Wrocław among the largest research and development centers in Poland. The Report. 28% of all Polish young technology companies are registered in Lower Silesia.

27.10.2024

Significant investments in research and development and an increasing number of companies from the new technology sector – these are the key findings from the report "Research and Development Potential in the Wrocław Agglomeration." The report confirms that Wrocław, the capital of Lower Silesia, is emerging as one of the most important research and development hubs in Poland, attracting 11% of the country’s R&D centers. During this year’s Made in Wrocław conference, the report "Research and Development Potential in the Wrocław Agglomeration," prepared by the Wrocław Agglomeration Development Agency and Antal, was presented for the first time. The study covered 403 companies engaged in research and development activities and allowed a detailed analysis of the R&D sector in the capital of Lower Silesia.

Wrocław companies invest in innovation

According to Artur Skiba, CEO of Antal, the report shows that Wrocław is emerging as one of the most important R&D hubs in Poland, attracting 11% of the country’s R&D centers.

“As much as 20% of companies in the region invest over 30% of their annual budget in innovation, making the city one of the technological leaders in Europe. The 34% growth in the number of companies in the R&D sector over the past few years demonstrates how Wrocław is becoming a key player on the international stage.”
— Artur Skiba, President of the Board, Antal International

Nearly 4 billion PLN for research and development

According to Magdalena Okulowska, President of the Wrocław Agglomeration Development Agency, the capital of Lower Silesia has been attracting attention from investors in the new technology sector for years.

The analysis we conducted shows that R&D expenditure in the Lower Silesian region reached an impressive amount of 3.9 billion PLN in 2022, placing Wrocław among the most dynamically developing hubs in Poland, right after Mazovia and Lesser Poland."
— Magdalena Okulowska, President of the Wroclaw Agglomeration Development Agency

Significant dynamics

As stated by the CEO of ARAW, investments in innovation translate into the competitiveness of the innovation sector.

The report reveals that Wrocław hosts 11% of Polish enterprises with R&D center status granted by the Ministry of Development and Technology. These include the NOVASOME Research and Development Center and the Lower Silesian Innovation Center. In the Lower Silesia region, 663 entities were active in the R&D sector in 2022.

The city also stands out in terms of specialization in various R&D areas. The study found that the main fields are:

1️⃣ Engineering and production (51% of companies)
2️⃣ Information and communication technologies (37%)
3️⃣ Chemistry and materials (16%)

Polish Silicon Valley

Wrocław is the leader in Poland in terms of the number of startups. As much as 28% of all Polish young technology companies are registered in Lower Silesia, with the majority based in the capital of the region. The dynamic growth of this sector is supported by numerous incubators and acceleration programs. Wrocław is home to 30 universities, educating over 105,000 students, of which more than 42,000 are enrolled in fields crucial for R&D. According to research by ARAW and Antal, 79% of companies actively take advantage of academic-business partnerships. Additionally, 58% are involved in offering internships and apprenticeships, and 37% collaborate on joint research projects. Moreover, 60% of companies rate the availability of qualified R&D specialists as good or very good.

The English version of the report is available below.

Report