POMORSKIE

Set course for
POMORSKIE
POMORSKIE
On course for plentiful thrills,
for unforgettable experiences,
for a fresh breath of culture,
for the charm of unique places,
for good investments, for clear traces of the past,
for a successful future.
Simply on course for good sites.
set course for
POMORSKIE
3On course
for good sites
7On course
for culture
13On course
for education
16On course
for business
19On course
for Europe
On course
for good sites
4
Set course for POMORSKIE
KURS
na dobre miejsce
ON COURSE for good sites
With its exceptionally attractive location, Pomorskie offers visitors unique sites
– extraordinary, intriguing places one wants to visit again and again.
Shifting sand dunes
The shifting sand dunes in Słowiński National Park are a
rarity to be found nowhere else in Europe. Their mounds,
with hardly any flora, are shifted by the wind and create a
phenomenal, almost desert-like, wild, constantly changing
landscape. The range of the shifting sands is bound by the
Baltic Sea and Łebsko Lake, and its highest point – Łącka
Peak – can be as high as 40 metres above sea level. The
wind moves the dunes at a speed of 3-10 m a year, so the
landscape is constantly changing.
See what lives in the depths of
the sea
Those who like marine fauna should visit two extraordinarily
interesting places – the seal breeding station in Hel and the
Aquarium in Gdynia. The first site hosts a real seal family.
Visitors can watch seal shows that include feeding the animals.
But the station is mainly a research centre, established with
the objective of restoring the colony of grey seals, of which
just 100 years ago there were around a thousand. The
seals that are set free to live in the natural environment can
count on the assistance of the station staff – special satellite
transmitters monitor their life day and night.
The Aquarium in Gdynia is home to the most amazing and
the rarest species of fish, amphibians and reptiles from all
over the world. 61 huge aquariums, with about 1000 living
creatures housed on 3 floors, provide a truly exceptional
sight. There is also the Experimental Water Centre, cinemas
and a laboratory.
marine inspiration
Europe’s longest sandy beaches, majestic cliffs, specific
coastal flora, fresh air and endless sea extending to the
horizon create a perfect climate for recreation. The richness
of the sea provides numerous opportunities to spend leisure
time – whether actively or romantically. Water sports include
not only sailing and diving, but also windsurfing, kitesurfing,
jet-skiing, fishing and tourist cruises, as well as many other
things enjoyed more and more by tourists. The clean Baltic
beaches are also perfect for cycling, jogging, Nordic walking
or just walking. The charming fishing harbours, old fishing
boats and the abundance of beautiful, very well preserved
lighthouses, formerly a navigational aid (today historical
technology and tourist sites) are an additional asset.
Not only the sea
Pomorskie is also a land of beautiful lakes and rivers that
create a network of waterways. Everyone seems able to find
a mooring place and a safe haven there, not only to moor
but mainly to start a recreational journey, to seek adventure.
The very well developed system of waterways provides
opportunities for high standard water tourism. The picturesque
landscape and the numerous historical buildings make it a
place one wishes to revisit. Even the city of Gdańsk offers
kayak sightseeing tours. And the land routes are equally
attractive – Pomorskie has several cycling routes of European
significance and a network of roads for those who prefer
driving. Tucholskie Forests and numerous other forests and
5
6
Set course for POMORSKIE
green areas are ideal, ecologically clean venues where one
can not only relax but also enjoy the abundance of delicious
mushrooms, blackberries and other forest resources.
Pomorskie yacht ports
Ustka, Łeba, Władysławowo, Jastarnia, Hel, Puck, Gdynia,
Sopot, Gdańsk, Górki Zachodnie. Each of them has the
infrastructure enabling recreation and sailing tourism of
European standard.
Not only “Monciak”
Each city and town has a street ideal for walking. In Sopot
it is the Bohaterów Cassino street, called “Monciak”. It
is the liveliest street of the town, with a lot of clubs, cafés,
restaurants, shops and art galleries. A real landmark on
the entertainment map of the Tri-City. A place where one
can observe the latest fashion trends, meet local artists
and eccentrics. In high summer season it is the place most
often visited by tourists. But “Monciak” has to face growing
competition. Many cities and towns have “Monciaks” of their
own – redeveloped little streets, walkways, market places and
lake and river boulevards, e.g. in Lębork, Słupsk, Chojnice,
Tczew and Kościerzyna.
