Made in Wroclaw has kicked off. The 10th edition took place at the Centennial Hall for the first time

Made in Wroclaw is undoubtedly one of the most important events in the capital of Lower Silesia, bringing together entrepreneurs, startups, scientists, and investors. On Wednesday morning, the main part of the 10th anniversary edition was officially opened at the Centennial Hall. This is the first time the event has been held at this venue.

Host Karolina Misztal from the Wrocław Agglomeration Development Agency welcomed the guests. Among them were representatives of city and regional authorities, government administration, business, and academia, as well as a delegation from South Korea. This year’s slogan, “ADAPT. LEAD. REPEAT.” offers a simple formula: react quickly to change, take the initiative, and do so consistently, because development never ends.

Above all, this marks 10 years of discussions, meetings, and ideas. Wrocław and Lower Silesia are not only capable of talking about the future but, above all, of helping to shape it.

Karolina Misztal, journalist, TV host, and PR and marketing specialist at the Wrocław Agglomeration Development Agency, host of “Made in Wroclaw.”

The City and Region Are Committed to Collaboration

Dr. Magdalena Okulowska, president of the Wrocław Agglomeration Development Agency, thanked the participants for turning out in such large numbers. She emphasized how important entrepreneurs, scientists, and innovators are to the region’s economy.

You are the heart of Made in Wroclaw!
Dr. Magdalena Okulowska, president of the Wrocław Agglomeration Development Agency.

The ARAW president also highlighted foreign companies that have permanently established themselves in the region. She also spoke about the need to respond flexibly to change. “A culture of cooperation is our greatest strength, our greatest asset” she emphasized.

Wrocław Mayor Jacek Sutryk referred to the words of Alan Kay, a pioneer of computer science. In his view, they aptly capture the direction in which Wrocław and Lower Silesia are developing.

Instead of predicting the future, it’s better to simply invent it, to create it.

Jacek Sutryk, Mayor of Wrocław.

The mayor noted that the Centennial Hall itself is an example of bold architectural and technical vision.

“Wrocław has always been very innovative and has been ahead of everything and everyone,” he pointed out.

Michał Rado, Deputy Marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, spoke about the strength of the entire region. He highlighted the provincial government’s programs for entrepreneurs: Going Global and Lower Silesian Business Leaders.

These programs help companies promote their achievements, establish contacts abroad, and enter new markets.

Our region is one of the most—if not the most—developed region in Poland.
Michał Rado, Deputy Marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship.

Experts on the Main Stage

The conference program was structured around three areas: knowledge, people,
innovation. The session on knowledge began with a question from the moderator: What is most important for leaders in a world where, thanks to artificial intelligence, one person can do the work that used to be done by 100 people?

Prof. Mikołaj Jan Piskorski, Dean of Executive Education at IMD in Lausanne, sought to answer this question. He explained the development of artificial intelligence using three shapes. The first is a line, meaning a simple chat conversation. The second is a loop, meaning agents that perform successive tasks on their own. The third is a spiral—a situation in which AI improves subsequent models on its own. As he explained, the latest models are capable of continuously performing tasks equivalent to 12–16 hours of human work.

“The spiral rises a little at first—up, up, up—and then it rises higher and higher, faster and faster, and that is precisely what recursive self-improvement is,” said Prof. Mikołaj Jan Piskorski. “Remember: every spiral starts slowly at first, then picks up speed—faster and faster and faster—and at some point, these improved models will really make a huge impact on us,” he added.

“Today, artificial intelligence and new tools can greatly expand the capabilities of individuals” noted Karolina Misztal.

Other speakers will also take the main stage. Soccer referee Szymon Marciniak, a member of the UEFA Elite Referees Group, will discuss pressure, difficult decisions, and controlling emotions at critical moments. Miron Mironiuk, a Wrocław native, founder of Cosmose AI, and graduate of High School No. 5 in Wrocław, will discuss preserving humanity in the age of artificial intelligence. Prof. Maciej Karwowski from the University of Wrocław will speak about fostering creativity.

Among the guests at Made in Wroclaw was also Tomasz Karwatka, a Wrocław-based entrepreneur and investor, co-founder of Divante and Callstack, among others. In a conversation “Stop Kidding Yourself: How to Build a Company Worth at Least 100 Million” he offered advice on how to build companies that will succeed on the global stage. This year, Karwatka was named a winner of the “30 Creative People of Wrocław” award.

Robots and Drones at the Free EXPO

The Centennial Hall also hosted an EXPO zone, open to everyone with free admission. All you had to do was register on the Made in Wrocław website. Until 4:30 p.m., startups, tech companies, and researchers—including those from the Wrocław University of Technology—showcased solutions in robotics, energy, medicine, and urban technology.

Among them were a robot designed to assist seniors at home, a four-legged robot controlled by artificial intelligence, and kites that generate electricity. Drone races took place on Level -1, while lectures and contests with prizes were held on two stages: WRO-HUB and WRO-LAB. In the evening, the Synergy Awards Gala was held

Tuesday Belonged to Startups