, rushing rivers, wells, and geothermal waters. The luxurious spas in resorts and small spa centres provide a range of healing therapies. The natural supplements of mineral water and mud serve the need of relaxation and rejuvenation. The wide range of therapies include Ayurveda, herbal baths, Finnish sauna and swimming pools with various luxurious facilities. Plan your trip to Poland to experience the thrilling bumps of excursion. Fly high and see the panoramic views through windsurfing, bungee jumping, paragliding, kayaking, skiing, horse riding and driving round the countryside. The scenic beauty of the Masurian lakes constitutes 3000 lakes. The calm and serene land is a holiday destination for swimmers, cruising fans, trekkers, anglers and nature lovers. Thanks to the big

International Relations

4-5/2016â&#x20AC;&#x201A; polish market

International Relations

diversity of landscapes, Poland is an attractive destination for activity tourism. It is a dream come true for water sports enthusiasts thanks to the long cost line, thousands of lakes, and many rivers and canals. It is also a winter sports destination. Poland also offers a large number of bike and trekking trails in all kinds of terrain, good conditions for alpinism due to the diverse types of mountains, plenty of studs offering horseback riding courses, and facilities for golfers. Beauty cannot be imagined, it can be experienced and to feel it you will have to discover Polish art, culture and heritage. Plan your visit to Poland and witness a slice of paradise on Earth. The seasonal changes in Poland create favourable conditions for every traveller. Poland is also a paradise for tourists interested in cultural events. The list of various festivals, music competitions, theatre workshops, fairs and outdoor events is endless! Many of them have an international character and are famous worldwide. The biggest concentration of galleries and cultural attractions is in Kraków, where rich cultural legacy co-exists with modern life and extravagant art. Wrocław has been chosen as the European Capital of Culture for 2016 thanks to its especially wide range of cultural attractions. Dining, entertainment and shopping are inseparable parts of each trip, and Poland is the place for each of them. For centuries Polish cuisine was an arena for competing influences from France and Italy, enriched by the exotic taste of Tatar, Armenian, Lithuanian, Hungarian and Jewish dishes.

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The choice of restaurants as well as clubs and pubs is extremely wide. Poland is also a perfect shopping destination. Each big Polish city has several huge and modern shopping centres with hundreds of stores, many of which belong to world famous chains, as well as restaurants/pubs/coffee shops and multiplex movie theaters where films are played in the original language versions and thus are foreigner friendly. These shopping centres are open 7 days a week until 10 pm. Each year a Polish shopping centre wins one of the European Shopping Centre Awards. And shopping here is a bargain! •

“BEAUTY CANNOT BE IMAGINED, IT CAN BE EXPERIENCED AND TO FEEL IT YOU WILL HAVE TO DISCOVER POLISH ART, CULTURE AND HERITAGE. PLAN YOUR VISIT TO POLAND AND WITNESS THE SLICE OF PARADISE ON EARTH.“

www.poland.travel

Cultural Monitor

MUSICAL DIVERSITY. HUGE PRIVILEGES OF EXPERIENCE,

THE CHARM OF YOUTH – THESE ARE THE PROTAGONISTS OF THE LATEST EDITION OF THE CULTURAL MONITOR. MACIEJ PROLIŃSKI RECOMMENDS: Włodek Pawlik; Adam Zagajewski - “Mów spokojniej” (“Speak More Calmly”) - Agencja Artystyczna GAP - CD

or many decades in Poland jazz and poetry have made a deeply rooted and successful marriage. Our great ambassador of jazz in the world – the pianist and composer Włodek Pawlik, performing with his trio (Cezary Konrad on drums, Paweł Pańta on double bass) pointed out the natural need of closeness of these artistic disciplines five years ago in his excellent album entitled “Struny na ziemi” (“Strings in the Earth”) featuring poems by Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz. Now the time has come for an encounter with Adam Zagajewski – poet, essayist, critic and translator, writing in blank verse and representing the Apollonic, clear and classical style, recipient of numerous literary awards, including Neudstadt (2004) and Zhongkun (2014). His concert premiere combined with recording a live album, took place at the Romana Bobrowska Studio of Radio Kraków on November 15, 2015. Pawlik invited outstanding vocalists to the project: Marek Bałata, Łukasz Jemioła and Natalia Wilk, as well as a young, albeit already award-winning, Weezdob Collective jazz band. The result of this concept is a song-filled album which is personal, unusual and original. Such are undoubtedly the privileges of mature musicians who, without stage fright and showing off, use all their simple, and yet sublime means to tell us something important about the world in the form of songs tinged with blues, country, pop and jazz, while remaining both vigilant and tender. All this brought back to my mind the “Strings in the Earth” album mentioned above and also, at times, Van Morrison. This project is marked with truth. The beauty of this album does not result solely from the collision of two worlds, but, above all, from the fact that two seemingly distant areas of art can make an inseparable and complete whole.

