Work&Science Foundation is an organization operating at the intersection of science, innovation, education, and the economy. Its mission is to build long-term relationships between the academic community and the socio-economic environment. The Foundation supports the development of students, doctoral candidates, young researchers, and academic initiatives by promoting a practical approach to science, entrepreneurship, knowledge transfer, and the implementation of research outcomes.

Its activities include conferences and scientific events, training and mentoring programs, initiatives supporting student research clubs, science communication projects, and the “Science from the Inside” podcast (“Nauka od kuchni”), featuring researchers, innovation leaders, and representatives of industry.

An important area of the Foundation’s work is its expert and analytical activity related to higher education, the labour market, and science–industry cooperation. The Foundation co-authored two editions of the “Leaders of Polish Higher Education” ranking prepared for the national newspaper Rzeczpospolita, assessing universities through the employment outcomes and labour market performance of their graduates.

The Foundation actively collaborates with universities, student organizations, research institutes, startups, technology partners, and industry representatives, creating opportunities for knowledge exchange, partnership building, and the development of projects with implementation potential.

Young Scientist Day, organized as part of the Central European Technology Forum (CETEF), is a natural extension of this mission. The event brings together young researchers with representatives of industry, public institutions, startups, and technology leaders, creating a platform for discussions on innovation, research commercialization, competency development, and the future of science–industry cooperation.