Everything started with a dream of creating a place in Kielce that would encourage the development of entrepreneurship. Today, after 10 years of functioning, Kielce Technology Park is a recognizable brand. This prestigious site, located at no 6 Oleszwskiego Street attracts many creative people.
Risk Involved in a Project
Over eighty thousand square feet of land, with nearly thirty-two thousand square feet of usable floor space including two Technological Incubators, five halls, four competence centers plus nearly twenty hectares of a development area including 11 ha of tailor-made investment areas – equipped and well-communicated with another 7.5 ha of land in preparation from the resources of the Regional Operational Program of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship for the years 2014-2020 - this is a part of what KTP has achieved over the course of 10 years.
Szymon Mazurkiewicz, the head of KTP, admitted that a decade ago a risk of failure involved in this venture was very high. - There was no proven model that could have been taken from another location and brought to Kielce that would have guaranteed success. Each and every technology parks needs to be 'tailored to' the needs of a local community and region. There are no solutions that can be completely copied from others- notices the head of KTP. First technology parks were established in the last century, in the 40s, and in Poland in the 90s. Later, thanks to the European Union funding, more interest has been shown in using the funding to build sites for economic activity. Kielce decided to seize the opportunity and use the EU funding. However, at first the capital of Świętokrzyskie region needed to find a model, the best solution that could be implemented. - We have been visiting places around the world. Scandinavia, USA, Asia made the biggest impression on us, however, we did not only pay attention to projects that were successful. We focused more on the enterprises that failed and asked why they failed- says Szymon Mazurkiewicz. Thanks to many study tours it was possible to develop the best model of institution supporting entrepreneurship and innovation in Kielce.
Vote of Confidence
In the beginning Kielce Technology Incubator was created - an institution that was to respond to the needs of young people and academics and support their start-up activity. - I remember the time when we shared our initial idea with the public and did not meet with a warm reception. People did not feel the need for this type of activity, however, as the time passed we started gaining more and more supporters from scientific and business fields. They helped us enormously. This is when the decision was made that Kielce will not only have the incubator but a whole technology park- highlights the head of KTP. According to him, without the support form the city government, it would not be possible to continue with the project. - We received a vote of confidence. We could work in perfect conditions that enabled creative work- says the head of KTP and adds that academics from Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce (back then University of Humanities and Sciences in Kielce-editorial note) and Kielce University of Technology.
Millions to Build the Business Ecosystem
The first project that received EU funding was worth eighty six million zlotys. Orange Inc and Technological Center were build with this money- First years of our activity had shown that we had fulfilled the local business needs. Three years had passed and the need for infrastructure and professionalization of services grew. That is why, we decided to further develop the infrastrucutre and in effect, create a so called scale effect - which is an accumulation of firms in a one particular area. A real business ecosystem was created – comments Szymon Mazurkiewicz and adds that the most important year for them was 2012. European Commission evaluation of the enterprise was very positive and granted another twenty million euros that was used to create another incubator – Skye Inc. What is more, the Technology Center was developed and some money was invested in the so called Competence Centers that today support the functioning of all the companies in KTP. Centers like 3D Print Center, Fashion Design, CNC, ICT and Energy Science Center are professional and refined facilities. Energy Science Center is one of a kind place in this region that has been visited by forty thousand people since its opening in November 2015.
The Park has also gained new development plots where new factories are created. That brings new workplaces and newest technologies. B and C zones will be ready to be sold in the first quarter of 2018. At this point utilities and independent geological works are conducted on the site. - Every day we receive letters from entrepreneurs who are interested in the purchase of the development areas. The Lines of Business interested vary from service centers, through sales and production. Among these companies there are the ones that come out of the incubators and would like to continue their development in KTP - adds Szymon Mazurkiewicz.
The Biggest Success
According to Szymon Mazurkiewicz, the biggest success of the last ten years is gaining the trust of the companies. Today KTP is “bursting at the seams”. New entrepreneurs have to sign on the waiting list – Companies appreciate us not only for the quality of the infrastructure we have but also for the synergy effects that are created in the Park. They appreciate the possibility of cooperation with other entities and for services we offer every day. We have created a trend of functioning in KTP in the City. KTP is a very prestigious address today – emphasizes the head of KTP.
