Acceleration! The origin of world class science in Gdansk

Gdansk Life Sciences Center hosted by Prof. Hilary Koprowski Gdansk Science and Technology Park (GSTP) is a new unit established by Pomeranian Special Economic Zone (PSEZ) and Polpharma, aiming to support the development and commercialization of valuable research projects in biotechnology, medicine and health prophylactics. The Center’s activity will be based on help to select partners and financing for inventors and researchers. The President of PZES and the main initiator of the project – Teresa Kamińska – believes, that Polish scientist could change the world, if only they are allowed to do so. – It is worth to mention the Singularity University from The Silicon Valley which has recently launched the Startup Lab Accelerator. Its program was set up on project focused on mankind challenges such as civilization diseases, elderly diseases, personalized medicine and nanotechnology. The launch of our accelerator proofs, that Pomerania with its strategy follows the world trends – President says.

Cooperation with Polpharma will provide not only the support of experts in the field of medical sciences and business, but also the opportunity to test and run projects in company’s world class laboratories. – Business and science together should seek to turn innovation concepts into real solutions, which can be introduced to the market. As the leader of Polish pharmaceutical market in a biotechnology sector we want to share our experience and laboratory potential to support project bringing real benefits to the society. We believe, that the partnership founded today will contribute to increase innovations in Pomerania and the economics of the whole country – concludes Jerzy Starak, President of the Supervisory Board on Polpharma SA.

The opening of Gdansk Life Sciences Center was held during the conference ”From Research to commercialization – Horizon 2020”, which took place in the building of the Polish Space Agency. The event gathered prominent participants such as Prof. Jerzy Buzek – President of the Committee for Industry, Research and Energy in the European Parliament, Prof. Maciej Żylicz – President of the Foundation for Polish Science (FPS) and Bogusław Sieczkowski – Vice-President of Selvita company. All participants were in agreement on the problem of Polish scientists emigration. At the beginning Prof. Jerzy Buzek was talking about the need to accelerate the “education – science – innovation – commercialization” workflow, which in Poland is usually stopped at science stage. He also mentioned the need to change in a verbal area concerning “innovation”, pointing that this neuralgic word is non-specific and could be misleading. Jerzy Starak (Polpharma) was talking about the hope for Polish science related to the change in the higher education law from 2014 regulating decisions and contribution in commercialization process at universities. President’s wish is that Ph.D. projects would be designed for commercialization, not to be put on the shelf. Prof. Maciej Żylicz pointed, that life sciences in Poland, in the contrast to physics, mathematics and astronomy, are still at the average level. Therefore, FPS in focused to select and develop the best ideas. Programs such as WELCOME and HOMING enable Polish scientists to return to the country and start to work at universities, in companies or set up own startup.

During the conference, to the beginning of commercial activity related Szymon Talbierz – the President of Svanvid company specialized in “blue biotechnology”, thus employing marine microorganisms for nutraceutics and cosmetics resources production. – Our first meeting was held in my room, where we had only a rack from IKEA and the only founding was the scholarship, which we spent on pipets. We didn’t even have an autoclave, only a pressure cooker from my mom. I really regret that we don’t start today!

At the end of the official part of the meeting, Teresa Kamińska and Jerzy Starak signed the decision opening the Gdansk Life Science Center.

Soon on the GSTP website will be announce the first call for proposals. Verification process will be held by Business and Science Council headed by Prof. Krzysztof Bielawski, the Director of  the Center of Technology Transfer of the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk. The Council will also include prominent scientists and business representatives, which will bring the skills in partners selection. The Council will evaluate scientific potential of projects and select whose which have the biggest chances for commercial application. For the best ideas, suitable founding sources will be sought. For this purpose, Partners plan to cooperate with institutions experienced in innovations founding, such as Foundation of Polish Science and the National Center for Research and Development.

Monika Kossakowska-Zwierucho

Sources: Polpharma logo, www.gpnt.pl