Krakowski Park Technologiczny

The Mission

Kraków Technology Park is to further regional development both by creating conditions for the development of high technologies and transfer of knowledge from universities to business, and by building the competitive edge of the industry.

History of Kraków special economic zone

Specjalna Strefa Ekonomiczna Krakowski Park Technologiczny (Special Economic Zone - Kraków Technology Park) was established in October 1997 on 66 ha (163.1 acres) thanks to the efforts of representatives of municipal authorities, and local business and scientific milieux. By August 2001, the special economic zone had already covered 80.25 ha (198.3 acres) of land for development situated in three subzones: Pychowice, Czyżyny, and Branice (Tadeusz Sendzimir Steelworks, HTS). On 21st August 2001, the Council of Ministers decided to expand the zone by over 40 ha (98.85 acres). At that time, a subzone was established in Tarnów (on the premises of Tarnów Industrial Cluster, TKP) and the zone's presence within HTS was expanded. Following the motions from the KTP, the Council of Ministers repeatedly shifted the borders of the zone in the following years, keeping its total space unchanged. In September 2005, the zone was expanded by approximately 140 ha (346 acres) with the establishment of the subzone in Niepołomice.

The latest expansion of the zone took place in September 2007. The resulting space was 298.88 ha (738.55 acres), which has grown to 416.67 ha (1029.6 acres) by now. Talks concerning a successive expansion continue.

The founders of the zone considered the following to be the main goals of the special economic zone in Kraków:

• development of the sector of high technology industries, resorting to the research and scientific potential of Kraków universities, scientific institutes, and research institutions
• establishment of favourable business, infrastructural, and organisational conditions for national and foreign investors who declare employing and developing existing scientific and research potential of Kraków, mostly in the field of advanced technologies.

It was believed that, unlike other Polish economic zones, the one in the Kraków will be allotted especially for companies from the high-tech sector, including electronics, information technologies, communication technologies, telco, biotechnologies, etc. However, struggling to acquire investors only in those sectors, and faced with the need to increase the pace of developing the land, businesses that represent more traditional industries (e.g. printing and automotive sectors) have been invited to Kraków special economic zone. Thanks to the favourable changes of law, since June 2005 also companies offering business process outsourcing (BPO) have been allowed to operate within the zone. Attraction of such companies is a reason why renting office space became a part of the zone's offer.

To manage Kraków special economic zone, a company of commercial law under the name of Centrum Zaawansowanych Technologii [literally: Centre for Advanced Technologies] was created in December 1997 by the initiators of the zone: the Municipality of Kraków (UMK), the Jagiellonian University (UJ), the Kraków University of Technology (PK), the AGH University of Science and Technology (AGH-UST), Tadeusz Sendzimir Steelworks, and the State Treasury represented by the Voivode. The Centrum Zaawansowanych Technologii did not own the land situated within the zone, but only managed it on the power of contracts concluded with owners of individual plots. In January 2004, the company changed its name into Krakowski Park Technologiczny sp. z o.o. (Kraków Technology Park, KTP) and has operated under the name to this day.

Timeline:

October 1997  Specjalna Strefa Ekonomiczna Krakowski Park Technologiczny (Special Economic Zone - Kraków Technology Park) was established; until August 2001, the zone covered 80 ha (197.7 acres). divided into three subzones: Pychowice, Czyżyny, and Branice (Tadeusz Sendzimir Steelworks, HTS), all lying within the city of Kraków

December 1997  establishment of company of commercial law under the name Centrum Zaawansowanych Technologii, being the managing entity of the special economic zone

August 2001  establishment of the subzone in Tarnów and increase of the total area to 120 ha (296.5 acres)

2003 assumption of a new strategy by the company

January 2004 name changed to Krakowski Park Technologiczny sp. z o.o.

February 2005 companies planning to establish call and BPO centres are allowed to do so within the zone

June 2005 the status of the zone expanded to cover two buildings offering office space: Kraków Business Park in Zabierzów and Brama Bronowicka

September 2005 establishment of Niepołomice subzone covering 140 ha (346 acres); the zone expanded to the total of 262 ha (647.42 acres)

2005 award for financing the construction of the Technology Incubator as a part of Measure 1.3 of sectoral operational program for improving competitiveness of enterprises: SPO WKP, Project WKP_1/1.3/2/2005/23/08

September 2007 expansion of the zone to 298.88 ha (738.55 acres); inclusion of land in Nowy Sącz, Niepołomice, and Dobczyce

19th February 2008 the Council of Ministers expands the zone by another 117.45 ha (290.23 acres); following the Council's decision, the total area of the zone exceeded 416 ha (1028 acres), and encompassed further investment subzones in Oświęcim, Gdów, Wolbrom, Andrychów, and Słomniki

June 2008 completion of the Technology Incubator, change of the Company's seat.

Present situation

Today, Kraków Technology Park is the company managing the zone covering 416.68 hectares (1029.65 acres), divided into 14 subzones situated in 12 municipalities (communes). Talks about a successive expansion continue. In the zone, investors are offered mostly greenfield for development. In mid-2005, the zone's offer was expanded by the addition of office space for rent.

Furthermore, KTP operates as a technology park, supporting technological development of Małopolska Region and development of entrepreneurship, and promoting innovativeness and new technologies. The Technology Incubator, supporting academic entrepreneurship, was completed in 2008. Its building is currently the seat of KTP. Besides these, KTP initiated development of networks of cooperation between businesses, territorial authorities, academic milieux, and institutions of business environment. Wiesława Kornaś was appointed the President of the Executive Board in March 2011.