Innovation in the Air: Young Minds Transform Wroclaw

The Science & Technology category celebrated innovators who are pushing the boundaries of research and applied science in Wroclaw. From groundbreaking medical projects to advanced 3D printing solutions, this category showcased the powerful impact of young minds and scientific creativity. The winners are not only transforming their fields but also contributing to a smarter, healthier future for all.

Rapid Troopers: Engineering for Humanity

One standout among the winners in the Science & Technology category was Rapid Troopers, a student innovation group from Wroclaw University of Science and Technology. Though small in number — just 29 members — this team of young engineers has already earned international recognition for their advanced 3D printing solutions.

Their journey began with the global Make: Able Challenge, which encourages teams to create 3D-printed tools for people with disabilities. The students, inspired by the competition's mission, sought a real-life user in need of such support. Through the Foundation for Active Rehabilitation, they connected with Adam, a man living with quadriplegia, and developed a customized assistive gripper that restored some of his independence in daily tasks.

Their work didn’t stop there. Most recently, they’ve taken on a new project to assist Agnieszka, a woman recovering from a car accident that impaired the use of her arm. The team has designed a near-complete prototype of an orthosis — a supportive device to help her regain functional movement. As team member Sonia Klar explained, they also engineered prosthetic attachments allowing her to hold objects like a cup or cutlery — everyday actions that many take for granted.

P4Health: Revolutionizing Medicine from Wroclaw

Also honored in the Science & Technology category is P4Health, a visionary medical research initiative led by scientists from the Łukasiewicz – PORT Research Institute. With €15 million in funding from the EU’s prestigious Horizon Europe program, the project aims to redefine how we approach serious diseases like cancer and neurological disorders.

The name P4Health reflects its mission: Predictive, Preventive, Personalized, and Participatory medicine. This new model seeks to move beyond the “one-size-fits-all” approach to treatment and instead tailor therapies to each patient’s unique biological and medical profile. The project, under the direction of Dr. Witold Konopka and supported by a skilled team of researchers and international partners from France and the UK, is set to place Wroclaw on the global map of cutting-edge health innovation.

Key to the project’s success is the creation of a biobank — a vast, anonymized database of biological samples like blood, tissues, and cells, linked with patients’ medical histories. This will enable scientists to conduct more precise research and provide physicians with tools to offer targeted treatment plans based on real-world data.

A City of Collaboration and Possibility

The ceremony was not just a celebration of individual achievements — it was a testament to the strength of Wroclaw’s creative and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Many winners, across all categories, echoed similar sentiments: Wroclaw offers not just the resources but also the community spirit that empowers bold ideas to flourish.

From grassroots student projects to internationally funded scientific breakthroughs, the 30 Creative People of Wroclaw 2025 competition reveals the city’s incredible potential as a hub for innovation, technology, and inclusive progress. It’s clear that in Wroclaw, creativity is more than a trait — it’s a driving force for transformation.

The profiles above highlight only two of the winners — the full list of all awardees in the Science & Technology category can be found on this page.