Wiesław Skwarko
Vice-President of Łukasiewicz Research Network. He is a graduate of the Faculty of Foreign Trade of SGPiS (currently the Warsaw School of Economics) and postgraduate studies at the same university: Economic Problems of the Electricity Sector. He also completed the Pedagogical Improvement Study (specialization: education of academic teachers). He completed his research internship at the Norwegian Business School in Bergen. He took part in numerous specialist courses in the field of financial analyzes and valuations.
He began his professional career at the Institute of International Marketing at the SGH in Warsaw. He was a Partner and Director at Access Sp. z o. o., Member of the Management Board of Rothschild Corporate Finance Poland, Director of the Privatization Office in Nafta Polska S.A. and Director for Financial Strategy at the CTL Logistics Group. In the following years, he served as a Member of the Management Board and Liquidator at Nafta Polska S.A. and Vice-President of the Management Board of Grupa Azoty ZAK S.A.. He also served as the President of the Management Board of the Kędzierzyn-Koźle Industrial Park. In recent years, he ran his own business and was the Director of Strategy, Development and Finance at the Polish Center for Research and Accreditation S.A.
Wiesław Skwarko also acted on supervisory boards. He was the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Zakłady Azotowe w Tarnowie-Mościce S.A., Zakłady Azotowe Kędzierzyn S.A., Grupa LOTOS S.A. In the years 2019-2024, he was the Chairman of the Board of the Network Institute in Łukasiewicz – Institute of Heavy Organic Synthesis “Blachownia”. He has the qualifications of a securities broker and has passed an exam for candidates for members of supervisory boards in State Treasury companies.
Magdalena Bem-Andrzejewska
A manager with twenty years of experience in public administration, specializing in issues related to R&D in the context of international cooperation, communication and promotion. Representative of the Republic of Poland in many international bodies, incl. OECD committees, European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures, Strategic Forum for International S&T Cooperation, and High Council at the European University Institute in Florence. In different managerial positions at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, she was responsible, inter alia, for creating many initiatives to popularize science and comprehensive communication of the implementation of the reform of higher education and science, also in international relations. From 2020, director of the National Contact Point for Horizon Europe, operating within the structures of the NCBR. She coordinates the official Polish support system, consisting of the NCP and a network of Horizontal Contact Points in 12 key academic centers.
dr hab. Patrycja Matusz
Professor Patrycja Matusz is the Vice-Rector for Internationalization at the University of Wrocław and a key figure in the development of the university’s global presence. She also serves as the Proxy for the Excellence Initiative - Research University Project and is actively involved in the European University Alliance ArQus. A Professor of Political Science, her research interests primarily focus on migration and integration, public policies, education, and the management of higher education.
With extensive experience in international research collaborations, Professor Matusz has been involved in numerous projects, particularly those financed by the Horizon 2020 program. Over the years, she has gained a reputation for her expertise in shaping policy and driving research initiatives at the intersection of social sciences and education.
In addition to her academic role, Patrycja Matusz has served as an expert for various public institutions both in Poland and internationally. Her advisory work includes contributions to the Federal Ministry of Education and Research in Germany, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education in Poland, the Ministry of Higher Education and Research in France, and the Council of Europe.
Currently, Professor Matusz is the Plenipotentiary of the Minister of Science for European Affairs and the Presidency of the Republic of Poland in the Council of the European Union, where she plays a pivotal role in shaping Poland’s position within the European Union, particularly in relation to higher education and research. She also contributes to the strategic priorities of Poland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Professor Matusz’s work continues to influence the evolution of higher education policies and international research collaboration, and she remains dedicated to advancing Europe’s role as a global leader in research and innovation.
Jacek Wasik
Jacek Wasik, currently acting director of the European Parliament Office in Wrocław. Associated with the European Parliament Office in Poland since May 2023. Previously, for five years, he served as director of the Regional Representation of the European Commission in Wrocław. Associated with the European Commission since 2005. In 2011-2018, he served as the representative for multilingualism of the Directorate-General for Translation (DGT) at the Representation of the European Commission in Poland. He spent 2005-2011 in Luxembourg, where he worked as a translator and deputy head of the translation department in the Department of Polish Language at DGT. He holds an MA in Italian studies from the Jagiellonian University. He also studied at the University of Warsaw (postgraduate studies in European integration), the Silesian University of Technology (postgraduate studies in civil aviation in the EU) and the University of Economics in Kraków (postgraduate studies in economics and management).
