XVIII European Economic Congress [report]

UE Katowice during the event

Day 1, 22 April 2026

The first discussion with the participation of the University of Economics in Katowice, which took place immediately after the inauguration, was entitled "Europe and Its Energy", and dr Borys Budka from the Department of Energy Transformation took part in it. The subject matter of the session concerned, among others, the trends of transformation of the European energy sector, differences in national energy systems and strategies, as well as common processes and phenomena.

In Europe, we have done our homework concerning energy. And, of course, we made very many mistakes - I say this very honestly - in the past years, because we were not prepared for this transformation. We had good ideas, but industry and the economy were not sufficiently prepared for it. First, we wanted to move away from fossil fuels, but we did not have an adequately prepared industry for this. For example, when we invested in electricity, in solar panels, we were in fact investing in China, because many Europeans bought solar panels, but in reality they were produced not in Europe, but in China. (...) And of course one of the biggest mistakes in Germany was closing nuclear power plants, so it was one of the enormous mistakes in the history of Europe. And we must speak about it loudly, because the problem is that we should learn from our own mistakes. And grids are a great example of this. We really need a common electricity market in Europe. This means that we must cooperate, instead of being guided by national interest. I know that this is not common and not very popular in these populist times, that we talk about stronger cooperation, but this is one of the solutions to be independent - to cooperate between all Member States of the European Union - said dr Borys Budka.

In the next session entitled "Artificial Intelligence - a New Revolution", the University of Economics in Katowice was represented by dr hab. Jan Kozak, prof. UE, Head of the Department of Machine Learning. The debates concerned, among others, how AI is changing everyday life, work, communication and relations.

Asked about challenges and opportunities in science, the Professor answered:

We must make sure that we have a way to develop and, firstly, to teach the people who are to use it so that they know what is OK, what is not OK, and secondly, so that companies have somewhere to do it and how to develop, because without this we will not go very far. Without testing, without this type of solutions, we will be standing still. How does this relate to science? (...) We operate on two tracks. That is, firstly science, but secondly we have such a project that will soon start, "AI for all". This is a project which, as the name itself indicates, we want to do for everyone. We are starting with secondary schools, that is, we want to enter a secondary school (...) for two weeks and take their students and teach them computer science and artificial intelligence. This will be much better than the computer science lessons they currently have. (...) So in this direction, but this is also for older people, because for older people it is both a great opening and a great threat. You asked how science enters into this? Exactly, this science allows us to create virtual assistants for these older people, such that they can talk by voice, order medicines, someone will bring these medicines to their home. Well, basically speaking, such a person can gain very great self-sufficiency, but on the other hand, well, they must know what is wrong and must know that they also cannot believe blindly - said dr hab. Jan Kozak, prof. UE.

In the afternoon, a panel entitled "Energy Mix, System, Security" was held with the participation of dr hab. Marzena Czarnecka, prof. UE from the Department of Energy Transformation. The conversations were directed at energy transformation, and above all the development of RES, nuclear energy and energy storage while maintaining system stability. Asked how she assessed regulatory readiness in Poland and in Europe, the Professor answered:

This market is stable, it is just a question of such, as it were, more flexible regulation. (...) This regulation is needed, but it must be "soft". (...) When I started my energy career, there were 57 provisions. I will add that electricity flowed, now there are 47 acts in force. Around 180 amendments to the energy law alone, 1,200 articles to read and my two-volume commentary on energy law is subject to change at the moment of publication. I conduct private sociological research consisting in whether CEOs have ever actually read the energy law. The answer is one hundred percent no. I leave aside the legislative capacity of Article 5 paragraph 4 hg with superscript 1. (...) Let us add also that there are so-called "softs", that is "soft law", which is partly enforced by the European Commission, that is energy policy. (...) Of course, as we say, let us not go towards a complete lack of regulation. This regulation must be stable and it must order certain things. (...) But this regulation, let us agree, must be reasonable. And this reasonableness consists in the fact that provisions cannot be repeated. (...) But returning to, as it were, the truthfulness, regulation is of course necessary, but in those areas that are new, because some of these provisions are simply outdated and, as I say, let us not reverse the Vistula And this is not about demolishing the market. This market (...) deregulated, and in the other part regulated precisely, for example, in the area of flexibility of the grid, storage facilities and such new, as it were, elements that appear in this law.

Day 2, 23 April 2026

The second day began with a session entitled "Competences of the Future", in which the University of Economics was represented by the Head of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovative Management prof. dr hab. Tomasz Ingram. The speakers’ conversations focused on dynamic changes and deficits in the labour market, as well as on preparing graduates to work in hybrid teams, make strategic decisions and develop applied creativity.

