The University of Zielona Góra was one of the partners of the Polish Science Pavilion at the 34th Economic Forum, held on 2–4 September in Karpacz. For the first time, our University had the opportunity to present itself at such a prestigious event. The Pavilion also hosted representatives of the National Science Centre (NCN), the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA), the Łukasiewicz Research Network, the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR), and the Lublin Digital Union, among others.
The Pavilion of Polish Science was officially opened by Prof. Maria Mrówczyńska, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education, who inaugurated the space with a discussion on science and business:“It is important that scientific projects and research are not detached from reality but respond to the needs of the local market. This is where scientists find their place, conducting research at various levels. Technology Transfer Centres operating at universities play a key role in this process,” said Minister Mrówczyńska.
The Ministry of Science and Higher Education is committed to promoting Polish science as a dynamic driver of the country’s development. Its aim is to show that science goes beyond the walls of laboratories and that Polish researchers’ innovations are transforming life, the economy, and Poland’s position on the international stage. Alongside Minister Mrówczyńska, the discussion featured Piotr Wachowiak (Warsaw School of Economics), Barbara Stępień (Head of Communications at L’Oréal Poland & Baltics, Manager of the Women in Science Program), and Leszek Stypułkowski (Board Member of Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego).
In the space dedicated to innovation, dialogue, and inspiration, we had the opportunity to showcase our groundbreaking solutions. At the University of Zielona Góra’s stand, we presented an innovative hand orthosis designed for limbs affected by spasticity (stroke, hemorrhage) or fracture, as well as a prototype hydrogen heat source (HHO) for heating single-family houses. Both projects were developed by the University’s Academic Motor Club under the supervision of MSc Eng. Zdzisław Wałęga from the Institute of Mechanical Engineering.
On the third day of the Forum, UZ was represented in a discussion panel by the winners of UZ Venture Studio—a pilot project run at our University under the direction of Dr. Rafał Kieszek from the UZ Center of Scientific Excellence. This pioneering initiative supports the commercialization of science at the University and in its wider environment through the creation of technology companies that respond to real business needs. The pilot is a prelude to the launch of a fully operational University Venture Building program.
Among the selected projects for further development were:
The UZ Venture Studio project is implemented by the UZ Center of Scientific Excellence and the UZ Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer, in cooperation with the business partner The Heart, whose representatives also attended this prestigious event in Karpacz. On the opening day of the Forum, UZ was also represented by Dr. Katarzyna Łasińska, Chancellor of the University of Zielona Góra.
Another UZ contribution came from Dr. habil. Eng. Marta Skiba, Prof. UZ, Director of the Institute of Architecture and Urban Planning, who participated in the panel discussion “From Vision to Reality – How Development Strategies Shape General Municipal Plans” within the Kraków University of Technology’s pavilion. She was also an expert panelist in “Hidden Pollution in Cities – Noise, Vibrations, Light. Challenges for Health and Quality of Life” on the final day of the Forum.
The participation of UZ staff, graduates, and students in the Economic Forum was an excellent opportunity to present innovative solutions and build new connections. “The greatest value lay in the conversations—ranging from brief exchanges at the stands to extended discussions. We met representatives of companies, research institutions, funds, and industry organizations. These contacts form a foundation for future cooperation—from expert consultations to joint projects,” said Dr. Michał Żejmo from the Janusz Gil Institute of Astronomy. He emphasized that the panels highlighted the synergy between science and business, with strong focus on research commercialization, consortium building, and preparing specialists for technologically complex projects.
The MOBIMEDI team also valued the experience highly: “We established several interesting contacts that may lead to further collaboration on the project’s development. It was also valuable to see how our presentation was received by the event participants. We attended many inspiring sessions and panels that deepened our knowledge in areas crucial for Mobimedi’s growth. We view our participation in the Polish Science Pavilion very positively—it gave us motivation and a broader perspective for the next stages of the project,” said UZ graduate Maciej Markowski.
Students from the University of Zielona Góra, also winners of the UZ Venture Studio competition, shared similar reflections. “Participating in the Economic Forum in Karpacz gave us many interesting ideas for further development of our project. The variety of topics discussed in the panels, as well as our conversations with visitors to the Polish Science Pavilion, confirmed our belief that our idea fits perfectly into the needs of the smart city market,” said Krystian Wybranowski from the BuzzVers Scientific Circle. The students also established cooperation with another bio-monitoring project from the Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW) and saw potential opportunities for investment from the Ministry of Digital Affairs or funding from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. “We are glad we could join the discussion at such a prestigious event. Presenting our BuzzNode project at the Pavilion of Polish Science allowed us to reach potential users interested in our solution,” Wybranowski concluded.