Paweł Sołtys
Co-founder and president of Radio 357, Poland's leading internet broadcasting service and largest community-financed media project worldwide.
From 2017 to 2020, head of audiovisual projects at Bonnier Business Polska publishing house. From 2008 to 2018, business journalist at Polish Radio's Channel 3. In 2014-2015, deputy editor-in-chief of the Polish edition of Bloomberg Businessweek.
In his spare time, he is a Legia Warsaw fan and an alpine skiing enthusiast (from 2016 to 2020, he was a commentator on this discipline for Eurosport Polska).
Marta Winiarska
President of the Board of Polish Union of Innovative Medical Biotech Companies BioInMed – lawyer, manager, public affairs expert in healthcare and pharmaceutical sector. A graduate of the law faculty at the Lazarski University (specialization: intellectual property protection), as well as postgraduate studies in management at the University of Warsaw and the Warsaw School of Economics. She also completed postgraduate studies at PR Academy.
For years she is associated with economic, innovation and healthcare issues. At the beginning of professional path, she was a journalist of the Polish Radio 3. In the following years, a spokesman, advisor, head of economic and healthcare departments in PR agencies.
She cooperated closely with the Ministry of Development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Environment on projects aimed at the acceleration of start-ups and innovative SMEs and international expansion of Polish entrepreneurs i.a. to Great Britain, China, Russia, Germany or the Czech Republic. She co-organized the Polish-American Innovation Week in California in 2014.
For almost 5 years, she was responsible for PR and PA stategy in The Employers' Union of Innovative Pharmaceutical Companies INFARMA, representing organization, i.a. in Parliament, at the Social Dialogue Council, at industry conferences and in the media.
From October 1, 2021, she is developing the BioInMed industry association, aimed at building an ecosystem that allows for the dynamic development of the medical biotechnology sector in Poland. She cooperates with the Medical Research Agency, the National Center for Research and Development or the Polish Investment and Trade Agency and other government administration entities, as well as with business environment institutions, e.g. cluster of New Medical Technologies NTMed or the Warsaw Stock Exchange.
In 2023, she was listed among the 50 most influential women in healthcare in the "Woman of the Health Market" ranking.
dr Joanna Lipner
Dr Joanna Lipner is a graduate of the Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences. She gained professional experience in Drug Discovery & Development while working in the R&D departments of Celon Pharma and Molecure. Since 2019, she has been working with Dr. Anna Krause and Dr. Stanisław Pikul to develop Pikralida, a young biotech company focused on developing innovative therapies. Joanna has experience in managing R&D projects as well as in building and managing a new company.
Magdalena Jabłońska
Magdalena Jabłońska has 20 years of experience as a business advisor, primarily in supporting innovation and R&D ventures. She began her career in innovation advisory at consulting firms such as Deloitte and PwC. Since 2016, she has been applying her expertise and passion for innovation at the Foundation for Tech Entrepreneurship, which significantly contributes to the development of the innovation ecosystem, particularly tech startups, through initiatives like the StarSmart CEE acceleration program and incubation programs. Her experience includes developing effective collaboration models in the dynamic innovation landscape.
In addition, as of September 2024, she is Co-Head of the CleanTech for CEE initiative, which focuses on promoting clean air technologies in Central and Eastern Europe. This initiative, in partnership with Breakthrough Energy and the Clean Air Fund, addresses air quality, climate change, and economic challenges. CleanTech for CEE connects startups, research institutions, and international investors, fostering collaboration and overcoming barriers to the energy transition in the region.
dr hab. Leszek Kwieciński
Acting director of the Łukasiewicz Research Network — ITECH Institute of Innovation and Technology. Research employee at the University of Wrocław. Scientific interests of prof. L. Kwieciński's research focuses on innovation policy, academic entrepreneurship and the processes of Europeanization and public management. In the years 2016-2020, Member of the NCBR Council and the Audiovisual Technologies Center in Wrocław (currently Wrocławska Wytwórnia Filmów Fabularnych). He completed numerous internships abroad, including: WISTA Technologie Park Berlin, Stanford University, Technische Univeristät Dresden, Staatskanzlei Dresden, Turku School of Economics, Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft Köln, Ruhr-Universtät Bochum, State University of St. Petersburg or Charles University Prague. Member of the Board of Advisors of the Business Center Club - Lower Silesian Lodge. External expert in the National Foresight Program Poland 2020, participant in the work of working groups for the preparation of the Lower Silesian Innovation Strategy (2004 and 2011) and working groups for the preparation of the Development Strategy of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship (SRWD) for 2007-13 and 2014-2020. Since 2019, he has been the Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Strategic Program of Scientific Research and Development "Social and Economic Development of Poland in the Conditions of Globalizing markets" - GOSPOSTRATEG.