Łukasz Pawlik - “Lonely Journey” - Pawlik Relations - CD

ukasz Pawlik, Włodek’s son, is a pianist and cellist, composer and arranger. He studied cello at the Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, where he also attended composition and jazz classes. In 2008, he graduated from Robert Schumann Hochschule in Düsseldorf. His debut album harks back to the sound of the 1980s and 1990s, enhanced by the potential of modern electronics. Rich instrumentation, combined with the individual stamp left by the personalities of all the outstanding solo musicians featuring on the album (Cezary Konrad – drums, Paweł Pańta – bass, Dawid Główczewski – sax, Mike Stern – guitar, Michael “Patches” Stewart – trumpet), and coalescing around the performance of Łukasz Pawlik, playing both acoustic piano and electronic keyboards, allow us to commune with a glamorous musical entity addressed not only to jazz lovers. The musicians in the band combine strong sound with complicated instrumental solos. Sometimes, though, they go for simplicity and calm. They feel equally well in fast musical chases filled with broken rhythms and breath taking passages and in quiet, warm impressions. The excellent quality of this message and the painstaking way in which these recordings have been prepared only confirm that Pawlik has a lot to offer.

Ida Zalewska - “Storytelling” - Hevhetia - CD

t is the second album of this young Polish jazz and blues vocalist. The first, released in 2012, contained songs of the famous Billie Holiday. This time, we are getting a set of 10 premiere stories about life and love, relationships seen from the point of view of a woman whose experience in life allowed her to taste many of their different flavours. The album combines musical genres closest to the artist. The tracks include atmospheric jazz ballads and more energetic blues pieces. The music on the album comes from well-known Polish jazz pianists: Kuba Płużek or Bogdan Hołownia. Kuba Płużek is responsible for the arrangements and the sound. Apart from this pianist, the band includes other talented young jazzmen: Szymon Mika – guitar, Kuba Dworak – double bass and Damian Niewiński – drums. The lyrics in Polish and English come from Ida Zalewska and Joanna Majorkiewicz. Ida’s songs gathered here, very coherent and true-sounding, are classical, sparse and yet modern. Of course, they are swinging. Very elegant and jazzy. Ideal for those who go for nostalgia and like tried-and-tested, beautifully served things in good style.

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Cultural Monitor

CM – April 2016 “Straszni Panowie Trzej. Vol. 2” (“Three Frightful Gentlemen. Vol. 2”) - Blue Note Agencja Artystyczna - CD

he band was set up in 2004 by Janusz Szrom – leading Polish jazz vocalist, with a line-up of great musicians: pianist Andrzej Jagodziński and double bass player Andrzej Łukasik. In 2006, the band recorded an album with songs penned by Poland’s most famous duo of authors: Jerzy Wasowski & Jeremi Przybora. In 2014, the band celebrated its 10th anniversary. On that occasion, the musicians decided to create a new project which is a continuation of their earlier artistic path. The project is based on new pieces from the extensive library of Wasowski and Przybora. This time, guest musicians include the excellent sax player Henryk Miśkiewicz, Adam Lewandowski on drums and Romuald Gołębiowski’s quintet of wind instruments. This really is a very interesting project which won me over by its name, and then, from the first chords, through a ballad, various well-known hits, continues to enthral and give me joy! With what? With the intriguing unification of that which belongs to the history and that which does not age (neat lyrics and hit music) with a new, more jazzy contemporary take. Formally, the interpretations by this trio do not really resemble the original songs. But importantly, they have everything that we find in the originals: wit, swing, wisdom, and if necessary, also pure emotions.

Ania Dąbrowska – “Dla naiwnych marzycieli” (“For Naïve Dreamers”) - Sony Music - CD

nia Dąbrowska is one of the more talented and well-known young Polish artists. A vocalist, composer, author of lyrics has been present in the Polish music scene for more than a decade. So far, she has released five very wellreceived albums. Four gained platinum status, four reached the number one position in the sales lists. After an interlude lasting three years, she has returned with her new original material. In the meantime, she found new musicians, a producer and changed her style a little. Her new producer is Aleksander Kowalski, usually associated with the hip-hop scene. However, this particular genre is absent from the album. Nonetheless, the result of the co-operation between Kowalski and Dąbrowska is interesting – the songs that are pastel, gentle, and yet energetic, pulsating with rhythm. All this is underpinned by Ania’s voice, strong, maybe slightly manneristic, but not really resembling anybody else’s voice. Well, maybe Adele’s, just a touch? In her lyrics Dąbrowska uses a simple and communicative language (topics cover love, including partings) while as a composer she neatly uses her ability to produce catchy tunes. In summary: naive dreamers will find here modern pop with a tinge of reflection, interestingly reinforced by electric piano, guitars, but also flute or clarinet, which together play a role no less important than her voice.

