Łukasiewicz Research Network - PORT Polish Center for Technology Development in Wroclaw with new space for science and business

The agreement on additional equipment for the institute was signed on April 4 this year in Wroclaw. The notarial deed was signed by Mariusz Jerzy Golecki, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Development and Technology and Andrzej Dybczynski, PhD, Director of Łukasiewicz - PORT.

- The transfer of the property rights will enable the Institute to continue the efficient pursuit of public goals, but also to restore the objects of exceptional historical value located in this area to their former glory. Importantly, it will improve working conditions for the scientific staff and allow for an increase in the potential of research activities in close cooperation with industry, in the interests of further dynamic development of new technologies. The new owner, which will be the Institute, an institution of high scientific status, will also guarantee the maintenance of this historic complex as an integral whole

- says Mariusz Jerzy Golecki, PhD, Deputy Minister of Development and Technology.

Łukasiewicz - PORT takes over Pracze Campus

Under the signed agreement Łukasiewicz - PORT has received part of the Pracze Campus, which previously belonged to the Wroclaw municipality. According to a resolution passed by the City Council of Wroclaw, the area was first handed over to the State Treasury, to be finally taken over by the Wroclaw research and development center. As a result, the entire area of the historical complex will be its headquarters.

- Innovation, competitive advantage, social responsibility - these are the features that have always accompanied Łukasiewicz - PORT Wroclaw institute of science and research. We have become convinced of it many times. I am glad that with a modest contribution of the city we are writing together another big chapter in the history of PORT. Enlarging the center with new buildings on the campus will allow us to build new research teams and laboratories, develop even more valuable projects for science and business, and in effect - the residents of Wroclaw and the region

- says Jacek Sutryk, Mayor of Wroclaw.

Reintegration of the Pracze Campus

Reintegration of the campus opens up a long-term perspective for the development not only of the Wroclaw institute and the Łukasiewicz Research Network to which it belongs, but also for science and innovation in the entire region.

- Everyone has probably dreamt of studying on one of the beautiful university campuses that we used to see in film productions. The place we are in already allows you to feel the atmosphere of Harvard or Yale. I'm convinced that the reintegration of the campus and its takeover by Łukasiewicz-PORT will strengthen the trend of gathering the world's scientific elite in Wroclaw initiated by its staff. It is hard for me to imagine a better host for this place

- says Piotr Dardzinski, the president of Łukasiewicz Research Network.

Łukasiewicz - PORT in Pracze Odrzanskie

Located in Pracze Odrzanskie in Wroclaw, Łukasiewicz - PORT has been operating since 2018, occupying part of the Pracze Campus buildings on Stablowicka Street. Surrounded by greenery, the historical brick buildings hide modern laboratories equipped with world-class apparatus, which puts Łukasiewicz - PORT among the best equipped scientific and research units in the country and Europe.

The center is an important player in the international arena, as well as an attractive place to work for Polish and foreign scientists, who see here a chance to implement their research projects in the field of biotechnology and materials engineering. The Centre of Population Diagnostics and the largest population biobank in Poland also operate here.

Creating new research teams and laboratories, as well as implementing valuable projects for science and its cooperation with business require space. That is why efforts to acquire the entire Łukasiewicz - PORT campus started already in 2018.

- The reintegration of the Pracze Campus lays the groundwork for the institute's development in the coming decades. The additional space opens up new possibilities to improve the existing ones, as well as to establish new initiatives - says Dr. Andrzej Dybczynski, Director of Łukasiewicz - PORT Polish Technology Development Centre. - In newly acquired buildings we plan i.a. to create Technological Incubator for startups. Young companies will be able to use advanced research equipment of our institute, as well as support in establishing cooperation with large corporations. The Centre for Technological Education will also be enlarged, implementing educational projects addressed to children and young people

- adds Dr. Dybczyński.

Revitalization of the campus in Pracze Odrzanskie

Reintegration of the campus is not only a chance for Łukasiewicz - PORT, which gains a place allowing further development, but also for the historic complex of buildings erected in the years 1899-1913. So far only a part of the buildings and the surrounding area has been renovated. The remaining buildings - including 4 large ones and several smaller ones, such as a former church, a pump station, a workshop and a dovecote - are currently in poor condition. Restoring them to their former glory and adapting them to their new functions will be a long-lasting, complicated and costly process that will take many years and will be implemented in stages.

- All revitalization investments will be carried out with the utmost respect for the historic architectural fabric and the unique character of the entire complex. We want to preserve the genius loci of one of the most valuable historic building complexes in Wrocław, and at the same time fill this place with the courage to create the future

- assures director Andrzej Dybczynski.

After signing the retrofit agreement, the Łukasiewicz - PORT headquarters expanded by over 4 hectares and buildings with a total area of nearly 21 thousand square meters. Now the Institute's area covers about 12 hectares, and the surface of the buildings is about 50 thousand square meters.

Łukasiewicz - PORT Polish Technology Development Centre

Łukasiewicz - PORT Polski Ośrodek Rozwoju Technologii is part of the Łukasiewicz Research Network, developing new technologies for the needs of industry. The scientific and research activity of the center focuses on material engineering and biotechnology. The Institute supports the development of Polish companies and startups, such as XTPL or SensDx, and at the same time is a reliable and desirable partner for international corporations, such as Roche, Pfizer, Amgen or LG Electronics. The Institute is the Managing Entity of the Virtual Research Institute program.

Łukasiewicz Research Network is the third largest research network in Europe. It provides attractive, complete and competitive technological solutions.
It offers business a unique system of "challenge generation" in which a group of experts selected from among 4,500 scientists accepts a business challenge in no more than 15 working days and proposes an effective implementation solution to the entrepreneur. In doing so, it engages the highest competencies of scientists and unique in Poland scientific apparatus.
Most importantly, the entrepreneur does not bear any costs associated with the development of an idea for research work. Łukasiewicz conveniently meets the expectations of business. Lukasiewicz's potential centers around four main research areas: Health, Smart Mobility, Digital Transformation and Sustainable Economy and Energy.