Sopot pier is a unique point of interest – Europe’s longest
wooden pier at 511.5 m. It is one of the biggest attractions
in Sopot, and not only for romantics. It is an attraction for all
admirers of the sea as it is equipped with lower and side
decks, enabling docking of passenger ships and yachts. This
most beautiful pier in Poland has been a part of the Sopot
cityscape since 1827.
Sopot also houses Poland’s most famous open air concert
hall – the Forest Opera. Its location in the Oliwa Woods
lends it a very special atmosphere. Four hectares large, this
amphitheatre can host 4400 spectators. Opened in 1909, it is
still the site of many important national cultural events, such
as the TOP Trendy Festival and Sopot Festival. Since 1922,
the repertoire of the Forest Opera has been dominated by
Wagner’s masterpieces. The annual Wagner festivals have
made it famous all over Europe, gaining it the reputation of
a “second Bayreuth”.
Did you know that
Good sites are plentiful in Pomorskie. So much
so that the readers of the popular daily Dziennik
Bałtycki found it quite difficult to choose just seven
sites rating as the Wonders of Pomorskie. They
are: Malbork Castle, St. Mary’s Church in Gdańsk,
shifting dunes in Łeba, Wejherowo Calvary, Pelplin
Cathedral, Gdańsk Historical Crane, historical
bridges across the Vistula in Tczew.
On course
for culture
8
Set course for POMORSKIE
KURS
na kulturę
ON COURSE for culture
Culture, fun and entertainment lovers will be in their element in Pomorskie.
World standard cultural events, satisfying the most diverse tastes, take place
here virtually all year round.
Festivo vertigo
Golden Lions and the Amber Nightingale are not part of
Pomorskie’s fauna but two famous awards of local festivals.
The Sopot TOP Trendy Festival is a great review of the
year in music, while the Sopot Festival presents the most
important musical events of the season. The Open’er Festival
in Gdynia has grown to become a world scale event. It was
even nominated for the prestigious Best European Festival
Award. This spectacular music venue attracts thousands of
young people from all over the globe. Several stages, 4 days
of concerts and over 60 performers playing in different styles
and genres – it really is impressive.
Thanks to the Polish Film Festival, Gdynia has been the capital
of Polish cinema for a long time now. Every year the Music
Theatre hosts a great celebration for the Polish filmmaking
industry and film fans. It is an opportunity to overview
the works of film art from the past year. Besides the Main
Competition, with the Main Award given by the Festival jury,
artists also take part in the Independent Cinema Competition
and the Young Cinema Competition. An honorary award is
granted for outstanding artistic achievement. Celebrities and
their fans throng Gdynia and the “red carpet” atmosphere
dominates the place for a couple of days.
High-level entertainment
Theatre lovers hold the Shakespeare Festival and “Feta”
International Street & Open-Air Theatres Festival in very high
esteem. The strong Tri-City jazz scene is well represented at
the world class Gdynia Summer Jazz Days as well as at the
smaller but noteworthy Komeda Jazz Festival held in Słupsk,
and the Ladies’ Jazz Festival. At the end of July Gdańsk is
overwhelmed by colourful fairs. St. Dominic’s Fair, which lasts
for 3 weeks, is one of the biggest trade and cultural events
in Europe and is one of the city’s most remarkable assets.
It attracts about 5 million visitors every year. This colourful,
spectacular event offers many performances, shows and
concerts. Wandering around the colourful maze of the fair
stalls, which offer goods from around the world, is a great
attraction for many. With its impressive scale, it recalls the
best traditions of trade in Gdańsk.
9
10
Set course for POMORSKIE
History
It all began here
It was here where the “Solidarity” Movement started to pave
the road to freedom through communist Poland, when in 1980
political postulates were included in the demands of striking
workers. After two weeks of strikes the Polish government
signed an agreement with the workers. Right there, in Gdańsk
Shipyard, the Solidarity ideals started their journey to change
the image of Europe and the world.