Krzysztof Gulda
Krzysztof Gulda, entrepreneur, researcher, strategist in public and privet sector, international consultant, has gained unique, multidisciplinary experience in all sectors of the knowledge triangle. Strongly engaged in support for commercialisation and spin-off creation from the University of Warsaw, where more than 25 years ago organized the Technology Transfer Centre and for last 8 years is running as Board Member the UWRC Ltd. – University of Warsaw SPV company organised to manage portfolio of companies established by researchers or students.
Graduated from Physics Faculty of Warsaw University and Postgraduate Study on Intellectual Property at Warsaw University, brings together understanding of advanced technologies and research methodology with focus on IP management and commercialisation. For more than 10 years actively participated in shaping Polish and European Research and Innovation Policy as a department director in the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, member of the Polish Science Policy Committee, Council Member of the National Centre for Research and Development in Poland and vice-chair of the European Research Area and Innovation Committee (ERAC).
Expert in academic entrepreneurship from pre-incubation programmes, business model development for start-ups, to seed and vc capital raising.
Maria Śmietanka PhD.
For many years connected with the research and innovation ecosystem in her professional life. A former researcher in the field of environmental modelling, participated in numerous national and international research projects. Her scientifical specializations are environmental protection, remote sensing and sustainable solutions. For almost 10 years at the National Contact Point, she has been supporting Polish participation in subsequent research and innovation programs of the European Union – Horizon 2020, and currently Horizon Europe. Now as a Deputy Director of National Contact Point operating within the structures of the NCBR helps in coordinating the official Polish support system consisting of the NCPs in the entire thematic scope of Horizon Europe programme.
Maciej Kamiński
Director of Technology Transfer Centre at University of Wroclaw, PhD candidate in fields of public policy of coastal cities, entrepreneur and expert in fields of municipal economy, city public policy, housing and real estate market.
dr inż. Dariusz Łukaszewski
Dariusz Łukaszewski, an Innovation Manager with experience across private, public, non-profit, and EU institutions. His expertise includes collaboration on R&D projects with industrial and SME partners operating in diverse sectors such as automotive, electronics, and telecommunications.
dr inż. Adrianna Pawlik
Adrianna is an expert with a scientific background in animal genetics and 10 years of experience in managing, evaluating and funding Research and Development projects. Currently she works at the National Contact Point for Cluster 6 of Horizon Europe at the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR). In this role, Adrianna provides consultations for participation in framework programmes, ensures constant communication between the European Commission and national stakeholders, conducts area analyses, and collaborates with ministries to incorporate national priorities into EC documents. Previously she coordinated programmes and projects in the agri-environmental sector, evaluated funding applications, and represented NCBR at national and international conferences and workshops. Adrianna holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences with a specialization in Animal Science from the Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences. She has led and participated in several significant research projects. Her primary interest is to support the sustainable development of food systems while staying within our planet's boundaries. Adrianna strongly advocates for nature-based solutions and deep ecology. She is passionate about finding the perfect balance between economic growth and environmental protection and regeneration.
Katarzyna Kulikowska
EU Projects Expert at FundingBox. Master degree in Administration (Warsaw University of Technology) and in Finance and Accountancy (Warsaw University of Life Sciences). Since 2008 she has been involved in Polish National Grants design and management for public bodies and SMEs, later in innovation, IT and R&D related projects (national and international scale), obtaining over 30 million Euros for external clients.
She joined Econet Group (now the FundingBox Group) in 2012. Since September 2020 works in R&I innovation-related projects design for European Work Programmes: defining open calls and FSTP approach, partners mapping and other services like support programmes or communication & dissemination activities.
Barbara Pastuszek-Lipińska
Andrzej Muter
Head of the LIFE Unit, National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management
Expert of the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in the field of financing environmental protection. Since 2007 involved in the implementation of the LIFE Programme in Poland. Co-author of the LIFE project co-financing system and LIFE NCP structures. Polish expert in the LIFE Committee of the European Commission.