Martyna Jakubowicz – “Prosta piosenka” (“A Simple Song”) - Universal Music - CD

artyna Jakubowicz is a unique vocalist and song writer, gifted with charisma and a characteristic voice which means that her ballads, combining folk, blues and rock, have for more than 30 years been among the most recognisable in the canon of Polish popular music. “A Simple Song” is the first original album of the artist in six years. Fans can find here atmospheric, guitar ballads, so beloved by the wide audiences, but also songs known from her earlier records, with a stronger, more rocky feel to them. All this is seasoned with electronics, bolder than before, but sublime. The album was recorded with the participation of, among others Wojciech Waglewski and Jan Smoczyński (pianist and composer, working with performers such as Urszula Dudziak or Aga Zaryan). Unlike Ania Dąbrowska mentioned earlier, Jakubowicz is a more mature artist. She has more distance to the surrounding world, and she portrays it in a much more professional, not to say nifty way... This can be clearly heard in every song included in this album. She gifts you in 2016 with a beautiful and wise album, remaining above the current trends, also musically, and constituting a culmination of Martyna’s work, a synthesis of her discoveries and original records. However, it is also a clear nod towards those who for years provided her with inspiration (and whose songs she performed in the Polish language for the first time!), i.e. Bob Dylan or Joni Mitchell. Yes, this is their scale!

MARCIN HABER RECOMMENDS: O.S.T.R. – “Życie po śmierci” (“Life after Death”) - Asfalt Records - CD

dam Ostrowski, a musician, producer, rapper, known and respected by outstanding figures in Polish music, is back with a new album. He is back literally and figuratively. His “Life after Death” release is a story of very difficult recent years in the life of the musician. An accident happened during the tour promoting his previous funk album entitled “Podróż zwana życiem” (“A Journey Called Life”). During a concert O.S.T.R. felt very strong pain in his chest, but he finished the performance. It soon transpired that one of his lungs had ruptured during the concert. The “Life after Death” album is completely different from his previous releases. It tells the story of this accident, the operation, return to health and the longing for playing on stage again. Ostrowski reveals to his listeners some very intimate details of these hard moments, tells us of the role of family in his life and his fight against addiction. The album is soaked in emotions and offers advice. Every listener can draw from it something for themselves. 4/2016 polish market

“WHERE THERE IS CHRISTIANISATION, THERE IS HOPE”

This year marks the 1050th anniversary of the Christianisation of Poland. This watershed event marks the birth of the Polish state. In 966 Mieszko I sealed his alliance with the Czechs through converting to Christianity. This meant that a country, whose borders almost coincide with the current ones, joined the Christian community of Europe. With few documents dating back to those events, we can only make assumptions about what happened. Nevertheless, it is a fact that the Christianisation of Poland was an important factor in the birth of a nation. The date itself does not really mark an end of a process, but more like its beginning. The same goes thus for every period of history. What is today, tomorrow will be our past.

Maciej Proliński

t is assumed in general that the ruler of the Polan tribe was baptised on Holy Saturday. Archaeological discoveries suggest that this event might have taken place on the island of Ostrów Lednicki. This ancient fort was located close to Gniezno, which at the time served as the capital of the Piast state. It is assumed that the court was baptised alongside its ruler. The twelfth century chronicler Gallus Anonymous claims that Mieszko converted to Christianity through his wife, Princess Dobrava. The Christianisation of Poland allowed Mieszko to integrate his lands into one, unified country. The country developed alongside the church, which not only preached about faith and provided the country with intellectual support, but also helped form the country’s administration. Professor Henryk Samsonowicz, a medievalist from the University of Warsaw, back in 2014 mentioned in an article for “Polish Market”: “We had a very special beginning. We came from absolutely nowhere. Everywhere around us, from the north, south, east and west there were political organisations or communities that had their share in the European history. We, on the other hand, were a ‘black hole’. Just like in space, you could witness the birth of a new star. It took just one generation for the Poles to build a country that would become a major player in central eastern Europe, a region often referred to as ‘New Europe’ or ‘Second Europe.’” The Professor added that we do not have full knowledge of the beginnings of our state. There is evidence stating that there was

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a Prince who ruled Greater Poland in the tenth century. He probably resided in Gniezno, though some speculate that his capital was located in Kalisz. Prof. Samsonowicz says that historians have not managed to establish the exact beginnings of the Piast dynasty. In fact, Samsonowicz explains, there are three different versions: “The first mentions incomers from Great Moravia, which at the time was invaded by Hungarians. The second assumes that Mieszko was a Viking from Scandinavia. The third claims that the Piasts were the rulers of local tribes and governed the region.” The idea of Poland being a symbol of freedom has existed throughout the centuries. We must be grateful to our ancestors for this, no matter how badly they quarrelled amongst themselves. Just like we do nowadays. We have to remember that our “Christian roots” strengthen our statehood. Of course on condition that we look at this only from the Christian point of view. We need to acknowledge that our significant philosophies and cultural gains derive from this religion. The slogan for the 1050th anniversary of the Christianisation of Poland is: “Where there is Christianisation, there is hope”. The 10th Congress of Gniezno, that took place in March, was an important event in the jubilee calendar. Its motto was “Europe of New Beginnings. The Liberating Power of Christianity”. In the final message of the Congress it was stated that there will be no new beginning for the Church, Poland and Europe, if there is no new person in every one of us... “A new person in us means one who has been

