Lubuskie province is one of the most beautiful regions of the Western Poland, bordering on the German. The area is 13 989 square km is inhabited by 1 008.8 thousand people. Consequently the population density is 72 people per square km. The province is more urban developed than the rest of Poland. It is on the first place in terms of forest areas crossed by many lakes and rivers. Therefore our province is often called the green gate of Poland.

 

The province was established in 1999 from two former provinces-Górzów and Zielona Góra after making small corrections with the neighbouring provinces: zachodniopomorskie, wielkopolskie i dolnośląskie.

 

Lubuskie is located on the intersection of natural routes North-South and East-West what together with developing road networks makes the region well communicated with the rest of Poland and Europe. The most important towns in lubuskie province are: exceeding one hundred thousand people Zielona Góra and Gorzów Wielkopolski and smaller towns including Nowa Sól, Żagań, Żary. The capital city of Poland Warsaw is located about 450 km from our province and the capital city of Germany, Berlin is located respectively 134 km from Gorzów Wielkopolski and 182 km from Zielona Góra.

 

Lubuskie region has well developed trade and services, it extends the number of its hotels and holiday centres, it develops industry. This is the place of international companies’ investments but due to joint efforts our province is a leader together with other regions aware of ecology.

 

Lubuskie is attractive for foreign investors. Such companies find good conditions for development and significantly contribute to the foreign trade of the region. The most important trade partner of lubuskie province is Germany. Almost 70 % of goods and services is exported to Germany by the Polish companies. Other positions are taken by: Italy (4,1%), Holland (3,5%) and Denmark (3,3%). Also in import the Germany contribute to in over 50-percen, among other partners significant positions are taken by Italy (7,4%), Denmark (4,2%) and Czech Republic (3,3%).

 

Lubuskie. It is also the region in which research and development activity receives the least amount of funds. Costing millions of zlotys science and technology parks (Nowy Kisielin near Zielona Góra and Nowa Sól), modern laboratories of renewable energy and agronomic innovations (Sulechów, Kalsk) are to revert this tendency. Surveys show that 70 % of Polish enterprises associate innovation only with research and developmental activities and creating new technological solutions. However, innovation is not only technology, but also a way of thinking, innovative space and organizational culture. Among foreign companies, only 40% of respondents associate innovation solely with technology. Lubuskie will be – according to the Ministry of Regional Development analysis – a quickly developing region, which will soon leave all of its neighbours behind. Because Lubuskie is worth a while.

 

 

Several dozen companies – gems of innovation – function in Lubuskie. Some of them are responsible for creating the newest technological solutions in the world. The most innovative enterprises in the region are based in Zielona Góra and Gorzów Wielkopolski, followed by Żary, Międzyrzecz, Nowa Sól, Rzepin, Sulechów, Świebodzin and Czerwieńsk. The rest of the innovative enterprises were scattered throughout the region.

The majority were small and medium-sized firms, often family-based, which had their own technological thought. Among the dozens of innovative companies, several can be mentioned:

 

• Advanced Digital Broadcast Polska Sp. z o.o. – the world leader in the field of digital and interactive television in the area of designing and producing all kinds of digital television platforms (cable, terrestrial, satellite and IPTV). So far, the company has generated 200 patent applications.

 

• Astec (Zielona Góra) – their product is Magik Development Tools, an integrated system of spatial data management for the following business branches: telecommunication, energy industry, water and wastewater management, gas distribution and transmission, transportation and heating.

 

• LfC (Zielona Góra) – with their implantable spinal system Dero, which in conjunction with a brand new method of surgical treatment improves the effectiveness of the therapy and protects from disability. Their work has generated 12 patent applications.

 

• Mb Pneumatyka (Sulechów) – a supplier of pneumatic products to automotive and industrial branches.

 

• Vetoquinol Biowet Sp. z o.o. – a producer of over 200 various medicine and nutritional supplements for animals. Their scientific research and developmental works the company conducted on basic pharmaceutical substances.

 

• Fabryka Maszyn Goma (Gorzów Wielkopolski) – a supplier of technically advanced machine tools and complete technological lines for joining wood for sawmills, manufacturers of woodwork and wood panels and furniture.