Asked how to prepare graduates for work experience in hybrid teams, the Professor answered:

OECD research from recent years shows that we are a little better in terms of such creative thinking than our male and female colleagues from Europe. However, this difference is not terribly large, so I would not exaggerate here. Are we weaker in teamwork? I think there may be a little truth in this, and the problem is in fact the way young people are shaped, the broadly understood way of education, which in many cases is nevertheless based on individual work in an individual code, which then affects the skills and abilities of young people in the labour market (...). When it comes to such challenges related to hybrid work, what competences should there be? Well, above all, the skill or ability of asynchronous communication, that is, such clear conveying of information concisely in written form. (...) Broadly understood social competences that allow effective communication between people. (...) The ability to create certain team rituals that would support functioning in this hybrid model. Will hybrid work go away, or will it stay? I think it will stay with us for a long time, because there is probably no going back anymore, so one has to come to terms with it a little and reject these fears that we have about culture, because it can also be shaped in hybrid teams, only a little differently (...).

Another panel that day, entitled "Universities for the Security and Competitiveness of the Economy", was moderated by HM the Rector prof. dr hab. inż. Celina M. Olszak. Among her interlocutors were:

• prof. dr hab. inż. Marek Gzik, Minister of Science and Higher Education,
• prof. dr hab. inż. Jerzy Lis, HM the Rector of the AGH University of Krakow,
• prof. dr hab. inż. Marek Pawełczyk, HM the Rector of the Silesian University of Technology,
• dr hab. Piotr Wachowiak, prof. SGH, HM the Rector of the SGH Warsaw School of Economics,
• dr hab. Bernard Ziębicki, prof. UEK, HM the Rector of the Krakow University of Economics,
• dr hab. Piotr Bednarek, prof. UEW, Vice-Rector for Finance of the Wroclaw University of Economics and Business,
• dr hab. Łukasz Puślecki, prof. UEP, Vice-Rector for Cooperation of the Poznań University of Economics and Business.

The rectors and vice-rectors indicated that, despite the growing cooperation between science and business, there are still barriers hindering the transformation of research into scalable innovations, emphasising the need for better synergy, more efficient implementations and following proven international practices. They also drew attention to the importance of joint R&D projects for the competitiveness of the economy and the growing role of science in the areas of security and cooperation with industry, especially in the context of production for defence purposes.

At the same time, dr hab. Robert Tomanek, prof. UE from the Department of Transport took part in the session "Mobility and Infrastructure", in which the interlocutors debated, among others, how cities reconcile growing transport needs with climate goals and the comfort of life of residents.

Generally, we have always had many discussions about the Act on Public Collective Transport since time immemorial. I have always had doubts about these statutory obligations. However, replacing rolling stock with electric rolling stock is a fact. Urban transport companies have made enormous progress. We already currently have ranges comparable to those of traditional, combustion-engine rolling stock. And now one can say it this way - it is happening. It is happening and let us look at the aspects of what is happening. Electric rolling stock has lower marginal costs. (...) Of course, there are investments, but later this cost is low. The second thing, very important, is the issue of building resilience. (...) Urban transport companies are currently pioneers in the use of heavy electric transport and this also needs to be used - said the Professor.

The Professor also spoke on the issue of the clean transport zone:

Regarding the Act itself, I would say it this way, from what I am observing at the moment, probably the fourth zone will be created in Katowice. Perhaps it would nevertheless be necessary to standardise certain norms concerning entry into these zones, and not that each city will define it somehow in its own way, in a different way, because this may be the cause of many conflicts. It also seems to me that the sticker system should not be used, that electronic reading and, in connection with CEPiK, vehicle identification would be more convenient for those using it. And this can be done. (...) Improving air quality is improving health.

The next panel held that day with the participation of UE Katowice experts concerned "Geopolitics, Economy, Crises". dr hab. Małgorzata Fronczek, prof. UE from the Department of International Economic Relations took part in the session. The participants of the panel focused on the situation in the Middle East and its long-term consequences both for global energy and raw materials markets and for the security of supply chains, financial markets.

The Strait of Hormuz is a place through which approximately 20% of global oil and gas supplies, this liquefied gas, flow. And this may seem little, but most of the raw material that goes to Asia flows through this strait, so this is the direction most exposed to the blockade that we now have in the Strait of Hormuz. One of such countries that are dependent on this direction, among others, is China, but it is not the most threatened, because there are many countries there that will feel a possible longer blockade much more strongly. China is actually an interesting case, because China, anticipating a certain situation that may appear in this region, accumulated energy reserves for itself. (...) A long-term blockade causes problems on the side of recipients, well, because this is obvious, we will have a shortage of raw material, a rise in prices, which will translate into inflation. (...) Therefore, we have a whole range of negative consequences on the side of recipients, but for suppliers this is also not good news, because admittedly the price will rise, but how to transport this oil, this gas. Storage facilities have limited capacity, so production is limited and this will have long-term consequences. At the moment they may not yet be visible, but even after this strait is unblocked for a long time, if the blockade continues, this situation will not normalise - said the Professor.

