BIP
Synergy Awards 2026: applications open for the business competition as part of Made in Wroclaw
As of June 2, applications are open for the new Synergy Awards 2026 competition. This brand-new initiative is being organized as part of this year’s edition of Made in Wroclaw 2026, the largest technology and business conference in the region. The award aims to recognize teams and organizations that create new value in business through collaboration.
On October 27–28, the heart of Poland’s technology and business ecosystem will once again beat in Wroclaw. Entrepreneurs, investors, startup founders, innovators, and scientists from around the world will gather in the capital of Lower Silesia for a two-day celebration of business and innovation.
Collaboration Creates New Value
Although the event has been held regularly since 2017 and has become one of Poland’s most recognizable business conferences, this year marks the first time that the Synergy Awards will be presented. The awards are a unique distinction that honors not individual entities but teams and organizations that generate new value by working together.
“The introduction of the Synergy Awards is a direct extension of the ‘Power of Synergy’ concept that accompanied last year’s business meetings in Wroclaw. Back then, we showed the direction; today, we are taking it a step further by creating a space where such relationships can be genuinely recognized and rewarded. We want to demonstrate that the greatest innovation potential lies not in isolated successes, but in the sum of our collective efforts, at the intersection of diverse competencies and sectors.”
Magdalena Okulowska, President of the Management Board of the Wroclaw Agglomeration Development Agency
Synergy Awards 2026 Categories
The awards will be presented in five categories:
1. Business × Business
- Partnerships between corporations, fast-growing companies, or startups. This category is dedicated to projects that drive economic growth, create modern business models, and develop innovative market ventures.
2. Business × Science
- The meeting point of theory and practice. This category recognizes initiatives that connect businesses with universities or research and development institutions. Key factors include knowledge transfer, technology exchange, and successful commercialization of innovation.
3. Business × Society / Education
- Business with a human face. This award is intended for companies collaborating with social and educational organizations. The focus is on developing human capital, building new skills, and creating a positive impact on local communities.
4. Business × Public Sector
- Working hand in hand with public administration. This category is for projects that contribute to urban development, smart city solutions, improved public services, and exemplary public-private partnerships.
5. Synergy First
- A category for visionaries and pioneers. It welcomes interdisciplinary, cross-sector projects with unconventional structures or transformative, experimental characteristics, often initiated by academia or the public sector without a dominant business partner.
Who Can Apply?
The competition is open to initiatives—both ongoing and completed—that result from a partnership between at least two independent organizations or individuals.
Applications do not have to be submitted by the project creators themselves. They may also be submitted by a project partner or even by a third party who recognizes the positive outcomes of the collaboration.
Facts Matter More Than Promises
The winners will be selected by an independent panel of experts. The evaluation criteria will focus primarily on the real-world impact of the initiatives. Key considerations include the quality and depth of the partnership, the project’s contribution to the development of Lower Silesia, and the durability and scalability of the results achieved.
The competition’s substantive partner, responsible for ensuring the integrity of the process and the reliability of evaluations, is the law firm SDZLegal SCHINDHELM.
“We are taking on this role with great enthusiasm. We know that Lower Silesia is rich in valuable partnership initiatives, so selecting the most effective ones will undoubtedly be a demanding yet fascinating task—one that will provide the entire market with many valuable business lessons.”
Tomasz Szarek, Managing Partner, SDZLegal SCHINDHELM
Key Dates and Competition Timeline
- June 2, 2026 – Official opening of the online application system
- September 20, 2026 – Application deadline
- October 28, 2026 – Grand Finale and Synergy Awards Gala
Application forms and the competition rules are available on the Made in Wroclaw Synergy Awards website.
Made in Wroclaw 2026 – Gala During a Major Celebration of Business
The Synergy Awards Gala will be the highlight of this year’s Made in Wroclaw conference, a true celebration of business and innovation.
On October 27, the event will kick off with VC Demo Day, dedicated to startups and international investors. On October 28, attention will turn to the main Made in Wroclaw conference, the open EXPO zone, and the evening gala, where the first-ever winners of the Synergy Awards will be announced.