 

• Zakłady Jajczarskie Ovopol (Nowa Sól) – the leading manufacturer of egg products. Processes about 2 mln eggs every day. Has 4 patent applications. The active substances isolated from eggs serve as food and feed additives, and are used in medicine and cosmetics production.

 

 

In addition, research and development centres are active in Lubuskie. They are:

 

• Metrol, in business since 1967. The scope of its activities includes conducting research and development works aiming at designing and, what is more important, implementing new electrical and electronic measuring and control apparatus and industrial automation. They design and construct gauges, controllers, relays and specialized equipment, among others. They are going soon to invest 12 mln PLN in the creation of the Scientific and Technological Park near Zielona Góra.

 

• The LfC company designs and produces surgical equipment. It has its place in the top five of Polish R&D institutions. Their spinal system Dero is a recognizable brand in the global market of spinal implants. It is one of the most experienced companies in obtaining and using EU funds for innovative projects. It is currently working on a minimally invasive method of surgical treatment of the human bone- and neuromuscular system disability.

 

 

Innovative economy is also undergoing several positive changes:

 

• About 500 mln PLN is being invested since the year 2000 in the development of companies bases in the region. The money come mainly from the Regional Operational Programme, which funds innovative projects. For implementing approved by scientific centres, new solutions in the economy of Lubuskie, special points were awarded which increased the chances of receiving UE funding. This means that all projects raise the innovation level of the region.

 

• Another 200 mln PLN is being invested in the cooperation of science and business. It is funded in part by the Lubuski Regional Operational Programme. Institutions are created in order to bring science and economy closer, most notably the Scientific and Technological Park of Zielona Góra University, along with all secondary investments, for a total of 125 mln PLN. The Logistics and Industrial Technology Interior Park in Nowa Sól, for the sum of 15 mln PLN, is created in the economy zone, close to foreign investors. 40 mln PLN are going to be invested into the Lubuskie Centre of Innovation and Agronomic Implementation in Kalsk and 15 mln PLN into a laboratory for energetics and renewable energy in the State Higher Vocation School in Sulechów.

 

• A major role is played by foreign capital, or rather by the international organizational culture, technology and space for innovative development introduced as a byproduct of these investments. For it is true that there is a man at the beginning and at the end of the chain of innovation. And it is he who has the most important role in the process of creating and implementing innovative thought in the region. Which with the innovations created up till now is an important surplus value for foreign investments, more and more of which, find their place in Lubuskie.

 

 

The private sector of the Lubuskie region is characterized by fragmentation. It creates the possibility to be employed in various economy branches, which makes it more resilient to changes in economic situation. Micro enterprises, up to 10 employees, are dominant. The number of small enterprises, from 10 to 50 employees, is on the increase. The main weakness of small firms is their low level of innovation.

 

Business activity of natural persons dominates. In the year 2008, they amounted to 80% of private parties. Four branches of enterprises are the most numerous as follows: commerce and repair are dominant though they lose in importance. Real estate is the second sector and the number of such enterprises doubled in the last 10 years. The third sector is transport, storage and communication. The last one is civil engineering.

 

There is over 100 000 business entities registered in the region which places it on the sixth place in Poland for business entities per capita. In the year 2007, the GDP of the enterprises in Lubuskie reached 87% of the national average, placing Lubuskie in the middle of the roster and if Warsaw was not taken into account it would be equal to nation average. Considering the size and potential of the region it is a good result, equal to a half more populous northern neighbour, the zachodniopomorskie region.

 

The last ten years saw a steady increase of foreign investor’s interest in Lubuskie. The number of companies with foreign capital reaches 38% of the total and with the nation average of 24%, it puts Lubuskie in a leading place in the country. Over a half of the 1,5 bln PLN of foreign capital invested in 2007 came from companies with German capital.

 

The research carried out by the Polish Agency for Foreign Investment (“Poland as a Place for German Investments”) shows that several factors contributed to the decision of investing in Poland: 62% - good market, 26% - low labour costs, 14% - special qualifications of employees, 13% - taxation, 7% - place of production. Considering the fact that the respondents are the dominant investor in the region, it can be said that these arguments show the advantages of the region. Bearing in mind its perfect localization and quickly developing infrastructure, it seems obvious that those are the reasons for so many foreign investments in Lubuskie.

