Panel Discussion

Following the opening ceremony, an introductory panel took place, featuring the following distinguished guests:

• prof. dr hab. inż. Jerzy Buzek – Former President of the European Parliament (2009-2013), former Prime Minister (1997-2001), and Member of the European Parliament (2004-2024);
• dr Borys Budka – Chair of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, Member of the European Parliament;
• Michał Dąbrowski – CEO of the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development;
• prof. dr hab. inż. Marek Gzik – Secretary of State, Ministry of Education and Science;
• Konrad Howard – Co-founder of Booksy and Chief Innovation Officer at Booksy.

In a debate, moderated by Agata Konarska, the University of Economics in Katowice was represented by Member of the European Parliament dr Borys Budka, from the Department of Energy Transition. 

When asked by the moderator about the actions needed to significantly impact the development of European regions, including Silesia, dr Budka responded:

"The most important thing is to halt unnecessary regulations. […] The European Commission should present a five-year plan and avoid surprising businesses. Legal stability equals investment stability. And without investment, there is no way for Europe to be competitive. The second crucial element is security, including energy and raw material security, the security that affects our families. Here, a major challenge for the European Union is to build networks that will enable the transfer of energy from countries that have cheap energy, that have a surplus of this energy, and that are geographically well-positioned, such as Spain. But these are also challenges within countries […] Therefore, it is so important for institutions that are subordinate to the state in the governmental sense to cooperate with local governments. I am a strong advocate of truly using the principle of subsidiarity. The state should only intervene where private businesses and local governments are unable to do so."

Small or Global: Polish Companies on the International Market – Sharing Experiences

Moderated by dr hab. Małgorzata Fronczek, prof. UE, Department of International Economic Relations, this panel focused on Polish companies, both large corporations and SMEs, that have successfully expanded their operations to international markets, transforming from local businesses into global brands.

Invited guests shared their stories of international expansion, outlining the strategies that contributed to their global success. Panel participants exchanged experiences, tips, and best practices related to conducting business on international markets. Additionally, the discussion covered topics such as: eliminating barriers to trade and investment in foreign markets, legal aspects of expansion, supporting businesses in internationalizing their operations, and practical tools to assist businesses in this area.

Invited Participants:

• Agnieszka Kolanowska - Managing Director at Smart Solutions Polska;
• Małgorzata Panek-Kasińska - Founder and President of MK Business Link Sp. z o.o.;
• Krzysztof Rybus – Owner of Ecco Rail Sp. z o.o.;
• Grzegorz Sinacki - Counselor, Department of Barrier Elimination and Business Relations, Department of Trade and International Cooperation, Ministry of Development and Technology;
• Marta Stelmach - President of the Polish-Tunisian Chamber of Commerce, owner of MS Consulting.

Trends in the Modern Global Economy: Cooperation, Capital Flows, Technology Transfer, and New Challenges of Globalization

The discussion focused on issues such as: Globalization 2.0 and the consequent change in the global economic architecture, international economic cooperation and forms of economic ties, as well as supply chain disruptions in global supply chains, and changes in consumer trends and labor markets. Participants also discussed the increasing importance of digital transformation and automation in the manufacturing sector and forecasted the economic situation for 2025, taking into account the situation on Poland's eastern border.

Invited participants:

• dr inż. Karol Jędrasiak – Deputy Director of Technology Transfer, Academy of WSB;
• Christian Lassnig - Commercial Counselor, Austrian Embassy - Commercial Section;
• Jadwiga Stoklosa - Vice President of the Polish-American Chamber of Commerce of Florida and America, Inc., Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Central and Eastern Europe;
• Leszek Stypułkowski - Member of the Management Board, Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego;
• Tomohiro Yoden - Deputy Director General, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Warsaw;
• dr hab. Rafał Żelazny, prof. UE – President of the Katowice Special Economic Zone S.A.

dr hab. Rafał Żelazny, prof. UE: "I would like us to face some uncomfortable truths. Suddenly, we all realized that there are some problems with having a supply chain that relies on importing goods from China or India. And interestingly, the Chinese are conducting a very effective policy of fighting Covid, by sealing the entrances to their skyscrapers, and by dealing with this Covid very effectively, they caused the supply chains to be disrupted not only in the automotive industry. We, in the eurozone, experienced a huge problem with this particular sector. But also in semiconductors. It seemed to us all that development based on a very clever model, which was invented a long time ago, was working well. Namely, if you are a country with cheap labor, we transfer, so to speak, simple production to you. You do it cheaper, we bring it to us and it becomes a product sold with a certain margin. We are a capital-intensive country. Capital is expensive for us and this has been described in many places. This model suddenly, before our very eyes, of course due to the pandemic, the war, and other factors, collapsed and everyone realized that it is necessary to locate key elements of the value chain in safe places, let's call it that. That is, quite close to each other. Not necessarily, of course, in the country we are in."

The discussion was moderated by dr hab. Iwona Pawlas, prof. UE, Department of International Economic Relations.