From KTP to Technopolis
The development conception of KTP is consistent with the idea of Technopolis – modern, multi-functional business district.- We look at the Park as a multi-functional area of economic activity where not only business-related sites are created. Kindergartens, sport facilities, service outlets and even apartments can be found here. All of them are supposed to make living in this area pleasant. We wish for our entrepreneurs to have all the necessary services within the arm's reach – says the head of KTP.
The first to be built is California Inc. - the biggest technology incubator in East-Central Europe. The investment is worth eighty-six million zlotys. The funding will be provided by the European Union. The new building of fourteen thousand square feet will be ready in 2021. Among its advantages are uniqueness and multi-functionality. The building will also be ecological and build with the use of the newest technology in architecture, construction and property management. Besides modern office spaces there will also be rooms to enable establishing business relations like conference rooms, mentoring rooms and coworking space, as well as laboratory and social facilities. The last floor will become a sports and recreation area. There are also plans to build a logistics incubator.
The Future...
- In the nearest future we would like to make students aware of our existence and activity and through that encourage them to start their own business. We will co-operate with academics to incorporate entrepreneurship science into core curriculum. Commercialization of knowledge is one of the keys to the fast economic development and to the improvement of market competitiveness- says Szymon Mazurkiewicz.
The head of KTP also thinks that there is a need to consider the change of the shareholding structure. The Park could become a commercial law company. The future is also bound to expanding the offer – developing a complex of technology incubators buildings, future headquarters and a place for start-up companies. A huge emphasis will also be put on the development of investment areas. - Our companies are entering next phases of their development. They want to build their own factories. We need to help them – he notices. He adds that the institution will be going towards professionalization of business-related services which will meet the most advanced needs of entrepreneurs. - We would like to be more involved in the processes relating to the internationalization of companies- to help the companies enter foreign markets – lists Mazurkiewicz.
Post Scriptum
Currently there are over two hundred companies that function in KTP. Building of the infrastructure cost eighty-six millon zlotys, and it's extension another one hundred, twenty-six million zlotys. The total amount of funding the entrepreneurs have received in the course of 10 years through the KTP projects is around sixteen million zlotys. The number of new workplaces in the companies located in the Park from the beginning of its existance is estimated to be around one thousand, twelve hundred. Almost three thousand, five hundred people have used the services offered by the Competence Centers.
Risk Involved in a Project
Over eighty thousand square feet of land, with nearly thirty-two thousand square feet of usable floor space including two Technological Incubators, five halls, four competence centers plus nearly twenty hectares of a development area including 11 ha of tailor-made investment areas – equipped and well-communicated with another 7.5 ha of land in preparation from the resources of the Regional Operational Program of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship for the years 2014-2020 - this is a part of what KTP has achieved over the course of 10 years.
Szymon Mazurkiewicz, the head of KTP, admitted that a decade ago a risk of failure involved in this venture was very high. - There was no proven model that could have been taken from another location and brought to Kielce that would have guaranteed success. Each and every technology parks needs to be 'tailored to' the needs of a local community and region. There are no solutions that can be completely copied from others- notices the head of KTP. First technology parks were established in the last century, in the 40s, and in Poland in the 90s. Later, thanks to the European Union funding, more interest has been shown in using the funding to build sites for economic activity. Kielce decided to seize the opportunity and use the EU funding. However, at first the capital of Świętokrzyskie region needed to find a model, the best solution that could be implemented. - We have been visiting places around the world. Scandinavia, USA, Asia made the biggest impression on us, however, we did not only pay attention to projects that were successful. We focused more on the enterprises that failed and asked why they failed- says Szymon Mazurkiewicz. Thanks to many study tours it was possible to develop the best model of institution supporting entrepreneurship and innovation in Kielce.
Vote of Confidence
In the beginning Kielce Technology Incubator was created - an institution that was to respond to the needs of young people and academics and support their start-up activity. - I remember the time when we shared our initial idea with the public and did not meet with a warm reception. People did not feel the need for this type of activity, however, as the time passed we started gaining more and more supporters from scientific and business fields. They helped us enormously. This is when the decision was made that Kielce will not only have the incubator but a whole technology park- highlights the head of KTP. According to him, without the support form the city government, it would not be possible to continue with the project. - We received a vote of confidence. We could work in perfect conditions that enabled creative work- says the head of KTP and adds that academics from Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce (back then University of Humanities and Sciences in Kielce-editorial note) and Kielce University of Technology.