Westerplatte
Another place where it all began. On 1 September 1939 World
War II began here. The soldiers who defended Westerplatte
became a symbol of Poland’s solitary fight and of brave
resistance. The 180-person crew was supposed to resist
no longer than a dozen hours. However, it fought for a week
although it was under attack from about 3500 German soldiers
supported by heavy artillery, dive bombers and the SchleswigHolstein battleship. Today the Monument of the Defenders of
the Coast, in the form of a chipped bayonet plunged into the
ground, stands in this place of heroic events.
pearls of architecture, amber,
art jewels
Appearing before this court will not tarnish your reputation:
on the contrary, it will be an outstanding artistic experience.
Memling’s “Last Judgement” is a real masterpiece of the early
Renaissance. It took almost 4 years to complete it. Stolen by
the Polish privateer Paweł Beneke, the triptych made a very
long and interesting journey to eventually become the pearl of
the National Museum in the Gdańsk collection.
For Arthur’s Court, such a pearl is the Great Stove, rightly
called a crowning achievement of Renaissance art-craft.
Looking at it you can easily imagine how for centuries it used
to warm up members of fraternities, elites and crowned heads
who came to meet in the Court’s hall. In reality, however,
the 11-metre high Great Stove with its 520 tiles depicting
distinguished personages of the period was of a purely
decorative character.
In the Pelplin Diocesan Museum you can see another
unique piece of art – Gutenberg’s Bible. This two-volume
edition, composed of 64 pages, in the original 15th century
binding, is one of the most precious volumes in the entire
world because it is the first book in Europe issued in print. It
is even more valuable due to the unique trace which enabled
reconstruction of Gutenberg’s type. It is a small detail of huge
historic importance.
Besides the multiple “pearls”, Pomorskie also has its gold.
Amber, known as the gold of the North, is a highly appreciated,
dazzling jewellery material. It is coniferous tree resin fossilised
over 40 million years ago. Pomorskie artists became true
experts in the processing and different applications of the
stone. You can discover the history of amber in the regional
museums, particularly in the Gdańsk Amber Museum, where
all aspects of the jewel and its craft are presented in a detailed
and exciting way. Those looking for adventure can find the
precious stone with their own bare hands during the Amber
Washing World Championships organised annually.
ON COURSE for culture
Tales of the sea
These two great ships could probably tell many fascinating
tales. Dar Pomorza is a solid 3-mast museum ship, which
sailed half a million nautical miles during the 102 training
voyages within 51 years of service for the Polish Merchant
Navy. It is one of the most visited sailing ships in the world
and a famous landmark of Gdynia.
The destroyer ORP Błyskawica comes from England. The
pride of the Polish Navy, veteran of World War II, it was the
only ship built before the War that has actually survived it. It
served well in many military operations, convoys, sea battles
and beach landings thanks to its speed, complex weaponry
and important manoeuvring capacities. Today it is open for
public visits at Nabrzeże Pomorskie in Gdynia.
The Gothic heritage
There is a particular tourist route through Pomorskie which
will make you feel as if you were travelling in a time machine.
You will discover Gothic castles perched on the region’s
picturesque hills and hummocks. But the castle route does not
mean buildings only. You can also experience various historical
reconstructions, tournaments, events and shows. Malbork
Castle is the most famous Gothic structure in Pomorskie. This
outstanding piece of monumental architecture was built by
the Teutonic Knights to serve as their Grand Masters’ seat,
and as such, together with the city itself, as the capital of
the monastic state between 1309 and 1457. It was entered
on the UNESCO cultural heritage list in 1997 as the biggest
castle complex in the world. Speaking of Gothic, it would be
impossible to omit the grand churches built at that time in the
form of spacious brick halls with huge towers, an example of
which is St. Mary’s Church in Gdańsk. It is the largest brick
church in the world, able to house 20 000 people.
click-clack of train Wheels
Żuławy Narrow Gauge Railway is one of the most beautiful
of its kind in Poland. It was founded in 1891 in order to
transport mainly agricultural produce, building materials, coal
and artificial fertilizers. Nowadays it is a regular railway for
passenger and tourist use.
11
12
Set course for POMORSKIE
The region’s identity
Kashubian heritage
We do not have to go back to our roots in Pomorskie because
the roots have not been buried at all. The Kashubians, who
live in the area, are the largest ethnic group deriving from the
Pomeranians. They enjoy their own unique language, original
customs and rich folk art. They are divided into several ethnic
sub-groups with distinct language and culture. Thanks to this
diversity our region resembles a colourful mosaic, which on
the other hand constitutes a fascinating and coherent unity.