The second day ended with the session entitled "Finances of the Future", in which the Head of the Department of Banking and Financial Markets prof. dr hab. Janina Harasim took part. The Professor, together with her interlocutors, debated the tokenisation of assets and new digital forms of payment changing the way the economy is financed. The conversations also focused on fintechs and technologies changing the world of finance, as well as agentisation of digital payments.

In her statement, the Professor referred to Generation Z:

(...) young people, and this is shown by research - for them the issue of security is not the priority. In various studies, when asked about various features: speed, comfort, user experience, cost, security - security is generally in the last place. They cannot estimate the cost at all, because when it comes to payment services, they simply do not see it. However, for them convenience, intuitiveness, comfort are absolutely fundamental. (...) Already today, young people use very simple, intuitive tools and they use them - applications. I am thinking of mobile applications. This is the world they use. For them, someone who uses the desktop version is already a bit of a boomer - because in apps they have everything. (...) We are accustomed to a world where access to financial services, perhaps apart from a personal account, is limited by the entry barrier of having some capital, whereas in the finances of young people or in the possibilities that financial markets already create today, this barrier does not exist. This barrier does not exist in investing in investment funds, shares. (...) One can invest everything, even the smallest amounts of money, and this from the level of an application that is coupled with other applications.

Day 3, 24 April 2026

The last day of the Congress began with the session entitled "Working, Non-working, Automated" with the participation of dr hab. inż. Anna Skórska, prof. UE, Head of the Department of Labour Market Analysis and Forecasting. The speakers, together with the UE Katowice expert, debated, among others, how to create coherent strategies in the labour market that will take into account automation, employment flexibility and the stability of career paths.

In her statement, the Professor referred to the research that was conducted by the Department in which she works:

I have at least a certain thesis, which I will now try to prove. Two years ago, we conducted research within the Department that I have the pleasure of heading and we asked respondents - employees - what concerns they could indicate as the most important when it comes precisely to issues of automation, robotisation and various other elements that cause changes in the labour market, and at the level of such generality, that is, at the moment when this question was asked in such a way: "what threats can you indicate?" it was definitely indicated that automation would in fact cause fewer and fewer jobs, that this threat is real in the perspective of the coming years. However, at the moment when we asked the second question, already more specific, "are you afraid of losing your job? Will your competences be sufficient to keep this job? Will anything change?" Then suddenly it turned out that no, that everything will be as before, that it is a colleague, a female colleague who may lose a job, that it is Mr X, Mr Kowalski who will have to retrain. My competences are sufficient to keep my job, so that the way it is performed, the content of duties absolutely will not change. Therefore, I am getting at the fact that if we speak at the level of a certain generality of such a global perception of automation, digitalisation of work, then respondents, each of us, is aware of what potentially awaits us, but already at the individual level we do not really want to agree with the fact that indeed (...) the necessity to change competences, change profession, change workplace will be the reality that will await not only the next generations, those younger colleagues of ours from Generation Z, from Generation Alpha, which will appear on the labour market in just a moment, but also us, regardless of which age group we are currently in.

At the same time, in the room next door, there was a presentation of the report "Landscape of the Region" authored by dr hab. Tomasz Papaj, prof. UE from the Department of Enterprise Management and dr inż. Tomasz Heryszek from Węglokoks SA. dr hab. Jan Wojtyła, prof. UE, former rector of the University of Economics in Katowice, appeared as a panelist.

The panel entitled "Digital Hygiene", with the participation of dr hab. Michał Kucia, prof. UE from the Department of International Management, was the culmination of the University experts’ speeches during this edition of the Congress. The discussion focused on the impact of behaviours related to the use of information and communication technologies on users’ physical and mental health and social relations, as well as the scale of harms, addictions and their causes.

The problem is not so much in children, but in us, adults. It is we who create this world. In principle, the problem of digital hygiene is not something that happened in the last year. These are the 1980s, when for the first time there are publications, publications based on observations in companies, corporations, larger and smaller, concerning technostress. Computers appeared there for the first time, there appeared an excess of information, overloading. We also, of course, have the cognitive load theory, also from the 1980s. And this problem is growing even more. We have a booster, in the form of COVID, which strongly digitised our world. We of course have remote work. We of course have the need to be responsive to the employer. All of this causes us to be online all the time. We can switch online off from our life, but we are to be online all the time. (...) The problem is that, of course, let us not look for the solution only at the legislator, let us look for the solution really everywhere, that is, good upbringing, that is, ourselves. Of course, legal regulations are very important, but the regulator will not solve anything here. It must simply come from us. Above all, our internal awareness of where we are heading. Technology is not bad. Technology is bad when we are unable to use it optimally. When we think that something is free on the internet. Nothing on the internet is free. If something is free, then we are selling ourselves. It is we who pay with our own attention. We are this currency, so of course every channel wants us to stay with it as long as possible. For this reason, the issue of advertising revenue. (...) - emphasised dr hab. Michał Kucia, prof. UE.