Regional Valley Agenda Poland
The results of regional analysis and activities will be fixed in a local valley agenda to serve as a regional guideline. The local valley agenda will be presented at the International Eco4Life meetings and discussed with International Advisory Board in the frame of the BSR strategy. It will also contain recommendations for a future regional supporting measures. The agenda is supposed to be fixed as a formal agreement by a regional consortium that unites administration, politics, academic research, entrepreneurs and companies. With the regular exchange of experiences between the
partner hidden obstacles in one region could be solved by learning from best practise in the other regions.
REGIONAL VALLEY AGENDA PROKECT PARTNER 2
1. Introduction Life Science and Cleantech in Western Pomerania, Poland
Life science is broadly defined group of science fields, which by definition apply to living organisms, including humans, animals and plants. This group includes biology, biotechnology, genomics, proteomics, pharmacy and biomedicine and bioinformatics. The main area of Life Science application is biotechnology, which in conjunction with the use of innovative solutions that improve the efficiency of their use creates an area of activities under the name of the bioeconomy. Bioeconomy covers all sectors and related services that produce, process or use biological resources in any form. In the area of bio-economy are also included issues of energy from renewable sources, as well as manufacturing processes of other industries.
Bioeconomy area is one of the pillars of the potential of the Western Pomeranian companies. Companies included in the ranks of the bio-economy, with its headquarters in Western Pomerania province are mainly micro-enterprises, employing less than 10 employees. As you can see Bioeconomy focuses mainly outside the main economic centers of the region. This is, of course, due to the fact that major activities in this sector are related to agriculture and forestry.
Western Pomerania is a region of relatively low innovation, comparing both to the country, as well as to other regions of the EU. One of the key indicators of innovation and scientific potential of the region is the number of reported and granted patents and proprietary rights.
Transport availability of the region is its greatest asset, which affects the overall assessment of its ability to attract investors, both domestic and abroad. Western Pomerania has in this respect undoubted strengths. This is an area located at the crossroads of different cultures, on the trail of important transport links, with two large urban centers with developed cultural and educational institutions, in natural and environmentally attractive coastal area, with a high afforestation and attractive in terms of recreation areas of the lake district. Western Pomerania, with the availability of communication, is an attractive region for direct recipients of Germany and Scandinavia.
Due to its geographical location and the resulting unique potentials to the country, the area of maritime activities and tourism are the most distinctive and unique areas in the Western Pomerania is looking for its identity. A different situation applies to the area of Life Science and bio-economy, which are areas in which the other provinces in Poland and EU regions are also searching for their regional expertise.
2. Unique Selling Positions in BioEconomy and LifeScience for Western Pomerania
A different situation applies to the area of Life Science and bio-economy, which are areas in which the other provinces in Poland and EU regions are also searching for their regional expertise.
The overall potential of scientific research in Western Pomerania is not particularly significant. But there are major research centers here, or leading research centers. As you can see relatively large amount (nearly 40%) of the investment relates to the areas of Life Science, which is a strong position in this field in the region. Scientific potential in the field of Life Science focuses mainly on public university located in the capital of the province of the region. Szczecin is the main center of competent researchers working within the Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin University and the Western Pomeranian University of Technology. Within these units, or in combination with them following institutions important for the development of the Life Science work in the region. As can be seen, in Western Pomerania Life Science sector is certainly one of the few areas where the region has a chance to break through on the national and European field.
3. SWOT analysis
The conclusions of the market analysis for LifeScience and Bioeconomy, the workshop discussions and outputs led to the following SWOT analysis for the Western Pomerania in these fields for the Regional Valley Agenda:
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Strength
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Weakness
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Risiks
è Risk not to maintain the innovation score for further development of the life science sector |
Chances
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4. Evaluation of market study and workshop results
The Expert Panel BioEconomy Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, initiated at the Eco4Life Workshop in June 2013, compromises stakeholders from Biomass productions and processing, representatives of bioeconomy animal task forces, bio refineries (plant use as raw material for plastics, food ingredients and cosmetic industry, especially manufacturers of active ingredients/extracts), waste treatment, and other stakeholders.
This Expert Panel strives for close cross-border collaboration with its geographic neighbours, as Region of Skane, Sweden and collaborated with the West Pomeranian Bioeconomy Cluster, at the Conference on Bioeconomy, Aknklam 31th October 2014 within the framework of Eco4Life.
The Conference highlighted a close collaboration between both regions for the common utilization of biomass ressources.
- 5. Recommendations for regional development
The bioeconomy sector is so far, mainly outside the main economic centers of the region. This is, of course, due to the fact that major activities in this sector are related to agriculture and forestry.
è Better integration between the reserach centers in Szczeczin and Koszalin with the rural ares in common technology transfer projects
Bioeconomy has a global perspective and requires vast investment in innovation portfolios. Thus, a transnational approach, open innovation processes and public private collaboration are key success factors for the setup of a knowledge based bioeconomy in the EU.
è Closer cooperation in the field of bioeconomy is pointed out with Germany (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) and Sweden (Skane Region) to exploit comprehensively the potential of bioeconomy for the SME development and support in the region
Bioeconomy represents an interface between such topics as safe and healthy food (lifeScience & agriculture) and environmental science/Green Valley
è Strengthen the mutual collaboration between healthy and safte food and lifeScience within the framework of an bioeconomy approach
Eco4Life Contact Point Szczecin,
December 2013,
amended September 2014