In Kashubia there are stone circles, well preserved until today.
They consist of a dozen or so stone steles set in a circle. In
such a place you can feel the magic and fully appreciate the
wisdom of the past generations. Archeological research has
shown that the stone circles are burial grounds of the Goths,
a German tribe who came from Scandinavia between the first
and second century AD.
The Kashubian region is also characterized by half-timbered
houses, the buildings exhibiting a check pattern. The 18th and
19th century structures were built from huge beams. The clay
spaces in between them were lime washed and the wooden
structure was painted black, resulting in a beautiful artistic
effect.
The Pomorskie open-air ethnographic museums are an
inexhaustible source of information about the history and
everyday life of the past generations – the oldest one in
Wdzydze Kiszewskie, the mini-museum in Sominy, the
arcaded house in Silno and Nadole and open-air ethnographic
museum in Kluki, with open-air events organized in summer,
including “black weddings”, bread baking, turf digging, and
willow basket making.
Kociewiacy –
Pomeranian highlanders
Real highlanders can be encountered in Pomorskie. They
are the Kociewiacy, a distinct ethnic group, different from the
Kashubians, with their own dialect and traditions. Furthermore,
they are divided into Polanie and Lasacy groups, among
which there have been distinguished people practising various
crafts, such as lumberjacks, rafters, fir cone pickers, heather
pickers and pipe men. Starogard Gdański is the capital of the
sub-region inhabited by Kociewiacy.
Did you know that
Gdańsk will be home to post-war Poland’s first
newly built theatre, the Shakespearean Theatre.
It will be built on the site of a 17th century
Swordsmanship School which apart from drills and
fencing tournaments also staged Elizabethan style
theatre plays performed among others by strolling
players from England.
On course
for education
14
Set course for POMORSKIE
The numerous institutions of higher learning, as well as science and research
centres, which may be found in Pomorskie constitute a base for people of
vision, passion and skill whose creative potential plays a significant role in the
development of nearly all human endeavours.
Knowledge-based society
of Pomorskie
Education remains a key priority in Pomorskie, as is the
case throughout Europe. The region’s proportion of people
with higher education exceeds 11 percent and is above the
national average. The educational offer is very attractive,
with the oldest alma mater of the region, the Gdańsk
University of Technology, topping the list. However, it is the
University of Gdańsk which is the leader when it comes to
size, offering nearly thirty fields of study with over a hundred
specializations. The scope of the higher learning offer is allembracing, ranging from the humanities, through information
technology, business, medicine, and fine arts to maritime
studies – a field closely connected with the marine character
of the region. The Medical University of Gdańsk, the Gdańsk
Academy of Banking, Gdynia Maritime University, and
the Gdańsk Higher School of Humanities are only a few
examples of the outstanding quality of the educational offer.
For many years now Gdynia Bilingual High School No. 3 has
been placed at the top of national secondary school rankings.
Upon graduation the school’s students obtain an international
baccalaureate certificate which allows them to study at the
world’s most renowned universities on all continents.
The institutions of higher learning are home to scientists,
intellectuals and educators of today and tomorrow, as
there is no shortage of work and research opportunities
in Pomorskie. Centrally located Regional Science and
Technology Parks are the places of meeting and cooperation between science institutes, research centres,
financial institutions and businesses representing a multitude
of economic and industrial sectors. They were established
in order to search for new technological solutions and their
practical applications in economic development. All the
parties involved in their work draw benefits – on the side of
both science and industry. This fact is readily confirmed in the
operations of the two existing parks in Gdańsk and Gdynia.
The Pomeranian Science and Technology Park in Gdynia
houses enterprises active in the area of biotechnology,
environmental protection, ICT and industrial design. Activities
in the Gdańsk Science and Technology Park concentrate
mainly on IT, telecommunications, nanotechnology,
environmental protection, biotechnology, as well as food and
pharmaceutical chemistry.
