The premiere of the report on Wroclaw's ICT sector. What scenarios can we expect in 15 years?

The information and communication technology (ICT) sector is one of the most important pillars of the Wrocław agglomeration's economy. Taking into account the dynamics of change observed in recent years and its impact on the ICT sector, the Wrocław Agglomeration Development Agency in cooperation with infuture.institute has attempted to create future scenarios for the sector. The result of the work is the report 'Digital Co-creation and other scenarios for the future. ICT development in Wroclaw Agglomeration 2037,' which was premiered at Basecamp on February 28, 2023.

We are all aware of the important role of the ICT industry in the reality around us and its impact on other sectors of the economy. At the same time, we observe dynamic phenomena that force this industry to constantly develop and adapt to new realities. In 2019, when we conducted the last study of the sector, that is, before the pandemic and a series of socio-economic changes, we were dealing with completely different conditions than today, barely a few years later.

Magdalena Okulowska, president of the Wroclaw Agglomeration Development Agency

Current situation and future changes

The report presents the current situation of the ICT industry and the changes taking place in it. It also shows the prospects for development based on scenarios for its future.

Dynamic social and economic changes prompt strategic planning. The IT industry is currently influencing all sectors of the economy. Its strong position in the future is important for us. The report prepared in cooperation with all stakeholders in the ecosystem will not only be the basis for joint projects, but also an important contribution to the 2050 strategy we are currently working on.

Jacek Sutryk, Mayor of Wroclaw

40 local companies participated in the project

As part of the work on the project, infuture.institute conducted an analysis of historical signals of change, including an in-depth analysis of found data, reports, articles and other sources on the future of the ICT industry. Qualitative and quantitative research was also conducted, such as research workshops, expert interviews and a series of quantitative surveys. Forty local companies were invited to participate in the work.

The analysis of the results of all the surveys made it possible to develop four future scenarios for the ICT industry in the Wroclaw agglomeration in 2037. Based on the foresight methodology, four scenarios were created: preservation of the status quo, transformation, collapse, growth.

Aleksandra Kulinska from infuture.institute

The publication consists of two main parts:

Part I (Today) indicates the changes and the current situation of the ICT industry - including the turn to globalization, the decline in the share of Polish capital, the changes taking place in the processes implemented by companies or the increase in the share of the implementation of a particular type of service. Factors supporting and hindering the development of the ICT industry in the Wroclaw agglomeration were also examined;

Part II (Tomorrow's) represents four scenarios of the future, which are also possible paths to get from point A (today) to point B (tomorrow).

Cooperation between education, administration and business needed

Among the most important conclusions and recommendations from the report is the need to develop increasingly effective forms of cooperation at the interface of education, administration and business, based on open dialogue and mutual understanding. There is also a need to build a flexible strategy for the Wrocław agglomeration, the courage to act, as well as permission for experimentation and failure.

Working on the report has allowed us to identify many important factors that affect the sector and organize our thinking about it. I hope that this publication will become a pretext for further conversations about the ICT industry and new initiatives at the intersection of business, science and the city.

Magdalena Okulowska

The content of the report was prepared and compiled by infuture.institute. The report was published by ARAW and Invest in Wroclaw in cooperation with the City of Wroclaw as part of the 'Przedsiebiorczy Wroclaw' project. The content partners of the publication are: ITCorner, SoDA, ABSL. Strategic partners are: CBRE, Michael Page, SoftServe, Wiewiórski Legal.