born again through baptism. Remember that being born again can happen by taking on and completing challenges set before Europe, Poland and the Church. Christianity in Europe needs to renew its spirit, it needs a testimony of faith. It needs involvement in building a common European home,” said Archbishop Wojciech Polak, the Bishop of Gniezno and Chair of the Gniezno Congress. The main events for the Christianisation of Poland jubilee celebrations will take place on April 14, in Gniezno, and between April 15 and 16, in Poznań. A plenary assembly of the Episcopal Conference of Poland will gather to celebrate this occasion. Also the National Assembly with the participation of President Andrzej Duda will meet in Poznań. One of the major attractions will take place on April 16, at the INEA stadium in Poznań. A choir and orchestra made up of 1050 people will be conducted by the musician and composer Leopold Twardowski. He will be joined on stage by friends including Natalia Niemen and the Pośpieszalski family. Another feature will be a premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s musical “Jesus Christ Superstar” that is going to be played at the Musical Theatre in Poznań. The role of Jesus will be reprised after 30 years by rock star Marek Piekarczyk from TSA. A national pilgrimage to Rome is planned in October 2016. The jubilee celebrations will come to an end on November 19, at the sanctuary in Kraków-Łagiewniki. There will be a joint ceremony held as a thanksgiving for the anniversary of the Christianisation of Poland, the World Youth Days and the end of the Extraordinary Year of Mercy. •

Jan Matejko “Introduction of Christianity to Poland, 965 AD”; oil on canvas, National Museum in Warsaw

Culture

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www.terazpolska.pl

Culture

BEAUTY OF EASTERN CARPETS An exhibition titled „Towards Mecca. Prayer Rugs from the Collection of the Teresa Sahakian Foundation” can be viewed at the Copper-Roof Palace until October 30, 2016. Organised by the Royal Castle Museum in Warsaw as part of a permanent display of one of the best collections of Eastern rugs in the world, the exhibition is one of the events taking place to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the founder (1915 – 2007). Maciej Proliński

eresa Sahakian – Polish collector and philanthropist, was born in Warsaw where she lived until 1939. After World War 2 she settled in Brussels. Together with her Armenian husband, she collected works of art, including decorative art, all her life. She donated her valuable collection of Eastern carpets to the Royal Castle in the years 1989– 2008. Now, this unique collection, presented to the public for more than 25 years, has a chance of acquiring a completely new dimension and become a reminder of her great passion for collecting. The collection of the Teresa Sahakian Foundation includes 747 works of art registered in the Foundation’s inventory and 35 objects outside it (such as weaving tools, books, conservation materials). The collection has been deposited with the Royal Castle in Warsaw which looks after its completeness while also providing substantive and conservation care. The Castle also provides safe storage facilities and displays the collection in the renovated interiors of the Copper-Roof Palace. The lion’s share of the collection is made up of over 600 Eastern rugs and oriental fabrics dating from the 18th to the 20th century, including more than 400 Caucasian carpets. Thanks to them, Warsaw has gained the

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status of one of the most important museum centres in the world collecting Eastern rugs. Apart from Caucasian carpets, the collection also includes Persian, Central Asian, Turkish and Chinese rugs. The eastern art collection is augmented by various works of decorative art, including the 19th century Persian doors adorned with miniatures and inscriptions, water pipes and a collection of interesting weaving tools. A separate section of the Foundation’s collection contains a set of European decorative art including, among others, fabrics from French and Polish manufactures produced in the 18th and 19th century. All works of art making up the collection of the Teresa Sahakian Foundation were successively moved to the Royal Castle in Warsaw starting in 1989. That year, the first donation of the Founder was made, followed by further donations in 1992 and 2007. The last gift was delivered in 2008 as a bequest. Numerous Polish museums have also made use of the Foundation’s collection, borrowing rugs for display as part of their temporary exhibitions. They include the National Museum in Kraków, the Castle Museum in Malbork or the Wilanów Palace Museum. Exhibiting Eastern rugs and increasing the collection is not the only task of the Teresa Sahakian Foundation. Another, equally

important objective is continuing the civic and charitable activity of the Founder. It involves providing financial support to artistically talented people who have no funds to develop their talent, virtually in every artistic discipline. The works currently displayed at the Castle (totalling 60 items) are a separate and unique group of rugs used by some Moslems during their daily prayers. The purpose and manner of using the fabrics has determined their form: small, rectangular shape and decorations employing the architectural motif of the mihrab, a semi-circular niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the direction of Mecca. Source texts from the 8th – 9th century mention prayer rugs. In the iconography such fabrics appeared in the 14th century on eastern miniatures and in the 15th century in European paintings. The oldest surviving prayer rugs date back to the 13th century and can be found in Turkish collections. Apart from the rugs from the collection of the Teresa Sahakian Foundation, the exhibition also includes examples of the 18th century Turkish carpets (from the collections of the National Museum in Warsaw and the Wawel Royal Castle), providing inspiration for later rugs. The exhibition is accompanied by a very interesting catalogue. •