In order to learn more …
Research and Development Units („JBR”) are represented by
53 individual entities created in order to conduct application
driven research and R&D activities. In Pomorskie one may
find the following types of research and development units:
- scientific research institutes (e.g. Electrotechnical Institute –
Gdańsk Branch, Maritime Institute in Gdańsk, Sea Fisheries
Institute in Gdynia, various institutes of the Polish Academy
of Science)
- central laboratories (e.g. Polcargo Ltd. Central Chemical
Laboratory)
- R&D centres (e.g. Ship Design and Research Centre,
Marine Technology Centre Research & Development Unit
(„OBR CTM S.A.”), Research and Development Centre for
Wood-Based Panels)
The number of employees in the R&D sector is about
7 thousand. The biggest group is comprised of research and
development personnel (87%).
Vision, passion, achievements
The educational strategy of Pomorskie brings effects which
are especially visible in the area of IT and new technologies.
IVONA – one of the world’s best speech synthesizers
developed by IVO Software, a company from Gdynia – is a
great example of an outstanding accomplishment by local
scientists. IVONA has received numerous awards, among
others at the modern technologies Brussels Innova Fair and
at the highly prestigious Blizzard Challenge Competition.
This cutting-edge software, which provides synthesised voice
comparable in quality to live human speech, makes it possible
to create voice-over recordings in a matter of seconds,
allowing the visually impaired to work more efficiently with
computers. The software analyzes and interprets texts
using sophisticated artificial intelligence algorithms. The
programme communicates in five different voices in Polish,
English and Romanian. IVONA’s creators employ cuttingedge technologies in the field of artificial intelligence to
constantly develop and refine their products.
Comprehensive assistance in creation and implementation
of new solutions and products is provided by Business
Incubators – places established specifically with this purpose
in mind. This initiative delivers support mainly to activities
ON COURSE for education
in the service industry. Operating very actively are the
Academic Incubators at the University of Gdańsk, which
provide legal, educational and marketing help to businesses
run by young people. At the moment, their assistance is being
extended to about a dozen new companies. The Incubator
for IT Companies operates under the auspices of the Gdańsk
Science and Technology Park. This incubator concentrates on
supporting the initial start-up and development of businesses
centred on cutting-edge technology and know-how which are
founded by recent graduates and academics. Numerous other
incubators may be found throughout the voivodeship, with
patronage provided by prestigious institutions, foundations
and associations.
Gdańsk Silicon Valley
Since many world renowned IT companies have chosen to
make Gdańsk their home, the city is frequently referred to
as the second Silicon Valley. This is mainly to the credit of
the region’s excellent workforce base – Polish IT specialists
are among the world’s best – as well as the existence of the
Pomorskie Special Economic Zone. The biggest players
in the industry have readily capitalized on this opportunity.
They include: Compuware, a global leader in specialist
software production; ZenSar Technology, one of the largest
IT companies in the world; Intel, the processor manufacturer;
Young Digital Planet, a publisher of digital dictionaries; Delphi,
active in the field of electrical and electronic automotive
components; and Suruga Seiki, manufacturer of modern tools
for the electronic and automotive industries. Also located here
are many smaller but equally successful companies.
Did you know that
The first company of the Pomeranian Science and
Technology Park, InteliWISE S.A., has opened a
branch in Silicon Valley in the United States. By the
end of 2012 the city of Gdynia will have spent more
than PLN 200 million on innovation and science and
technology parks from European Union funds.
15
ON COURSE for business
Business development and support are a priority in Pomorskie. That is why both
entrepreneurs and investors have found here a favourable ground for investment
and business projects.
Wide-open waters for business
Pomorskie has ca. 120 business support institutions. The most
significant of them include: regional development agencies,
trade associations, associations and foundations for business
support, business incubators, technology incubators, science
and technology parks, technology transfer centres, loan,
guarantee and venture capital schemes. The services they
provide cover mainly IT, training, consultation, finance, R&D
and innovation. Within the National Service System there
are currently 14 Consultation Centres which provide SMEs
with information and consultancy services, co-ordinated by
Pomerania Development Agency S.A. – one of the leaders in
the region’s business support system.
The setting up of the Pomorskie Special Economic Zone has
been one of the ways to attract investors and encourage
them to stay. It has guaranteed a significant facilitation and
development of businesses. One of 14 such zones in Poland,
the PSEZ was established through combining the Żarnowiec
Special Economic Zone and the Tczew Special Economic
Zone. In 2007, the Słupsk Special Economic Zone was
established, made up of 6 investment areas and managed by
the Pomeranian Agency for Regional Development.