International Public Procurement – A High-Stakes Game

During the panel, participants discussed the opportunities for Polish SMEs to participate in international public procurement and procurement by international organizations, as well as the development of competencies in this area. They shared tips on building tender offers and discussed issues related to the appeals procedure.

The discussion was moderated by dr hab. Grzegorz Głód, prof. UE, Curator of the Entrepreneurship and Finance program at the Department of Entrepreneurship and Management Innovation. 

Investment Support Instruments and Tools in Foreign Markets – A Guide for Entrepreneurs and Investors

The panel focused on current challenges related to foreign investment. The discussion revolved around outbound investments, including adaptation to market conditions, the selection of foreign investment destinations, and the motivations for expansion. Entrepreneurs learned about the types of support they can expect when financing investments and about strategies for attracting foreign investors.

The discussion was moderated by dr Rafał Świtała from the Department of International Economic Relations.

October 30, 2024

Education and the Development of Digital Competencies: What Digital Competencies are Essential for Modern Leaders and Employees?

Digital competencies are a crucial set of skills that allow us to function in a society increasingly dominated by digital technologies. Digital competencies are a prerequisite for improving the quality of life, social cohesion and well-being, enhancing the competitiveness and innovation of economic entities, and the success of the Polish economy. During the discussion, guests answered questions about how to teach digital competencies to enable leaders and employees to take advantage of the opportunities offered by technological changes, how to prepare for the risks and threats associated with the misuse of new technologies, and how to prevent social, economic, educational and cultural inequalities through education.

Invited participants:

• Wojciech Drabko - CEO, Association of Employers of Innovative, Advisory and Development Companies INDORO
• dr hab. Magdalena Gurdek, prof. AH - Vice-Rector for Education, Humanitas Academy
• prof. dr hab. inż. Marek Gzik - Secretary of State at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education
• dr Joanna Strzelczyk-Łucka - Vice-Rector for Education and Professor at the University of Silesia, Chair of the Lifelong Learning Committee at the Silesian Federation of Polish Entrepreneurs
• dr hab. Rafał Żelazny, prof. UE – President of the Board, Katowice Special Economic Zone S.A.

Business and science. Cooperation between vocational schools, universities and enterprises, knowledge transfer and shaping the future.

This panel was dedicated to the role of modern technologies in the educational process and their impact on the future of education. Panel participants discussed, among other things, how digital tools, artificial intelligence and virtual reality are revolutionizing traditional teaching methods, increasing the efficiency and accessibility of education. Experts also presented the challenges and benefits of implementing technology in schools and universities, and addressed issues related to the development of digital competencies. The panel was a forum for discussion on the future of education and preparing students for the demands of the modern labor market.

Invited participants:

• Damian Bereska – CEO of VRTechnology
• Radosław Gałka – CEO of Dig in Vision,
• dr hab. Marcin Lis, prof. AWSB - Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Cooperation with the Environment, Academy of WSB
• Elżbieta Modrzewska – Deputy Silesian Education Superintendent
• Janusz Puzoń - Director of the Powertrain Unit, Stellantis Tychy
• Aleksandra Zajusz Wayda - Director of Silesia Smart Systems, Coordinator of the EDIH-SILESIA Project,
• Zbigniew Zalas – Director of the Vocational Training and Continuing Education Center in Sosnowiec,
• dr hab. Rafał Żelazny, prof. UE – President of the Board, Katowice Special Economic Zone S.A.

Why does a city need to be smart to be an attractive place to live and work?

Smart solutions can play a key role in improving the quality of life, simplifying many urban processes, increasing the efficiency of resource management and enhancing residents' comfort. However, a city can also be friendly and comfortable for residents thanks to other factors such as the availability of green spaces, well-developed social infrastructure, security, culture, education and public spaces. During the panel, we will discuss which factors are key to significantly improving the daily functioning of residents and the attractiveness of the city.

dr Jolanta Gałuszka: Smart city is a fairly old idea, and the definition itself has been evolving since 2000. The first binding UN document appeared in 2015 and there the idea of a sustainable goal appears. When it comes to Smart City, we are interested in point 11 of this document, which states that we should make cities safe, resilient and sustainable. Of course, we are talking about climate resilience. Then there was a very rapid development of high technologies, so now we strive for this definition to be realized in practice in the form of a smart economy, smart people, smart governance, smart economic growth and a smart society that understands and accepts this idea.

Invited participants:

• Arkadiusz Chęciński – Mayor of Sosnowiec
• dr Jolanta Gałuszka – lecturer at the Department of Public Finance, University of Economics in Katowice
• Ewa Lipka - Vice President, Member of the Board, Katowice Special Economic Zone S.A
• Wojciech Łaptaś - Deputy Director of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, City of Krakow
• Katarzyna Kuczyńska-Budka - Mayor of Gliwice
• Jacek Sikorski – Regional Sales Manager POLKOMTEL Sp. z o.o.
• More information

More information and the full program can be found on the website.

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