W stronę Mekki

Kobierce modlitewne ze zbiorów Fundacji Teresy Sahakian

Culture

WHAT DOES SALOME HAVE TO OFFER? Richard Strauss’ “Salome” was a huge success in Prague. Now the time has come for Warsaw. The opera, based on Oscar Wilde’s tragedy, had its premiere at Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera on March 22, 2016. The play was directed by Mariusz Treliński. The opera follows the life of a dysfunctional family, and is presented in the style of Pier Paolo Pasolini’s film “Theorem.” Fans of Treliński, and his unique, visionary style will definitely not want to miss out on this opera. Maciej Proliński

“

Salome” is a major event in the history of opera music. It is considered by many as one of the most perfect compositions. Most of the world-known conductors dream to perform this play. The greatest of them have managed to record the whole score alongside the best soloists of the 20th century. The premiere of “Salome” took place on December 9, 1905, in Dresden. Next, it was played in opera halls in Wrocław, Nurnberg, Leipzig, Prague, Cologne and Berlin. In 1907 Strauss’ opera featured in New York, Paris, Zurich, Brussels and also in Warsaw. Controversies arose in every place it was played. Gustav Mahler was so impressed by “Salome” that after seeing it in Berlin he wrote to his wife: “I am convinced that this is one of the biggest masterpieces of our times.” The one act play is full of drastic, erotic and naturalistic displays of madness by the main heroin. The 90-minute opera has no overture, and no intermissions. The music serves to interpret scenes that words cannot properly describe. We see a young princess Salome at her stepfather Herod’s court. There, among palace riches and depravity, whilst passing by a water cistern, she hears the voice of the prophet John the Baptist (Jochanaan), who is imprisoned in it.

Salome does not think of him through the prism of his preaching. Instead, she asks her servants if the prophet, who is apparently feared by her stepfather, is a beautiful man. The play directed by Mariusz Treliński, the Polish National Opera’s artistic director, is coproduced by the Polish Teatr Wielki and the Czech Národní Divadlo. It premiered on October 23, 2014, in Prague. Treliński is joined by his usual collaborators including: Boris Kudlička (decorations), Marek Adamski (costumes), Tomasz Wygoda (choreography), Felice Ross (lights), Bartek Macias (video projections) and Piotr Gruszczyński (dramatist). “Salome’s” demanding soprano is performed by Erika Sunnegardh in the first cast, and in the second by Alex Penda. In the Warsaw cast you will also hear performances from: Jacek Strauch (Jochanaan), Jacek Laszczkowski (Herod) and Veronika Hajnová (Herodias). The renowned Hungarian conductor Stefan Soltesz worked on the opera’s music. He is mainly known for his performances around concert halls of the German speaking world. For this special occasion, he will also conduct the Orchestra of the Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera.

Treliński’s previous premiere (December 2013) was an amazing production consisting of two operas: Tchaikovsky’s “Iolanta” and Bela Bartók’s “Bluebeard’s Castle”. The premiere of this unique double bill took place at New York’s Metropolitan Opera. This was the first time in history that a play directed by a Pole was presented on the most important opera stage in the world. Just like in “Bluebeard’s Castle”, in “Salome” Treliński has managed to find a way to connect impossible, unrealistic situations with human behaviour and reality. Wilde’s tragedy is presented through a modern, middle-class family. This gives the play a completely different meaning. After the Prague premiere, Tomasz Cyz wrote: “Treliński’s ‘Salome’ is similar to what we saw in ‘Turandot’ or ‘Bluebeard’s Castle.’ Once again, he tries to merge music with cinema by using film editing schemes. Projections of films, specific close-ups on main heroes (made possible thanks to light effects) all serve to create an atmosphere that reminds you of a thriller. From the very first sequence, the show is • very tense.”

4/2016 polish market

Events

THE 3RD SMART CITY FORUM The largest meeting in Poland devoted to smart cities was held at the Sheraton Hotel in Warsaw on March 15-16, 2016. The conference was attended by over 600 guests, including mayors of Polish cities, numerous representatives of Marshal Offices, local administration and business.

he conference was officially opened by Mariusz Gaca, Chairman of the Advisory Board Smart City Forum and Vice-President of the Board of Orange Polska, and Jarosław Jóźwiak, Deputy Mayor of Warsaw. The honorary guests included: Robert Biedroń, Mayor of Słupsk, Tadeusz Truskolaski, Mayor of Białystok and Krzysztof Żuk, Mayor of Lublin. The speakers also included Tadeusz Krzakowski, Mayor of Legnica, Maciej Bluj, Deputy Mayor of Wrocław, Bartosz Bartoszewicz, Mayor of Gdynia, Michał Zaleski, Mayor of Toruń and Ewa Weber, Secretary of the City of Zabrze. Day one of the Smart City Forum was devoted to the idea of building a smart city and the analysis of the existing municipal management strategy. Speakers presented methods of creating and implementing a smart city plan and also addressed the issue of engaging residents in the plan by way of social dialogue. Better municipal management through the protection of municipal data was another important aspect of the forum. Day one of the conference ended with a discussion of the future of transport in smart cities. The debate was attended by, among others, Leszek Hołda, President of the Board, Integrated Solutions, Maciej Bluj, Deputy Mayor of Wrocław, Marcin Wojdat, Secretary of the Capital City of Warsaw, Ronald Binkofski, General Manager, Microsoft in Poland, Norbert Biedrzycki, President of the Board, Atos Polska. Next day, the discussion moved to integrated management of urban space, to ensure