From port to port
Container terminals are located in the ports of Gdańsk and
Gdynia. The BCT Baltic Container Terminal in Gdynia is
clearly a leader in the market as the largest container port
in the Southern Baltic. In conjunction with the logistics and
freight forwarding centre to be developed nearby, the Gdańsk
port will become a strong and cutting-edge portal for trade
between Scandinavia, the Baltic Sea Region and southern
Europe. The DCT Deepwater Container Terminal is adapted
to handle the largest vessels which arrive in the Baltic Sea.
The Port of Gdańsk contains two areas of different operational
parameters: the Inner Port and the Northern Port, in which
the technologically advanced Deepwater Container Terminal
is located. The Port of Gdynia has containerised cargo as its
speciality, while its handling is the realm of the BCT Baltic
Container Terminal Sp. z o.o. and the GCT Gdynia Container
Terminal S.A.
17
18
Set course for POMORSKIE
Hospitality pays off
Pomorskie features a wealth of remarkable tourist attractions.
Its coastal location, diverse landscapes, natural assets,
historical and cultural heritage alike make Pomorskie one of
four most attractive tourist regions in Poland. Next to Cracow,
Gdańsk is one of the most frequently visited cities in the
summer season, with the greatest number of young tourists.
Tourism has an important place in the development strategy
of Pomorskie. The region offers an ever-increasing number of
hotels, spa centres with upmarket tourist facilities, as well as
sport and leisure centres. In 2008 alone, we were visited by
close to 5 million tourists.
Let’s fly to Pomorskie
Established in 1974, the airport in Gdańsk-Rębiechowo was
the first Polish airport built from scratch. Today, it is the third
largest airport in Poland. The number of its aircraft operations
is growing continuously. In 2007, an increase of 37% was
recorded in passenger services. Since 1993, the Gdańsk
airport has been a commercial code company owned chiefly
by the local government authorities and strictly compliant
with the European Union’s highest standards. In 2004, the
modern and continuously developing airport was named after
Lech Wałęsa, the leader of Solidarity and former president of
Poland. Aircraft from Gdańsk fly to Rome, London, Hamburg,
Copenhagen, Oslo, Dublin, Brussels, Dortmund, Frankfurt,
Cologne and more.
Poviats, cities, the Tri-City
Pomorskie attracts not only with its remarkable climate
and atmosphere of tolerance. It is home to the only Polish
metropolitan area which includes three cities: Gdańsk, Gdynia
and Sopot, linked with the transport service of the SKM Rapid
Urban Rail. It is an unprecedented community of three cities
of entirely different character. Each of them provides its own
exceptional attractions, which makes the Tri-City so magnetic
and diverse. The entire population of Pomorskie is 2 210 920.
Pomorskie’s largest cities include:
Gdańsk Gdynia Słupsk Tczew Starogard Gdański Wejherowo Sopot Malbork Chojnice Kwidzyn Did you know that
Business and folklore are in perfect harmony in
Kashubia. Szymbark is home to Poland’s only
house standing upside down. Developed by Daniel
Czapiewski, founder of the Regional Education
and Promotion Centre, the house is a unique
landmark.
(461.6
(253.8
(98.7
(60.1
(48.9
(44.7
(40.3
(40.1
(39.4
( 37.4
thousand)
thousand)
thousand)
thousand)
thousand)
thousand)
thousand)
thousand)
thousand)
thousand)
Next to the above, there are 16 rural poviats (counties) and
4 cities with poviat (county) rights: Gdańsk, Gdynia, Słupsk,
Sopot.
On course
for Europe
20
Set course for POMORSKIE
The people of Pomorskie have played a key role in shaping the democratic
processes in new Europe without divides. Their fight against totalitarianism along
with respect for freedom and independence paved the way for transformation in
the entire communist bloc.
New Europe, New Opportunities
European politicians are in no doubt as to the significance
of the events in the Tri-City in 1980 and 1989. The people of
Pomorskie have demonstrated that they take things seriously
at history’s important moments. Pomorskie boasted Poland’s
highest turnout at the 2003 accession referendum and the
biggest number of people voted yes to Europe (80 per cent).
