What can be done to make the IT industry in Wroclaw thrive by 2037? Create inclusive spaces and support the building of a strong technology community.
Among other things, these are the conclusions of the report "Digital Co-creation and other scenarios for the future ICT development in the Wroclaw Agglomeration 2037" prepared by the Wroclaw Agglomeration Development Agency and infuture institute.
"An engaged and inclusive ICT community operating at the intersection of business, education and government" and "the design of an integrated, complete and welcoming urban space in the Wrocław Agglomeration to meet the needs of a diverse group of residents and employees" were cited as the first two factors supporting the development of the technology industry in Wrocław.
If so, we have a sense that at Concordia Design Wrocław, the future did not even begin today. It started yesterday.
First, thanks to the internal community of companies that Lukasz Lergetporer talked about quite recently.
A significant part of it is formed by IT companies, which additionally connect in our space with companies from the creative industry. At the same time, we observe the value and formation of the technology community during the numerous conferences, meetups or workshops held in our space.
In 2022, there were plenty of such events, and 30 percent of them were organized by representatives of the IT industry. We think that in the following years these statistics will increase even more. There will be both specialized events (conferences and workshops on a particular technology or specialization) and multidisciplinary events (covering a wide range of technological or business topics).
Instead, the idea of "designing an integrated, complete and friendly urban space in the Wroclaw Agglomeration to meet the needs of a diverse group of residents and employees" was actually behind the creation of Concordia.
Hence, we combine renting offices and creating a community with organizing open and business events, as well as running a restaurant. We are visited annually by several thousand people, including, of course, representatives of IT companies. We are a place for them to have fun (corporate events, team-building events or Christmas parties), as well as to spend time privately with family or friends.
Interestingly, experts from ARAW and the infuture institute, drawing the most positive scenario for the development of the IT industry (the so-called growth scenario), pointed to the need to build a creative space in the city of a "future lab" type. Honestly? We feel such a place already.
In this context, I am reminded of the tests that the PayEye startup conducted with the participation of residents in our city, checking the innovative technology of paying with the eye. Today it is one of the most promising products of the future coming out of Wroclaw.