Agnieszka Florczak
Located in central Poland, the Łódzkie Region is an emerging hub of research, innovation and entrepreneurship, bringing together a strong academic community, research institutions, innovative businesses and public authorities. Its capital, Łódź, is an important academic and research centre, with leading institutions including the University of Łódź, the Lodz University of Technology and the Medical University of Łódź.
The region's research and innovation policy is guided by the Regional Innovation Strategy Łódzkie 2030+, which identifies seven Regional Smart Specialisations: Modern Environmental Technologies, Services of the Future, Innovative Textiles and Fashion, Smart Construction, Medicine, Pharmacy and Cosmetics, Innovative Agriculture and Agri-food Processing, and Mobility and Logistics of the Future.
These priorities reflect the region's industrial heritage, scientific expertise and emerging technological potential. The regional innovation ecosystem promotes cooperation between academia, businesses, research and development institutions, clusters and public authorities, with a particular emphasis on technology transfer, commercialisation of research results, digital transformation and the development of innovative solutions.
An important driver of this ecosystem is the Łódź Special Economic Zone (ŁSSE), which has evolved beyond its traditional investment-support role into a recognised centre for innovation and technology development. Through its startup acceleration programmes, including Startup Spark, it connects innovative young companies with established businesses, enabling them to develop, test and implement new technologies, particularly in the field of Industry 4.0. The Zone has supported more than 200 startups and provides a platform for business collaboration and technology transfer. It also hosts Re_d Rethink Digital Hub, part of the European Digital Innovation Hubs network, offering SMEs access to expertise, training and testing facilities in areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, automation, cybersecurity and other advanced digital technologies.