 

In the year 2008, LCD modules and coal were among the most often imported products. The leading export products of the Lubuskie region were: wiring harness and electrical wiring, toilet paper and paper towels, car parts and accessories, furniture, woodwork and LCD TV sets (thanks to TPV in Gorzów Wielkopolski and Funai in Nowa Sól).

 

 

• Gorzów Wielkopolski – the capital city of the region, the seat of the governor. It is characterised by the concentration of modern production facilities with well developed branches of the automotive, chemical, pharmaceutic (animal medicine), electronic (LCD monitors, printed circuits) and machine industry with strong civil engineering and commerce areas. A series of business support institutions function in the northern capital city of the region. There are places where young entrepreneurs can use their knowledge in practice. There are regular fair events: EU funds, innovation fairs, beauty and health Wellness fair and culinary fairs. Gorzów Wielkopolski is also the home of the Western Chamber of Industry and Commerce, a young but rapidly growing business institution.

 

• Zielona Góra – the capital city of the region, the seat of the marshal. The southern capital city of the region is characterized by industrial diversification with a clear dominance of the service sector. There is also a long history of producing food and alcoholic beverages. Furthermore, there is the so called ‘small garden architecture’, luminaires, cosmetics and footwear. However, the city turns a new leaf with something completely different, namely modern – often on a global scale – electronics and information systems. The firms from this area use solutions of high level of innovation.The firms have the support of the University of Zielona Góra and its strong engineering departments and the Technology Transfer Centre. A whole network of business companies and academic institutions functions in the city, both local and national.

 

• Żary – dubbed the capital of Polish Lusatia. The wood, glass and automotive industries dominate there. The firms with Polish capital produce relays, tempered glass and finishing profiles. With the use of the newest technologies, firms with foreign capital deal in woodwork, windows for vehicles, textiles and car roof systems. The foreign capital which has been invested up till now amounts to 500 mln Euros. All institutions have the support of the “Przesiębiorczość” foundation and its loan fund as well as the Lusatia Chamber of Commerce.

 

 

• Nowa Sól – One of the parts of the Lubuskie Tricity along with Sulechów and Zielona Góra. It made a great economic leap in five years. In the 90s it was at the brink of economic collapse but it became one of the strongest industrial points in Lubuskie. Since 2005, many foreign investors (including Germany, France, Japan, Great Britain and Italy) have invested into this small town of forty thousand inhabitants. In its economic zone you can find thriving food production, automotive, electronics, casting, machine and electrotechnics companies. Still new are being built.

Components for popular car models, drive technology, large delivery trucks parts, cars, LCD TV sets and oriental food products can all be found here.

 

 

• Kostrzyn – Słubice Special Economic Zone - an institution working on the area of three regions, which changed the face of Kostrzyn upon Oder and Słubice. Since 1997, it has authorized 175 institutions in the zone. The enterprises based in Kostrzyn and Słubice are characterised by using the newest and most advanced technological solutions. Located near the Poland - Germany border it has a well developed service sector: transport, medicine, cosmetics and commerce. The branches of the industry are: chemical, metal, automotive, timber processing and construction materials.

 

 

 

 

There are sixteen higher education institutions in the region. In December 2009, from almost 30 thousand students, 16,3 thousand were students of the University of Zielona Góra, the biggest higher education institution in the region. It is next year that the University celebrates its tenth birthday but even though young, it climbs the rankings of the best higher education institutions.

 

In 2010, the University of Zielona Góra was placed fifteenth (from twenty five), gaining the upper hand on important academic facilities such as the Warsaw School of Social Psychology, the University of Szczecin and the University of Rzeszów. It was created through the combination of the Zielona Góra University of Technology and College of Education. Today almost 40 courses with 70 specialisations are available in humanities, social studies and science, among others. Many of the courses result in Ph.D.s.

 

The University has developed a network of academic institutions. It is also the Lubuskie Centre for Social Research, conducting research in the west of Poland. A nice novelty is the Botanical Garden created with the help of the University, which attracts thousands of tourist every year. There is also place for small spin-off/spin-out firms in the areas of information technology, advertising and telecommunication.

 

The creation of the Science and Technology Park is the most important project of the University of Zielona Góra in recent years. Research will be conducted there and the resultant designs are to be commercialised. The grand total cost of the creation of the Park and all secondary structures is to be 125 mln PLN.