The Cluster Garden Conference, which took place on April 16th, was divided into three discussion panels and a workshop. The official opening of the conference was by Ms Patrycja Klarecka – the President of PARP, who briefly presented the 'ClusterFY' project and the role of PARP in financing and promoting clusters in Poland as well as in development of the methodology for assessing key clusters, and in disseminating knowledge about them.
Introduction and Panel Discussion 1
The introduction to the first panel discussion was by Ms Justyna Choińska Jackiewicz (a representative of the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Technology), who detailed the cluster policy in Poland, i.e. in the context of a Working Group created to develop the cluster policy. Participants of the conference had the opportunity to learn about the criteria for the selection of Key National Clusters in Poland, as well as about clusters that currently hold such a status.
The first panel was dedicated to cluster history, activities, challenges and the future. Topics that the participants discussed included various cluster models in Poland and the EU, as well as a coherent approach to state policy, different models of the formation and impact of factors/stimulators (various factors, not just public funds) on the establishment and functioning of clusters.
Five panellists participated in the first discussion panel:
1. Krzysztof Krystowski – Silesian Aviation Cluster
2. Paweł Nowicki – BTM Mazovia Cluster
3. Alberto Baldi – BioPmedClustrerPiemonte
4. Emily Wise – ClusterFY expert
5. Piotr Kryjom – Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP)
Panel Discussion 2
The second panel discussion was focussed on KETs/Smart Specialization theory and practice – the history of implementation, results and future of Smart Specialization and good practices.
Four panellists participated in the second discussion panel:
1. Vilma Puriene – ClusterFY expert
2. Anu Manickam – ClusterFY expert
3. Marek Swieczkowski – Logistics & Transport Cluster
4. Tomasz Nasiłowski – Polish Center for Photonics and Fiber Optics
Panel Discussion 3
The third and last panel discussion zoomed in on the topic of Industry 4.0: The fourth industrial revolution – the impact on business transformation and changing the way clusters function.
Six panellists took part in this panel discussion:
1. Krzysztof Zaręba – Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Technology
2. Paweł Chaber – Polish Agency for Enterprise Development
3. Krzysztof Lipiec – CEO of PIAP-ScienTech Sp. z o.o.
4. Piotr Popik – ESCA expert
5. Christoph Reiss-Schmidt – Clusterland, Business Upper Austria
6. Vaidas Gricius – Ministry of Economy of Lithuania
Workshop
As the last part of the 'Cluster Garden' Conference in Warsaw, the participants took part in workshops moderated by Mr Krzysztof Szulc (Cluster expert) and Mr Christoph Reiss Schmidt (Business Upper Austria).