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From left: Norbert Biedrzycki, President of the Board, Atos Polska, Jarosław Jóźwiak, Deputy Mayor of Warsaw , Mariusz Gaca, Chairman of the Advisory Board Smart City Forum and Vice-President of the Board of Orange Polska, Robert Biedroń, Mayor of Słupsk and other panelists. that it is friendly, healthy, comfortable and productive for the local community. The following issues were broached as part of debates in individual panels: payments in cities, benefits and advantages of using electronic payments, social policy, policy towards elderly people and telemedicine in a smart city. The panellists included: Artur Pollak, President of the Board, Apa Group, Sylwia Bilska, Member of the Board and Commercial Director, PayU Central Europe, Sebastian Christow, Director of the Department of Electronic Economy, Ministry of Economic Development), Adrian Kurowski, Country Manager Poland,

Visa Europe, Andrzej Sadowski, President of the Adam Smith Research Centre, Mariusz Szczubiał, Deputy Treasurer of Toruń, Andrzej Rybicki, Director of Consulting Centre, ComArch Healthcare. The Smart City Forum is a unique event offering a platform for exchanging opinions regarding the latest technologies and possibilities offered by smart solutions. It is a meeting of leaders and authorities not only from all over Poland but also from abroad. The 3rd edition attracted experts from sectors such as: telecommunications, IT, the power industry and transport. •

Events

SOCIAL INNOVATION IN INDUSTRIAL DESIGN 9th International Conference on “Innovation and Creativity in the Economy” held under the slogan “Social Innovation in Industrial Design”.

he event was organised by the Polish Patent Office. The honorary patron was the First Lady, Agata Kornhauser-Duda. The proceedings were attended by deputy Minister of Economic Development Jadwiga Emilewicz. The co-organisers of the conference included numerous institutions and international and domestic bodies: World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), State Fund for Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons, Museum of Technology and Industry, Institute of Industrial Design, Patpol Patent Attorneys, Polservice Patent Attorneys, Rafako, Goshico, Seventica, Kielce Technology Park and Cieszyn Castle. More than 60 speakers from Poland and abroad and nearly 300 guests took part in the conference.

Minister Jadwiga Emilewicz, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Economic Development The topics of the panel discussions and individual presentations covered issues connected with creating and utilising innovative

offered an opportunity to exchange experiences, diagnose the issues which hamper their effective co-operation and discuss the necessary financial, legal and educational activities which could contribute to a greater use of industrial design in the area of social innovations. The possibilities of receiving support for innovative activity relating to industrial design aimed at resolving needs connected with the current processes and demographic trends were also presented.

Alicja Adamczak, PhD, President of the Polish Patent Office

design solutions aimed at improving the quality of life and resolving everyday problems of people suffering from various health disorders and limitations due to age or diseases making it hard to negotiate barriers such as public spaces not adapted to the needs of these social groups. Any tangible improvement in the quality of life of the disabled in the area of social functioning requires closer co-operation between designers and entrepreneurs, implementation of innovative industrial design, for instance, by companies manufacturing rehabilitation and medical equipment, furniture manufacturers, makers of means of transportation, interior designers and architects, as well as protection of intellectual property which is of key importance in the development of businesses operating in competitive domestic and international markets. During the conference, entrepreneurs and representatives of the creative sector were

Prof. Henryk Skarżyński, Director of the World Hearing Centre and the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing during his speech

Experts from the design sector, entrepreneurs, representatives of the state and local administration, higher schools, business organisations and the creative sector took part in the panel discussions. The event was accompanied by an exhibition of innovative designs and services improving the quality of life, including many prototypes and concepts with • high implementation potential. 4/2016 polish market

