DISCO Lab Krakow Summary

Krakow, May 24, 2024. The recent DISCO Innovation Lab featured valuable insights and discussions on cutting-edge topics in innovation and entrepreneurship. Hosted by the Malopolska School of Public Administration at Krakow University of Economics, the event brought together experts and stakeholders from a variety of fields.

On Day 1, Dr. Piotr Kopyciński welcomed the participants and Dr. Marek Oramus presented an overview of the DISCO project’s current status. The discussion that followed focused on funding opportunities for university-based start-ups in Switzerland and included case studies of successful enterprises such as AirScale and SendMeBag. LPNU explored several start-up assistance approaches with the aim of developing a new innovation ecosystem. The day concluded with a panel discussion on gender inclusion and presentations from Sumy State University’s innovative startups.

On Day 2, participants explored the vision of Krakow’s Nowa Huta as a District of the Future. Jakub Szymański introduced the concept to attract potential investors, which was followed by a sightseeing tour of Nowa Huta’s landmarks. The visit continued with insights into the Economic Activity Zone, a trip to Niepołomice, and a presentation by Jarosław Development Partnership.

The final day was spent discussing new opportunities for collaboration and presenting climate-friendly space technologies and cyber hygiene. Insights were shared by the All-Ukrainian Union of Innovative Space Clusters, the International Cyber Academy, and the Ternopil Regional Council. Dr. Piotr Kopyciński summarized the session and outlined future plans for the DISCO project.

The DISCO Lab in Krakow provided an opportunity for thought-provoking discussions and knowledge exchange, contributing to the project’s objective to foster innovation and collaboration in the region and beyond.