Francesca Barisani, Phd
Francesca Barisani is the Chief of Outreach for the EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative. With over 15 years of experience in EU project management, strategic partnerships, and government affairs, Francesca specializes in upskilling and reskilling, helping to drive talent development and innovation in Europe’s deep tech sectors.
Speakers of breakout session: Unlocking the innovation potential with hydrogen
Szymon Byliński, Director of the Department of Electromobility and Innovation, Ministry of Climate and Environment
Prof. Jakub Kupecki, Director of the Institute of Power Engineering - National Research Institute
Żaneta Kłostowska, PhD, Director of Hydrogen Poland, Expert in innovation and development of hydrogen technologies TÜV SÜD Polska
She specializes in inter-cluster cooperation, internationalization, and policy development. As a key European Commission expert, she shapes hydrogen strategy at the EU level. She is also an academic lecturer, consultant, and co-author of EU hydrogen recommendations. Editor-in-chief of HydrogenPolska.biz and co-creator of the UwagaWodór! podcast.
Marlena Krohn, PhD, CEO, Hynfra; Vice President, Jordan Green Ammonia
She has worked for capital groups such as Alchemia, where she served as the director of the nonwoven fabrics division, responsible for machinery park logistics and introducing the product to the Polish market. She also held the position of CEO at Hutmen, specifically at Susmed, and at Boryszew ERG S.A., where she developed aviation chemistry products and introduced them to the European market.
She has also served as the chancellor of the Higher School of Hebrew Studies and as the CEO of Startova.pl, responsible for knowledge and technology transfer at the Nicolaus Copernicus University. She is the founder of the Kujawy Hydrogen Cluster.
Currently, she is the managing director at Hynfra P.S.A., responsible for leading infrastructure projects in the field of renewable hydrogen and green chemistry. She is also the vice president of Jordan Green Ammonia L.LC., implementing a green ammonia project in the Aqaba economic zone.
Alex Carr, Europe Policy Manager, Zero Carbon Fuels, CATF
She is Europe Policy Manager for Zero-Carbon Fuels at Clean Air Task Force (CATF). Her work targets the development and promotion of policies for the responsible deployment of clean hydrogen and its derivatives to decarbonise Europe’s hard-to-abate sectors.
She first joined CATF in 2023 as Program Manager for Zero-Carbon Fuels, supporting strategic program-wide activities. Alex has several years of experience delivering intricate programs of work on climate and energy policy, working on themes covering global coal phase out, just transition, climate-trade policy, and consumption-based emissions accounting patterns.
Prior to her time at CATF, she worked at E3G supporting the Fossil Fuel Transition program and Powering Past Coal Alliance on efforts to accelerate the coal-to-clean energy transition. She has also worked at the London School of Economics and at Climate Strategies delivering a range of climate and energy policy research projects.
Alex holds a BSc in Geography from Loughborough University and an MSc in Climate Change from the University of Copenhagen. She is based in Prague, Czech Republic.
Iwona Koltsov, PhD, Director of Hydrogen Technology Centre at the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Electrical Engineering
She is a Director of Hydrogen Technology Centre at the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Electrical Engineering in Poland. She has been working as an expert for Scottish Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Association (SHFCA), as well as an expert of European Commission in the Task Force groups related to innovation and materials characterization. Dr. Koltsov has 15+ years of experience working as researcher and manager in R&D area at Military University of Technology, Glasgow University and Institute of High Pressure Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, BREC Solutions. Dr Koltsov is a specialist in hydrogen technologies, nanotechnology, high temperature measurements of various materials. She is a leader of many scientific and industrial projects in the areas of hydrogen technologies and materials engineering.
Tomoho Umeda, President of Hydrogen Poland
Jakub Pikulski Director of STASTO AUTOMATION
Director of STASTO Automation, a company that provides innovative process valves to industries such as energy and fuel. Enthusiast of sustainable development, partnerships, social responsibility, and environmental care, he prioritizes these values over profit maximization. As a passionate advocate for hydrogen technology as a crucial element in achieving climate neutrality, he aims to contribute to the growth of a green economy by providing reliable and safe components for hydrogen infrastructure. He is the co-founder of the "Uwaga Wodór!" podcast, dedicated to energy transition and decarbonization, and conducts "Think Hydrogen" trainings to educate and inform individuals new to the hydrogen economy or seeking to update their knowledge. Holding degrees from the Warsaw School of Economics, Warsaw University of Technology, and the Management Center Innsbruck, he embodies the belief in lifelong learning and knowledge sharing.
*The list of event partners will be updated regularly.
