Innovation
IMPACT 16’ The Impact 16’ Congress, the most important event of the new economy in Poland, was held in Kraków on June 15 – 16. During that time the capital city of Małopolska became a venue for debates regarding the key challenges and opportunities connected with the development of enterprise, innovation and digitisation. The main topic was the Fourth Industrial Revolution and its impact on the development of the economy, technology and society. The event attracted nearly 2,000 Polish and foreign experts and panellists including entrepreneurs, representatives of the world of culture and science, as well as the State authorities and institutions.
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he first edition of Impact 16’ was held on June 15 – 16 at the ICE Conference Centre in Kraków and was focused on the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the resulting global changes: technological, social and economic. Impact 16’ attracted representatives of industry, business people and owners of start-ups, scientists, venture capital investors from the private and public sector, representatives of incubators, science and technology parks, as well as government officials and local authorities. It provided an excellent opportunity for a multi-party dialogue, establishment of contacts and building durable relations. One of the main items on the agenda was a presentation of the Start In Poland! programme aimed at creating conducive conditions for start-ups at every stage of their development. It is also designed to encourage foreign entities to set up start-ups and develop their activity in Poland. The programme was presented by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economic Development, Mateusz Morawiecki. “This is the largest start-ups support programme in Central and Eastern Europe, a new quality for our talented specialists – engineers, IT experts or designers”, said Deputy Prime Minister Morawiecki. Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of the ruling party, also delivered a speech and said: “The question of what we can do about the fourth industrial revolution in Poland is fully justified. This is a new challenge which must be considered – adding that unsuccessful attempts to carry out revolutions in our country were due to social or political factors”. A significant part of the conference was the presentation of the Polish Development Fund, the largest platform of capital investments into innovative companies at early stages of development in Central and Eastern Europe created by PFR Ventures as part of the Start in Poland programme. PFR Ventures will be responsible for managing venture capital investment
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Jarosław Gowin, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Science and Higher Education; Mateusz Morawiecki Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economic Development; Jadwiga Emilewicz Deputy Minister of Economic Development; Paweł Borys, President of Polski Fundusz Rozwoju S.A. funds with a value of PLN 2.8 billion. Its task is to support the development of the Polish venture capital and new technologies market. “We are building the largest venture capital investments platform in the region’s history. Its purpose is to develop innovative businesses by providing capital and expert support. We want to stimulate private capital to engage in higher risk projects which offer potentially high rates of return. We want to finance modern technologies and Polish products and services which can succeed in the global market,” said Paweł Borys, President of Polski Fundusz Rozwoju S.A. (Polish Development Fund). In accordance with the government’s Plan for Responsible Development, the Polish Development Fund Group is to be formed by the end of 2016. The Group will integrate under a coherent strategy and professional management standards such institutions like: KUKE S.A., Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK), Polish Enterprise Development Agency, Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency
(PAIiIZ) and Agency for Industrial Development (ARP). The strategic centre of the Group is Polski Fundusz Rozwoju S.A. This company was formed by transforming Polskie Inwestycje Rozwojowe S.A. The main areas of operation of Polski Fundusz Rozwoju S.A. include investments in small and medium-sized enterprises, financing and promotion of innovation, infrastructural projects, development of exports and foreign investments. The objective is to provide efficient tools for pursuing the policy of development, increasing Poland’s investment and economic potential within a single platform of development instruments for individual customers, entrepreneurs and local governments. The Polish Development Fund operates in accordance with the best international standards. The guests at the conference included ministers Jarosław Gowin and Anna Streżyńska, businessmen Michał Sołowow and Janusz Filipiak, as well as former treasury minister Mikołaj Budzanowski. •