Millions to Build the Business Ecosystem
The first project that received EU funding was worth eighty six million zlotys. Orange Inc and Technological Center were build with this money- First years of our activity had shown that we had fulfilled the local business needs. Three years had passed and the need for infrastructure and professionalization of services grew. That is why, we decided to further develop the infrastrucutre and in effect, create a so called scale effect - which is an accumulation of firms in a one particular area. A real business ecosystem was created – comments Szymon Mazurkiewicz and adds that the most important year for them was 2012. European Commission evaluation of the enterprise was very positive and granted another twenty million euros that was used to create another incubator – Skye Inc. What is more, the Technology Center was developed and some money was invested in the so called Competence Centers that today support the functioning of all the companies in KTP. Centers like 3D Print Center, Fashion Design, CNC, ICT and Energy Science Center are professional and refined facilities. Energy Science Center is one of a kind place in this region that has been visited by forty thousand people since its opening in November 2015.
The Park has also gained new development plots where new factories are created. That brings new workplaces and newest technologies. B and C zones will be ready to be sold in the first quarter of 2018. At this point utilities and independent geological works are conducted on the site. - Every day we receive letters from entrepreneurs who are interested in the purchase of the development areas. The Lines of Business interested vary from service centers, through sales and production. Among these companies there are the ones that come out of the incubators and would like to continue their development in KTP - adds Szymon Mazurkiewicz.
The Biggest Success
According to Szymon Mazurkiewicz, the biggest success of the last ten years is gaining the trust of the companies. Today KTP is “bursting at the seams”. New entrepreneurs have to sign on the waiting list – Companies appreciate us not only for the quality of the infrastructure we have but also for the synergy effects that are created in the Park. They appreciate the possibility of cooperation with other entities and for services we offer every day. We have created a trend of functioning in KTP in the City. KTP is a very prestigious address today – emphasizes the head of KTP.
From KTP to Technopolis
The development conception of KTP is consistent with the idea of Technopolis – modern, multi-functional business district.- We look at the Park as a multi-functional area of economic activity where not only business-related sites are created. Kindergartens, sport facilities, service outlets and even apartments can be found here. All of them are supposed to make living in this area pleasant. We wish for our entrepreneurs to have all the necessary services within the arm's reach – says the head of KTP.
The first to be built is California Inc. - the biggest technology incubator in East-Central Europe. The investment is worth eighty-six million zlotys. The funding will be provided by the European Union. The new building of fourteen thousand square feet will be ready in 2021. Among its advantages are uniqueness and multi-functionality. The building will also be ecological and build with the use of the newest technology in architecture, construction and property management. Besides modern office spaces there will also be rooms to enable establishing business relations like conference rooms, mentoring rooms and coworking space, as well as laboratory and social facilities. The last floor will become a sports and recreation area. There are also plans to build a logistics incubator.
The Future...
- In the nearest future we would like to make students aware of our existence and activity and through that encourage them to start their own business. We will co-operate with academics to incorporate entrepreneurship science into core curriculum. Commercialization of knowledge is one of the keys to the fast economic development and to the improvement of market competitiveness- says Szymon Mazurkiewicz.
The head of KTP also thinks that there is a need to consider the change of the shareholding structure. The Park could become a commercial law company. The future is also bound to expanding the offer – developing a complex of technology incubators buildings, future headquarters and a place for start-up companies. A huge emphasis will also be put on the development of investment areas. - Our companies are entering next phases of their development. They want to build their own factories. We need to help them – he notices. He adds that the institution will be going towards professionalization of business-related services which will meet the most advanced needs of entrepreneurs. - We would like to be more involved in the processes relating to the internationalization of companies- to help the companies enter foreign markets – lists Mazurkiewicz.
Post Scriptum
Currently there are over two hundred companies that function in KTP. Building of the infrastructure cost eighty-six millon zlotys, and it's extension another one hundred, twenty-six million zlotys. The total amount of funding the entrepreneurs have received in the course of 10 years through the KTP projects is around sixteen million zlotys. The number of new workplaces in the companies located in the Park from the beginning of its existance is estimated to be around one thousand, twelve hundred. Almost three thousand, five hundred people have used the services offered by the Competence Centers.