Introduction
The Made in Wrocław event, a flagship initiative organized annually by the Wrocław Agglomeration Development Agency (ARAW), this year integrated the Unite.WIDENING project. As part of the broader European University Alliance Unite!, this project, entitled “Raise Excellence in R&S&I in HEI for Widening Countries”, aims to enhance research and innovation excellence across Europe. The event brought together academia, international corporations, local businesses, and governmental institutions to foster collaboration and innovation.
The Goal and Theme of the Event
Held under the slogan “Stage of Knowledge”, the eighth edition of Made in Wrocław focused on connecting business, technology, and innovation. Its primary goal was to create a platform where academia and industry could collaboratively address the challenges of a rapidly evolving business landscape and turn them into opportunities. The main event was the conference divided into thematic sessions, all of them with inspiring presentations and panel discussions with representatives of corporations, research institutions and tech companies. Simultaneously, accompanying events took part, including EXPO scene with exhibitors, TECH GALA, with the competition for start-ups and a new part: VC DEMO DAY, which was to match the investors with the promising start-ups from Wrocław agglomeration.
Dissemination and Promotion
To maximize reach, the event was promoted extensively across Wrocław and beyond. Dissemination strategies included:
- Media coverage in print and digital platforms, as well as public transport advertisements.
- Communications through Unite.WIDENING website and Wrocław Tech’s networks, including newsletters, emails, and website updates.
- On-site displays featuring the Unite.WIDENING project, with QR codes for visitors to access more information.
- Wrocław Tech’s Active Role
Wrocław Tech participation
The representatives of Wrocław Tech were present during the event and actively took part on the EXPO Scene. Wrocław Tech stand included presentations of activities and inventions of the universities science clubs, innovative technologies created in the university and the offer of the Academic Incubator of Entrepreneurship. The visitors could get acquainted with inventions developed on the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering including a special vehicle for persons with disabilities, enabling to navigate in the different areas. The team of scientists from the Faculty of Chemistry presented their technology for degradation of antibiotics.
The course of the event
The whole event took place at Wroclaw Congress Centre in the Centennial Hall complex in Wrocław. The registration for the event was required. The EXPO scene event was free of charge, for the cpnference the ticket were required. The whole profit from the ticket sale was dedicated to the victims of flood.
The programme of the event included:
Conference:
• Opening of the conference (Jacek Sutryk, President of Wrocław, Magdalena Okulowska, PhD, ARAW CEO),
• Keynote Speeches including AI, innovations, competences and skills of the future, visions and success stories, road to 2030 – how to stay in the lead
• Panel discussions on innovations, digital and energy revolution, with the participation of representatives of local governments, companies, universities, government agencies,
• Premiere of the report on the research and development potential in the agglomeration agency,
• Networking.
EXPO Scene:
• Presentations of the projects
• Competitions
• Panel discussion: The role of the societies and corporations in accelerating of innovations
• The final of the international competition: CEE Startup Voucher
The EXPO event included stands of exhibitors who presented their innovations, inventions and new technologies. Among the exhibitors were companies, including startups, technological parks, universities and scientific clubs.
VC Demo Day:
• Panel discussions,
• Pitching sessions
• Fireside chat
• “Open mic” part
Tech Gala:
Competition for the start-ups, networking and the prize giving ceremony
Conclusion
Held at the iconic Wrocław Congress Centre within the Centennial Hall complex, Made in Wrocław 2024 exemplified the power of collaboration in driving innovation and knowledge sharing. The event not only highlighted the region’s potential but also reinforced its role as a hub of creativity and technological advancement.