Even in the first years of Poland’s membership in the European
Union it was clear that Pomorskie rose to the occasion the
Community offered. In five years the region has made great
progress. The Lisbon Council, a Brussels-based research
institute, rated Poland Europe’s most competitive economy
after Finland. The biggest beneficiaries of EU assistance
among the fifteen member states, that is Spain and Greece,
are behind us. Poles appreciate the positive results of EU
membership. We are the EU’s greatest enthusiasts.
No opportunities wasted
Pomorskie’s preparation for effective use of EU funds began
as early as 1999. Until 2004 the region’s beneficiaries received
more than PLN 700 million, mainly under programmes such
as ISPA, Phare and SAPARD, with funding available for rural
development.
We have been able to use Structural Funds, which are the
Community’s most important element of cohesion policy,
since 2004. The year before Poland’s accession to the EU was
spent preparing for the new challenges. Regional authorities
had to learn how to manage the regional component of the
Integrated Regional Operational Programme.
Did you know that
After accession to the European Union in
Pomorskie:
- GDP per capita increased to reach 50.4% of the
EU average
- productivity went up to 65.1% of the EU average
- employment went up to 53.2%
- exports went up by 36%
For years Pomorskie has been one of Poland’s top regions,
with the highest absorption rate. By the end of February 2009
the region had signed funding agreements for PLN 739 million,
which is 102.76 per cent of all funding available to Pomorskie.
The IROP helped accomplish many important projects. They
include the National Sailing Centre, the Hewelianum Centre
and the building of the Faculty of Electronics and Informatics
of the Gdańsk University of Technology. Altogether the region
is delivering 590 projects. A lot of the funding will support
projects in small towns. Health care and roads have been an
important objective of the IROP.
Pomorskie has used the opportunity that it was given on 1
May 2004. In EU programmes of the period 2004-2006 alone
the region was able to obtain PLN 3 billion. Pomorskie’s
regional budget is about one billion. So far none of the EU
fifteen have been able to make full use of EU assistance. It is
not a problem for Pomorskie though. The region successfully
used the money under the Integrated Regional Operational
Programme.
The region’s vision is that by 2020 Pomorskie will be:
“an important partner in the Baltic Sea Region
– a region of clean environment; high quality of
life; knowledge-based development, skills, active
participation and openness of the community;
strong and diversified economy; partnership;
attractive and consistently managed space and
multicultural heritage, maritime and solidarity
traditions.”
The end of a journey can be the start of a new one
– especially here in Pomorskie, where the present,
past and future are intertwined to form a colourful
kaleidoscope which takes time to be explored.
Exploring Pomorskie could take a lifetime, because
living here means you are on course for a good
journey.
Published by:
Office of the Marshal of the Pomorskie Voivodeship
ul. Okopowa 21/27, 80-810 Gdańsk
tel.: + 48 58 32 68 555
fax: + 48 58 32 68 556
e-mail: info@woj-pomorskie.pl
www.woj-pomorskie.pl
www.wrotapomorza.pl
Graphic layout:
Mr. Bloom Sp. z o.o., Sopot
Photographs:
Maciej Kosycarz, Sławomir Lewan­dowski,
Stanisław Składanowski, Kacper Kowalski,
Wojciech Stróżyk, Sebastian Elijasz, Wojciech Jakubowski,
Tomasz Konopacki, Ryszard Petrajtis,
Gdynia Centre of Innovation / Pomeranian Science and Technology Park,
National Museum in Gdańsk,
Office of the Marshal of the Pomorskie Voivodeship,
www.shutterstock.com
Important addresses:
Pomorskie Regional Office in Brussels
Scotland House
Rond-Point Schuman 6
B-1040 Bruksela
Belgia
tel.: +32 2 282 84 11
fax: +32 2 282 84 12
Pomorskie in the European Union Association
ul. Długi Targ 8-10
80-828 Gdańsk
tel.: +48 58 32 68 709
fax: +48 58 32 68 709
www.pomorskie-eu.pl
ul. Okopowa 21/27, 80-810 Gdańsk
tel.: + 48 58 32 68 555, faks: + 48 58 32 68 556
e-mail: info@woj-pomorskie.pl
www.woj-pomorskie.pl, www.wrotapomorza.pl, www.pomerania.eu