Poland

IC²'s GCG was engaged in a four-year project to provide economic development programs for Poland. The Institute’s programs to develop the country’s knowledge-based economy were selected by the Polish government to be part of work funded through the Lockheed Martin-Poland offset agreement. The agreement is the result of a purchase of jet fighters by Poland from Lockheed Martin.

Accomplishments:

An assessment of technology commercialization in Poland

• Identified the infrastructure and systems that exist in Poland to support science and technology commercialization and the gaps and barriers to developing a strong high tech sector

• Conducted close to 100 interviews in Warsaw and Łodz

Established 2 new technology business incubators in Warsaw and Łodz

• Brought potential Polish incubator managers to the Austin Technology Incubator for 4 weeks of knowledge transfer and training

• Provided customized implementation support for 3 months at Polish sites

• Launched the incubators and assisted in bringing in new businesses

Transferred the UT Master of Science in Science and Technology Commercialization degree program to the University of Łodz, Poland

• Brought 24 Łodz faculty members to Austin for 2 weeks each for training in the 12 courses of the MSSTC program

• Provided curricular materials for all courses

• Providing online materials for further faculty review during first program year

• Brought Łodz MSSTC director to Austin for training in program management processes and procedures

• Established a scholarship fund Established an institute at the University of Łodz, modeled after IC² Institute

• Documented 27 years of IC² experience and know-how on research, networks, fellows, incubation, education, conferences, training, and publications related to technology commercialization and entrepreneurship

• Engaged in online review of all documentation with Łodz institute directors

• Customized documentation of IC² knowledge for the Polish environment

• Provided 2 weeks of intensive training and meetings for Łodz institute directors Delivered the Accelerated Technology Assessment and Commercialization workshop to Polish entrepreneurs and trained Łodz faculty in the workshop curriculum.

• Trained 40 entrepreneurs and faculty in methodology for obtaining reliable market information on potentially commercial technologies in a relatively short time

• Provided workshop curriculum to University of Łodz for future implementations in Poland

For the duration of the Poland project, an IC² GCP Poland Business Development Team was engaged to facilitate further technology-based economic development in Poland. This team continued to work on developing Polish technology businesses by establishing ties between US and Polish technology companies and research institutions and providing guidance and support to Polish technologists.