?óD? CREATES INNOVATIONS
Innovativeness directly contributes to the economic development of a region, creating competitive advantages, and to general attractiveness in the eyes of potential investors. Innovative products and services push forward local economy, therefore, research and development activities are nowadays an indispensable element of strategy of the companies which wish to develop in a competitive market. A particular interest in the R&D area concerns the modern technology sector, as well as the production, biotechnology, and pharmacy sector.
Cooperation between enterprises and universities is gaining importance in building innovativeness. ?ód? is a thriving academic centre. 76 thousand students, including 6 thousand choosing various IT-related fields of study, learning at over 23 higher education institutions. Each year, 30 thousand graduates enter the labour market, the majority of which use fluently at least one foreign language.
The asset of local economy discussed was appreciated, among others, by Oberthur Technologies – a world leader in IT solutions, by opening a research and development centre in ?ód?, in 2015. Experts from Oberthur Technologies R&D Poland create mainly card payment and mobile payment systems, including, among others, modern systems for Mercedes, so-called Connected Cars. The customers of Oberthur Technologies are, inter alia, the world’s largest banks (BNP Paribas, Barclay, Nationwide) and telecommunication companies such as Orange, Vodafone, and Samsung. Thanks to a broad access to well-educated IT staff in ?ód?, companies conducting processes from the scope of Software Development are thriving. These are, among others, Cybercom Poland, Hexagon, Open R&D, BMS Poland, ABB.
The company that conducts an intensive research and development activity in the field of advanced computer technologies and IT is Transition Technologies, existing in the ?ód? market since 2006. As a result of the activities, in 2010, by a decision of the minister of economy, the company obtained a status of Research and Development Centre, this way joining the small group of 31 companies with the status in Poland.
This year, another worldwide brand – Ericsson – appeared in our region, deciding on incorporating Ericpol centre from ?ód? into the R&D structures of the company. This is the effect of a completion of a take-over by Ericsson of 100% shares in the entity which was a long-term supplier and developer of the software for Ericsson. ?ód? R&D department works on developing a software which forms a basis of Ericsson Radio System solution, supporting even up to 40% mobile phone-calls each day all over the world. The company’s solutions are used by operators providing services to around 2.5 billion subscribers.
A Dutch company, TomTom, in which almost 700 people work, is one of the largest employers in ?ód? in the modern technology sector. Here, engineers develop data to create precise maps which are used not only by company navigation already known in the market – it will also be used by autonomous cars (without a driver). Engineers from ?ód? have a chance to contribute to the development of automotive technology in a newly created Electronics Engineering Centre – ZF TRW. It is a manufacturer and distributor or safety systems which supports almost all of the largest automotive manufacturers in the world. The Centre deals with the implementation of projects in the area of the so-called active safety systems, supporting a driver during driving, using radar and video control system the application of which reduces the likelihood of collision or a road accident (these are, e.g., driver alert systems, automatic emergency braking systems, lane keeping system, automatic cruise control (ACC).
This is the city where research and design office of Airbus Helicopters Polska operates, as well. This unit is engaged in designing mechanical components of rotorcrafts, in particular, in the scope of propulsion systems and their equipment. Design work in the office includes both current improvements of helicopters, modernisation projects of currently produced military and commercial rotorcrafts, and new constructions.
One of the most modern world-wide Research and Development Centre in the BSH Group works on improvement of production processes in the household appliances sector. ?ód? is not only a place of production of washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers in three modern factories. This is the location of as many as seven out of eight shared services centres which work globally for the entire BSH Group. One of them is R&D sector which is essential for the concern.
In May this year, the company announced an investment in BSH Research and Development Centre which obtained a permission to conduct activity in the ?SSE (?ód? Special Economic Zone).
It is not the only centre of this type located within the ?ód? Special Economic Zone. Since 2010, within the Mabion S.A. structures, a modern research and development centre has been operating, where work on biotechnological medicines used in oncology and treatment of metabolic diseases is conducted. The laboratory is one of few places in Europe enabling the implementation of complex work on new biotechnological medicine: from the design phase, through the choice of a platform and manufacturing technology to the manufacture of a ready-to-use pharmaceutical.
The R&D sector is a particularly important aspect of activity of another pharmaceutical company – Aflofarm Farmacja Polska. Each year, the concern invests in research and development activities in the healthcare segment, and the number of people working there is more than 60 – these are the experts in the field of pharmacy, chemistry and biology, with high qualifications and a great experience.
Undoubtedly, the activity of Bionanopark – a science and technology park with an attractive research, investment and incubation offer – has also an influence on the image of ?ód? as a city of innovation. The activity of the unit is addressed to companies and institutions operating in the field of advanced technology. Bionanopark is primarily a modern implementation centre for business in which you can find bioand nano-technological laboratories equipped with top-class research facilities. The equipment profile of the laboratories was selected in such a way, so that the entrepreneurs could commission research at every stage of development of their products or technology.
Bionanopark Incubator offers to young companies operating in the modern technology sector excellent conditions for growth thanks to assistance de minimis. It means access to modern office infrastructure under very favourable financial terms and a package of free-of-charge advisory, training and promotion services. Since the very beginning of its existence, Bionanopark Incubator supported in total over 100 companies. Many of them achieved substantial success. This is the place where 3 innovative devices for people with reduced mobility were patented. Here, an internet browser for paralysed persons was created which enables to control the computer by blinking one’s eyes. This is also the place where a modern tourist information system based on photo codes was implemented.
The undertakings mentioned are only a part of the activity conducted by a widely understood R&D sector in ?ód?. Nowadays, processes of this type more or less influence the activity of all industries. This is also the case in ?ód? which, for a few years now, has attracted investors offering complex and technologically advanced services and products, which is reflected in the characteristics of local economy that is more and more marked with a growing role of R&D processes.