8Foundry Alliance in Karpacz and Kielce: Conversations that continue

There are events worth attending. There are also those after which something more remains than just a badge, a few business cards, and photos on social media.
This year’s Economic Forum in Karpacz and the International Defence Industry Exhibition in Kielce took place at the same time. Two different worlds, two different rhythms of conversation, but surprisingly many common topics.

Karpacz: the real conversation begins after the panels

The Economic Forum in Karpacz attracts several thousand participants every year. Dozens of debates, hundreds of meetings, diverse perspectives, and many topics that cannot be contained within a single panel discussion.

8Foundry Alliance could not be absent. A strong group of us met in Karpacz to discuss future plans, joint initiatives, opportunities for cooperation, and to exchange experiences and challenges faced by our cluster members in their respective regions.

Because the most important part of an event often begins once the panels are over. Over coffee, during a brief meeting, or in a conversation that does not need an agenda but may have real consequences.

Participants in the 8Foundry Alliance meeting at the Forum included, among others: Tomasz Augustyniak, Deputy Mayor of Gdynia; Wojciech Bakun, Mayor of Przemyśl; Bartłomiej Barszczak, Deputy Mayor of Przemyśl; Daniel Janiak, Mayor of Sochaczew; Paweł Jędrejek, Head of the Jastków Municipality; Deputy Head Emilia Białek-Paluch; Joanna Kozłowska, Investment Manager; Adam Hoppe, Director at the Port of Gdynia Authority; Bartłomiej Stańczyk, CEO of ACCREA Medical Robotics; and Joanna Belzyt, Director and Rafał Magryś Chairman of 8Foundry Alliance Cluster.

Jerzy Bochyński, a member of the Cluster Council, was also there—making sure, as always, that no one left the Forum without a conversation, a valuable contact, and the right dose of energy.

Active particiaption

The presence of 8Foundry Alliance members at the Forum was not limited to informal meetings. Our representatives actively took part in discussions focused on the most pressing challenges currently facing local governments, the economy, and businesses.

Wojciech Bakun, Mayor of Przemyśl, and Tomasz Augustyniak, Deputy Mayor of Gdynia, spoke in a discussion on the directions of development for modern cities. The conversation focused on the need to rethink existing urban strategies and recognise residents’ quality of life as a key element of long-term development and regional resilience.

Daniel Janiak, Mayor of Sochaczew, joined a debate on responsibility for the security and resilience of the state and local communities. The discussion focused on relations between central government, local authorities, and the private sector, as well as on how responsibility for crisis preparedness can be shared effectively.

The future of maritime transport, security, and sustainable development were the subjects of a panel featuring Tomasz Augustyniak and Adam Hoppe, Director at the Port of Gdynia. The discussion addressed the growing role of technology and innovation in the development of port infrastructure and the wider maritime economy.

Paweł Jędrejek, Head of the Jastków Municipality, took part in a discussion on the use of technology in agriculture, the economy, and security. At its centre was the question of how new technological solutions can move beyond experimentation and novelty to become genuine tools for building advantage and driving development.

Rafał Magryś, Chair of the 8Foundry Alliance Council, participated in the debate “The End of Globalisation as We Know It: What Does It Mean for Us?”—a topic closely aligned with the Alliance’s work. Today, international cooperation increasingly requires not only access to markets, but above all strong relationships, trust, and proven partners. In his remarks, he noted that it is time to move away from thinking in terms of “globalisation”—a word burdened with negative connotations—and towards international cooperation in which all participants benefit.

Kielce: technology, security, and meaningful connections

At the same time, MSPO—one of the most important defence-industry events in Central and Eastern Europe—was taking place in Kielce.

For 8Foundry Alliance, it was another opportunity to meet technology companies, partners, and representatives of the industrial sector.

We visited, among others, the DGT stand, where we met with Director Adam Pogorzelski. Our discussions concerned technology and potential directions for further cooperation.

Like the Economic Forum in Karpacz, MSPO in Kielce demonstrated the importance of direct relationships. In a world where more and more interactions take place online, an in-person meeting remains the shortest route to understanding a partner, their capabilities, and the real potential for collaboration.

It is not about being everywhere

Being present at two major events at the same time is not an end in itself. At 8Foundry Alliance, we do not build a network simply for networking’s sake. Our goal is to create relationships that can lead to tangible projects—between companies, local governments, institutions, and the research community.

Karpacz and Kielce were another stage in this work.

Several intense days, many conversations, and even more topics that deserve to be continued.

Because the next meetings are coming soon.