Poznań – the City of Innovation of the Future

Bold investments in Poznań are one of the assets behind the city's innovativeness. It is proven by the IT projects which are particularly popular here. Highly developed IT market brings results in the form of modern projects carried out both in the public and private sectors of the city. The effects of these activities can be seen at universities and technology parks, which drive business development.

From a group of projects that have recently been created or developed in Poznań, we present to you the most innovative ones. Check how we are doing IT in the capital of Wielkopolska region!

POZNAŃ WITH THE FIRST QUANTUM HUB IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE

One of new investments is a quantum hub which was established in Poznań. It is the first such facility in Central and Eastern Europe. Under the agreement Poznań Supercomputing and Networking Center (PSNC), affiliated with the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences, joined the IBM Quantum Network. Such a high-level global community brings together more than 180 companies, research institutions, laboratories and start-ups, which are working together towards the development of quantum technology and explore its practical applications.

– The world is changing, and digitization and the Internet are providing to the unprecedented in history acceleration of this process. This also applies to our country. For years, we have been observing the West, trying to reduce the distance that separates us from the local business and scientific solutions. Today we can be not only the best in certain areas, but even the first – says Jacek Jaśkowiak, Mayor of the City of Poznań. – I congratulate the representatives of the government, science, business, and self-government on the cooperation that allowed us to bring about today's event. Because only cooperation, big dreams, vision, and determination can give us an advantage over others. We can be proud that Poznań is once again the place where something begins. And I have no doubts that something great is starting.

Future projects will be implemented in cooperation with other entities of the global IBM Quantum Network ecosystem. Such an investment will enable Polish scientists to develop innovative technologies in the field of quantum computing and work on their practical application in many fields, not only science, but also everyday life. The launch of the hub was also an ideal opportunity for universities – Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań and Poznań University of Technology will create new fields of study related to quantum computer science. This interdisciplinary field will combine areas of knowledge from physics and computer science. This is a breakthrough step towards expanding the quantum ecosystem in Poland.

LEGO IS NOT JUST ABOUT FUN

The LEGO® Education Innovation Studio, opened at the beginning of the current academic year, was also created for a much wider audience. Part of the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science at Adam Mickiewicz University, the special space is a place for engaging education, combining elements of learning, work and play. It aims to stimulate creativity and provide the freedom to ask questions that is sometimes lacking in everyday life, following the principle of 'learning by doing'. Here, real-life challenges are met with a collaborative and fun atmosphere that makes solving them easy and enjoyable.

However, LEIS is not limited to just one age group – it is a place for both older and younger people. The studio hosts seminars and in-service workshops for teachers and students, open lessons led by teaching students and student internships, but also workshops for students and younger audiences. There are also FIRST® LEGO® League tournaments and regular meetings of the Friendly Education Ambassador network.

The innovation studio is a separate room in the faculty building, exclusively equipped with LEGO® Education concepts. This provides an ideal environment for teachers to provide practical skills-oriented lessons. The students, on the other hand, experience an interactive learning environment that brings out their strong sides and promotes teamwork, communication and creativity. The solutions offered by LEIS can also be used for robotics and IT education classes.

NEW SPACE FOR THE CREATIVE INDUSTRY

On May Poznań also welcomed eN Studios. The investor of the project is a private university Collegium Da Vinci. It is a new office space intended for the creative industry, consisting of professional studios for representatives of the advertising, gaming, audio or photo and video industries, as well as for creative and interactive technologies. Professionally equipped studios intermingle with office space, meeting rooms, and conference and workshop rooms. There is also a relaxation area, catering facilities and call boxes. A unique solution ensures cooperation and exchange of experience between companies present in eN Studios.

– At Collegium Da Vinci, for years we have been following the principles of practicality and interdisciplinarity as the driving forces behind the development of people and companies. eN Studios is the realization of these visions, the quintessence of our ambitions and the realization of Collegium Da Vinci's core value – curiosity. It is a perfect place to discover the possibilities of technology and your own creativity, but also to build your business and contribute to the development of Poznań and the province. We are convinced of the potential of this place and are extremely excited about the opportunities it will open up for the creative sector and the ICT industry –– says Krzysztof Nowakowski, rector of Collegium Da Vinci.

 In the nearly 300-square-metre Motion Capture studio, a gaming space with the equipment needed for object scanning or VR production will be waiting for game designers and producers. The possibility to use Performance Capture technology, which enables simultaneous sound recording, is also something to be proud of. eN Studios was the first studio in Poland to do so. In turn, the 120-metre photographic studio with a cyclorama is one of the largest facilities of its kind in Wielkopolska. Those interested will be able to fully realise the recording of a music video or film here, using modern equipment adapted for each type of film production and full lighting.

 Sound engineers will also find things to do at eN Studios, which has one of the largest audio spaces in the country. It offers the opportunity to record both bands and soloists, voiceover recordings, podcasts or even professional film sound and post-production.

TECHNOLOGY PARKS AS A SOURCE OF INNOVATION

For many years, the Poznań market has also been developing dynamically thanks to the support of technology parks. These include Poznań Science and Technology Park, Poznań Technology and Industry Park, YouNick Technology Park and Eureka Technology Park. They have a significant impact on the economy, which receives research support that ensures the development of entrepreneurship based on knowledge, research, results of scientific works and discoveries. Comprehensive B2B services, development and investment programmes are also an important stimulant. By means of international cooperation, the parks make it possible to actively support companies introducing new technologies and solutions. They are the ideal point for anyone looking for innovative solutions.

The city of Poznań is constantly working on the development of the IT sector, which is one of its unquestionable assets. The cooperation with universities and technology centres is another step towards creating innovative climate of the city, friendly to new investments. More information is available at poznan. pl/inwestycje.

This article comes from magazine:
FOCUS ON Business #5 July-August (4/2022)