The region in brief

Pomorskie Region, situated in northern Poland on the Baltic Sea coast, is one of the most attractive and rapidly developing Polish regions. The major coastal cities are its capital Gdańsk, Gdynia and seaside resort Sopot. Together these create the Tricity Metropolitan Area, the major cultural centre and regional economic engine.

The region attracts investors and entrepreneurs with seaports in Gdańsk and Gdynia, two Special Economic Zones and the proximity of an international airport facilitating exchange with other regions within Poland and beyond. In  2014 Pomorskie was the fifth biggest region in Poland in terms of gross value-added (GVA). The region recorded a GDP per capita of € 10,000 (2014). The region’s unemployment rate was at 9%. Pomorskie has a population of over 2,302,000 with a population density of 126 Inhabitants/km².

Outside of urban areas, Pomorskie is characterised by a beautiful coastline, farmlands and numerous lakes and forests. The region has many attractive destinations and cultural events to offer its citizens and tourists.

The blue economy in Pomorskie today

Business and services outsourcing, ICT, manufacturing, logistics and energy are all driving forces in the economy of Pomorskie Region. Energy, in particular manufacturing for the offshore sector, is perceived as one of the region’s priorities. Mainly Polish companies (Remontowa Holding, Crist, Vistal and EPG) deliver specialised PSV vessels, heavy lift jack-up vessels and offshore constructions to ship owners from Norway, the UK, Denmark and the United States. Apart from manufacturing for offshore, Gdansk and Gdynia have become a leading Baltic centre of traditional shipbuilding, including advanced LNG ferries, Arctic container vessels, luxurious yachts, ship repairs and conversions and ship design. The region’s seaside location (together with rich shipbuilding traditions) brings out the best of the region.

The Port of Gdansk – a major international transportation hub situated in the central part of the southern Baltic coast (one of Europe's fastest growing regions) – plays a significant role as a key link in the Trans-European Transport Corridor No. 1. It connects the Nordic countries with Southern and Eastern Europe. The largest container ship in the world, Maersk McKinney Moller (with a length of 400 meters), moored in Gdansk in 2013.

Tricity is a unique conglomeration of academia, with 26 higher education institutions offering a wide range of education at the highest level: Gdynia Maritime University (the largest maritime university in Europe), Gdansk University of Technology, the Naval Academy, University of Gdansk, University of Medical Sciences, Academy of Music, Academy of Fine Arts, University of Physical Education and Sport. Additionally there are many research institutes in the region: Maritime Institute in Gdansk, Institute of Oceanology PAS, Institute of Hydro-Engineering  PAS, Institute of Fluid-flow Machinery PAS and many others. 

The Blue Economy of tomorrow in Pomorskie – our vision

Advantages and potential for excellence in the region have been identified within four Pomorskie Smart Specialisations (PSS):

1) Offshore technologies, ports and logistics – Blue Economy;
2) Interactive technologies within an informatics environment ;
3) Eco-efficient technologies in the production, transmission, distribution and consumption of energy and fuel and construction;
4) Medical technology for lifestyle diseases and the elderly.

The stakeholders mobilised in this PSS selection process agreed that this Blue Economy PSS should aim to increase the growth rate of Blue Economy enterprises and enhance their international competitiveness by carrying out the R&D and development of innovative products, services and technologies, bearing in mind environmentally sound exploration and exploitation of marine resources. Some 96 entities, including 54 entrepreneurs, are signatories to the partnership agreement concluded with the Marshal of Pomorskie.  Pomorskie, together with Western Pomerania Region, initiated the process leading to the establishment of a “blue” national smart specialisation, the scope of which coincides with the blue PSS.

 The “Off-shore, port and logistics technologies” PSS comprises:

• Universal solutions for the exploitation of marine resources;
• Vehicles and vessels to be used in the marine and coastal environment;
• Equipment, techniques and systems for monitoring and cleaning the marine environment and its facilities;
• Innovative ways and technologies for using natural compounds produced by marine organisms;
• Technologies, equipment and processes with the aim of improving the safety and efficiency of transport and logistics services in ports as well as their hinterlands and forelands.

The potential for development of Pomorskie’s Blue Economy is expressed in the proposed activities of the “Off-shore, port and logistics technologies” PSS, which among others foresees:

• development of new technologies (including "know-how") for acquisition of unique natural compounds produced by marine organisms and their use for the production of drugs, cosmetics and food;
• design and construction of specialty vehicles and transport equipment to perform the tasks associated with the operation of marine resources and coastal areas;
• implementation of a demonstration project of offshore wind turbines of 7-8 MW with the transmission system;
• applied research on wave power absorbers;
• construction and commissioning of a universal, modular, multi-tasking platform for research and measuring enabling to conduct in real conditions a wide range of research.

Transnational cooperation interests in Blue Growth

Maritime Technology (shipbuilding): Building/ developing/ testing of autonomous ships, Alternative drive technologies, New materials/ technical methods “to reduce costs” 

Ports: Efficiency of port operations (Modernisation of logistics and handling)

Blue energy (building of plants & systems/ operation & management): New designs and new engines for offshore wind mills as well as installation, operation and monitoring as well as decommissioning in the offshore wind sector 

Blue biotechnology: Blue Biotechnology for health/pharmaceutics

Aquaculture: Designing aquaculture facilities and in the combined use of aquaculture and offshore wind farms

Monitoring and other marine technologies: Seabed mining and safety systems on the sea

Health treatment: Safety issues offshore