Events

THE 22ND EDITION OF THE GOLDEN ENGINEER POLL “At the start of Poland’s political and economic transition the technical community felt forgotten and pushed into the sidelines. There were titles such as the Man of the Year, Manager of the Year or Woman of the Year. We have decided that it is also necessary to promote engineers with academic, technical, innovation and organisational successes have managed to find their place in the market economy,” said Ewa Mańkiewicz-Cudny, Editor-in-Chief of the “Przegląd Techniczny” monthly and President of the Polish Federation of Engineering Associations (NOT), at the Gala organised on March 9 at the Technician’s House in Warsaw celebrating its 110th anniversary, during which the award winners were presented with statuettes and certificates. Jerzy Bojanowicz

he Gala was attended by, among others: Tomasz Żuchowski, Undersecretary of State in Ministry of Infrastructure and Construction, Alicja Adamczyk, PhD, President of the Polish Patent Office, Professor Ryszard Pregiel, President of the Polish Chamber of Commerce for High Technology, Professor Jerzy Kątcki, Deputy Director of the National Centre for Research and Development, Michał Pachowski, President of the Board of the Polish Centre for Testing and Certification, Professor Stanisław Wincenciak, Vice Rector for Development of the Warsaw University of Technology, Professor Leszek Rafalski, Chairman of the Main Council of the Research Institutes, Jacek Szer, acting Chief Building Supervision Inspector, Deputy of the Chief Inspector, Mieczysław Borowski, President of the Office of Technical Inspection, Andrzej Roch Dobrucki, President of the Polish Chamber of Civil Engineers, Dr Jan Tarczyński, Director of the Marshall Józef Piłsudski Central Military Library and representatives of the governing bodies of the NOT association and local units. The participants and organisers of the Gala were congratulated by Polish President Andrzej Duda. In a letter read out by Andrzej Dera, Secretary of State at the Office of the President, he wrote, among others: “The Golden Engineer contest has earned considerable reputation and universal recognition not only in the technical community, but also among those who strive towards Poland’s economic and civilisation success. You give our country valuable development advantages in many disciplines. Also the achievements of the recipients of the Honorary Golden Engineer title are worthy of admiration. They prove that talents and technical knowledge can go hand in hand with exceptional musical or literary talents. Thank you for making Poland famous in the world.” Professor Leszek Sirko, Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, congratulated the winners on

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Laureates of the “Golden Engineer of the Technical Review 2015” plebiscite behalf of Jarosław Gowin, Minister of Science and Higher Education: “For this reason Polish engineers are not only the authors of outstanding structures, for instance, bridges, but also, lately, Philae, a lander which has successfully landed on a comet. They include employees of outstanding companies with international prestige and reputation. Of course, I would not want Polish engineers to flee abroad, but rather stay and work in Poland. This is why the Ministry is working on amendments to the tax law to better account for innovation and support the formation of start-ups.” Professor Jan Szyszko, Minister of Environment, stressed the important role of engineers in environmental protection. The key evidence is the Diamond Engineer 2015: Dr Konrad Tomaszewski, Director General of State Forests, the author of the concept of a market of CO2 absorption by forests. For over 10 years, the “Przegląd Techniczny” monthly has been awarding the ‘Honorary Golden Engineer’ title to persons with a degree in engineering, who have achieved fame in a completely different area. For instance, this group includes Wiesław Ochman, a world-famous opera singer (lyrical tenor), Marek Niedźwiecki, a popular radio presenter, Jacek Cygan, an author of many popular songs, or the comedian, Tadeusz Drozda.

They have now been joined by Andrzej Smirnow, PhD, academic lecturer and politician, graduate of the Electrical Engineering Department of the Warsaw University of Technology (PW), the first president of NSZZ ‘Solidarność’ at the PW, Member of Parliament during the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th term; Janusz Leon Wiśniewski, PhD, working at an IT company in Frankfurt am Main, holder of a master’s degree in physics (the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń) and economics (from the same university), a doctorate in IT (PW) and the title of Doctor Habilitated of Chemistry (Łódź University of Technology), who has gained his popularity thanks to his novel “S@motność w sieci” (“Loneliness on the Net”) translated into many languages (a movie and a TV series followed the book) and Agnieszka Zwierko, MSc, Eng, an opera singer and graduate of the Department of Electronics of the PW and the Department of Vocal and Acting Studies of the F. Chopin Academy of Music (currently the F. Chopin University of Music) in Warsaw (in 2015 she was admitted to the degree of Doctor of Music in Artistic Vocal Practice), performing at venues such as La Scala in Milan, Covent Garden in London, Staatsoper and Komische Oper in Berlin, Royal Opera House in Copenhagen, Massimo Theatre in Palermo, Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires • and Opéra de Montréal.

Food Industry

LET’S BUILD

BRAND POLAND!

The 4th Congress of Exporters of the Agri-Food Industry, organized by the Association of Polish Exporters (SEP) and chaired by President of SEP Mieczysław Twaróg, was held at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Warsaw on March 10, 2016. Minister of Agriculture Krzysztof Jurgiel and Province Marshals were honorary patrons of the Congress. The event was attended by 150 representatives of manufacturing and exporting companies and institutions from all over the country.

