ORGANIZERS
The Polish Chamber of Commerce for High Technology (IZTECH) was established in 2008 as a non-profit organization associating scientific institutions, universities, high-tech companies and other business entities operating in various technological sectors. The Chamber’s mission is to integrate the environment, support high-tech initiatives, digital and energy transformation, develop international cooperation and promote Polish technological solutions in Europe and around the world. The main goal of the Chamber’s activities is to stimulate the development of knowledge-based entrepreneurship and comprehensive assistance to its Members in achieving commercial success of their innovative projects in the area of advanced technologies.
Our Members are listed as outstanding innovators, creators of patents and developments of new technologies that have an impact on the dynamic economic development of Poland. Our representatives sit on national and EU organizations, parliamentary committees, giving opinions on draft laws of economic importance. The Chamber organizes international and national forums for the exchange of experience of engineering staff.
A key undertaking is the Central European Technology Forum – CETEF, organised under the auspices of the European Commission and under the patronage of the European Parliament, in cooperation with technical universities and the high-tech industry since 2014.
The IZTECH Working Group for the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon Europe operates within the Chamber, the mission of which is to represent the voice of the Polish community in the field of EU research and innovation policy and EU Framework Programmes at the national and European forums and to initiate joint projects. The members of the Working Group are the authors of the Position Paper of the Polish Chamber of Commerce for High Technology (IZTECH) on the 10th Framework Programme.
The AGH University of Science and Technology is a modern university that actively participates in building a knowledge-based society and in creating innovative technologies. The university has a strong position in the country and is becoming increasingly stronger abroad. Experienced staff, modern laboratories, a unique campus, and above all – the bond that unites the AGH community – these are our greatest assets.
We develop scientific research in the areas of technical sciences, exact sciences, earth sciences and social sciences, taking into account the current priorities of the economy and business, in such areas as digitization, cybersecurity, energy transformation and zero emission, climate change, circular economy or industry 4.0. Among many future research directions, AGH is actively developing work in the field of space engineering and artificial intelligence.
The educational offer includes nearly 70 fields of study conducted at 17 faculties. The university also offers doctoral education, MBA TECH studies and approximately 90 postgraduate courses.
The Jagiellonian University was founded on May 12, 1364 by the Polish king Casimir the Great and is the oldest university in Poland and one of the oldest in this region of Europe. Studium generale – as the University was then called – consisted of three faculties: liberal arts, medicine and law. In 1400, the University was re-founded by King Władysław Jagiełło. A fourth faculty was established at that time – theology. The 15th century and the beginning of the 16th century were the “golden period” in the history of the university, which was famous for teaching mathematics, astronomy and law, and its outstanding scholars. The university attracted students from all over Europe, who at that time constituted as much as 44% of the students. The high level of the university is also evidenced by its outstanding graduates, such as Nicolaus Copernicus.
Currently, the Jagiellonian University has 15 faculties, including three medical faculties, which form the so-called Collegium Medicum. Around 50 thousand students are educated here every year, 65% of whom are women. The national structure has also changed, in addition to students from European Union countries, young people from Asia and Africa, as well as from Eastern European countries, have appeared.
The Polish Federation of Engineering Associations, operating as a community of Engineering Associations, represents the technical community, integrates Polish technicians and engineers, acts for the benefit of strengthening the role of the technical circles, which are, in turn, a significant contributor and co-originator of civilisation progress and sustainable development.
The Polish Federation of Engineering Associations is a voluntary federation of science and technology associations. Following the tradition of the Polish engineering associations dating back to the 19th century, established both in Poland and in exile for the purposes of supporting the patriotic aspirations of Poles and participation in laying the foundations of the economic prosperity of Poland upon its restoration and rebirth, the Federation currently operates for the benefit of continuous civilisation development of the Republic of Poland, simultaneously reinforcing the creative effort of Polish engineers and technicians.
Nowadays, the Polish Federation of Engineering Associations comprises of:
- 39 Federations of Engineering Associations (Member Associations) which bring together nearly 100,000 members
- 45 Local Branches of Federations of Engineering Associations, affiliating the branches federated within the structures of the Federation
- 35 Houses of Technicians, including two institutions built at the beginning of the 20th century with the funds originating from engineers’ contributions (The House of Technicians in Warsaw – 1905 and the House of Technicians in Kraków – 1906)
- its own publishing house specialising in science and technology press (SIGMA-NOT) that currently publishes 31 titles, including Przegląd Techniczny (Technical Review), which has been published since 1866.
The city of Kraków is a city with county rights, located in southern Poland, on the Vistula River, second in the country in terms of population and area. The former capital, coronation city and necropolis of Polish kings. Capital of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship. The city is located at the junction of several geographical regions: the Sandomierz Basin, the Western Beskid Foothills and the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland.
The history of Kraków as an organized urban center begins around the 7th–8th century AD. To this day, we can admire the remains of the first inhabitants in the form of two mounds: Krakus and Wanda. The center of power was centered on Wawel Hill from the beginning. One of the breakthrough dates in the history of the city was its location under Magdeburg law on June 5, 1257. At that time, the current urban layout of the Old Town was formed, as well as the seat of the ruler – Wawel. Its location at the crossroads of trade routes: from Russia to Germany and the Czech Republic, from Pomerania to Hungary, Turkey and the Balkans, allowed Krakow to develop economically quickly.
Today, Krakow is a modern city that is still developing. A melting pot where the tradition of its residents mixes with the student avant-garde. Thanks to its many monuments and perfectly preserved old buildings, it has not lost its majestic character.