The Lubelskie region in Poland can boast a number of specialist companies investing in various technology sectors, including bio-economy, medicine and health, low-emission energy, IT and automation. In recent times, the region has seen another area of specialisation develop: photonics, recognised as one of the six enabling technologies of the European Union.
“The Lubelskie region has a significant scientific background in the field of photonic technology. Thanks to many years of research and experience, Lublin’s scientists have created a unique Polish fibre optics technology,” says Professor Maciej Chorowski, director of the National Centre for Research and Development (NCRD).
Photonics is expected to become one of the leading technologies of the 21st century. Photonics is very widely used in various branches of the economy. At the national level, Poland was one of the three European countries (alongside Lithuania and Slovenia) to recognise photonics as a so-called National Smart Specialisation. With its varied use in a multitude of sectors such as telecommunications, industrial processing, energy, defence industry and medicine, it is no surprise that the local government of Lubelskie decided to support the development of fibre optic technologies, allocating 100 million zloty in partnership with the NCRD, to support research.
According to the Marshall’s Office, further investment in photonics will accelerate the region’s economic growth, especially since it is completely independent of other technologies and raw materials, and above all safe for the environment.
When it comes to fibre optics and photonics, the Lubelskie region has over 40 years of experience.
“Lublin is considered the cradle of Polish fibre optics. The beginnings of research in this technology at the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University (UMCS) go back to 1975. Three years later, the first in Poland (and the fifth in Europe), 2.5 kilometer telecommunication cable was created. At the beginning of the 1980s, the first Polish fibre optic factory was opened in Lublin,” writes Rzeczpospolita.
For potential investors in the field of photonics, a comprehensive support system has been created in Lubelskie which include the regional authorities, business environment institutions, R&D units and enterprises. These include the Laboratory of Fibre Optic Technology at UMCS, with more than 40 years of experience in R&D and production of telecommunications, special and microstructural fibres. It has numerous laboratories that conduct advanced R&D, measurement and production work.
“From the point of view of the economy of the Lublin province, the development of technological entrepreneurship in the field of photonics will have a direct impact on the development of all smart specialisations in the region, such as bio-economics, medicine and healthcare, low-emission energy, IT and automation, according to the Lubelskie Marshall’s office.
When it comes to the future of Lublin, one thing is certain, by creating a holistic environment where the local authorities, business and institutions combine forces the applications of photonics could be endless.
“The authorities of the Lubelskie region are very interested in increasing and expanding cooperation between scientific and research units and entrepreneurs from our region. I am convinced that the development of technological entrepreneurship in the field of photonics can contribute to the development of other sectors of the economy of our province, and thus increase its competitiveness,” explains Jarosław Stawiarski, the marshall of the Lublin voivodeship.
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