Laureates of the Honorary Award “Distinguised Service for Agriculture”

mong the participants of the Congress were Jan Krzysztof Ardanowski, MP, Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Agriculture Committee, Jacek Bogucki deputy Minister of Agriculture, Professor Andrzej Kowalski, Director of the Institute or Agricultural and Food Economics and Łukasz Hołubowski, President of the Agricultural Market Agency. Food exports drive the development of the agri-food industry – said the meeting participants in unison. “Poland has very good, organic products and a capacity to increase these exports even further. Our competitive advantage stems from low labour costs and consistently high quality of the end products,” said Jan Krzysztof Ardanowski. In addition, a key aspect in entering other markets is the successive implementation of the strategy of promoting individual products and active promotion with the participation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Ministry of Economic Development. He also spoke of the new President of the Agricultural Market Agency, Łukasz Hołubowski, who previously built organisations and managed project teams, conducted talks with audit agencies

of the EU regarding errors in the management and implementation of the biggest investment projects in Poland co-funded by the Cohesion Fund and the European Regional Development Fund. “The statutory objective and duty of the Agricultural Market Agency is to promote Polish agricultural produce. If we compare Polish food exports food against other areas, we can see that the former have been stable for a number of years. Currently, our exports to the internal European market remain at 80%. However, today we are facing a huge challenge – how to use brand Poland. We must fight for our place in foreign markets, but we also have to appear under one sign, that of brand Poland. It is necessary to utilise the power of this brand. The activities of the aforesaid three ministries should be coordinated. We must create a single strategy for promoting Poland’s agri-food sector and this strategy should diversify these markets. The Agricultural Market Agency is the institution with the money and we would like to invite you to a debate in order to determine how to support your activities in the most effective way,” declared Hołubowski. In the course of the discussions, attention was also drawn to the need to continue information and promotional activities in foreign

markets, especially in the Far East, Africa and the Balkans. The necessity of implementing the strategy of international expansion of Polish companies was also emphasised. The prospects of this expansion are determined by three factors: potential, supply and demand. We have all of them! In order to meet the growing competition we must continue to use prices and, increasingly, innovation and product quality. However, we need greater incentives and support, for example, through strengthening economic diplomacy or more effective use of the EU funds. Global competition is fierce, so marketing and promotional activities must be conducted on a continuous basis. Support of our government plays an important role in the non-EU markets. Congress participants welcomed the activity of the Association of Polish Exporters over the last 14 years and its collaboration with exporters, as reflected in the “Position on using the 2014-2020 budget plan to develop Polish agri-food exports” adopted during the event. This Position states, among others, that: “The 4th Congress of Exporters of the Agri-Food Industry sees the need for further strengthening the activity of economic diplomacy, in particular, in the East, to alleviate or lift the embargo on food products, extending the cooperation with foreign partners with a view to increasing exports to: China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, RSA, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Chile. Having regard to the need for an optimal increase of exports, the 4th Congress of Exporters of the Agri-Food Industry declares its desire to collaborate with entrepreneurs, banks, institutions, government and local government authorities in order to utilise potential economic and personnel capabilities and the scientific and research facilities to speed up the pro-innovative and pro-export development of the Polish econ• omy.” 4/2016 polish market

Food Industry

CONFIRMATION OF SAFETY UO-TECHNOLOGIA Sp. z o.o. GRÓJEC LABORATORY

Maciej Bartoń

O-Technologia Sp. z o.o. (Ltd.) is a modern laboratory located in Słomczyn near Grójec, in the very heart of Poland’s main horticultural region. It specialises in food testing. It has high class equipment and qualified scientists, thus guaranteeing the highest standards of test results. The company is funded by Polish capital and is able to meet the exacting requirements of the agrifood market, including changes in the European standards applying to the trade and export of agricultural and food products. UO-Technologia carries out classical and instrumental physicochemical and microbiological analyses of agricultural and food products, raw materials and supplements used in the production of food and feeds. Its services are addressed to fruit and vegetable producers and distributors, as well as to the food industry and retail chains. The equipment and instrumentation of the Laboratory

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of UO-Technologia is modern and highly accurate. The detection limit of chemical compounds in organic matter is 0.005 which allows thorough testing of organic products. Efforts are made to lower the limit to 0.001 which would enable the Laboratory to establish the presence of trace levels of active substances used in pesticides in fruits and to quantify their presence with great accuracy. Thanks to this, the Laboratory also tests ingredients used for production baby food. Currently, it is able to detect 500 compounds with a high degree of accuracy. The core activity of the Laboratory includes physicochemical and microbiological analyses. Its modern instruments and highly qualified personnel allow the facility to analyse samples using the following techniques: gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, spectrophotometry, potentiometry, conductometry and titration. The Laboratory assists in setting up verification systems for raw materials and products in terms of microbiological

safety, and minimises the risks of contamination with microorganisms. The results of its analyses are not only a source of information on the guarantee and quality of foods, but also on the process quality or technological recipe. The results make it possible to control the production processes. Tests of raw materials enable optimum choice and application of the best ingredients, resulting in the appropriate quality, safety of the end product and manufacturing costs optimisation. UO-Technologia is a modern laboratory located in the centre of Poland and equipped with advanced research apparatus. It employs qualified personnel who make every effort to ensure that the test results are always reliable and are presented quickly. It takes a professional and individual approach to the needs of its customers. It is reliable and delivers results fast. The Laboratory is a partner trusted by many companies from Poland and abroad. •