Representatives of institutions cooperating within 4Podlaskie had the opportunity to see first-hand how science and business in Podlasie respond to contemporary market and environmental challenges. The event took place at a special moment: immediately after the International 4Podlaskie Conference ‘Innovations in Agriculture, Food and Health. Cooperation – Technologies – Funding’ (23 June 2026) and the first edition of the natureTECH Forum at Bialystok University of Technology (22 June 2026).
The foreign partners of 4Podlaskie were welcomed at Bialystok University of Technology by Assoc. Prof. Dorota Krawczyk, DSc, PhD, Eng., Vice-Rector for International Cooperation.
– We are delighted to welcome our partners from Finland, Spain and Romania – said Assoc. Prof. Dorota Krawczyk, DSc, PhD, Eng. – Cooperation with universities and institutions from these countries is among our strategic priorities. We are open both to scientific partnerships and close relations with the business sector. I sincerely hope that the presentation of our laboratories will translate into concrete joint initiatives.
Presentation of research potential
The visit programme included tours of the most advanced R&D laboratories located at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.
The guests learned about the unique research facilities of the interdisciplinary natureTECH Centre for Natural Products Research at Bialystok University of Technology, which develops and implements innovative technologies based on natural raw materials for the agricultural, forestry, food, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
– We are presenting what we have best – our research and development facilities, which directly support, among other things, the implementation of our tasks within the 4Podlaskie project. Our projects are consistent with the region’s smart specialisations, the strategy of the Podlaskie Voivodeship and the University’s own strategy – explained Assoc. Prof. Monika Kalinowska, DSc, PhD, Eng., Director of the natureTECH Centre. – We are hosting representatives of strong centres operating in the agri-food and biotechnology sectors. We hope that these contacts will result in new R&D projects.
The value of international networking and the potential of interdisciplinary research consortia were also emphasised by Ewa Zapora, PhD, from the Institute of Forest Sciences at Bialystok University of Technology and co-founder of natureTECH:
– Representatives from Finland, Spain and Romania are partners whom we have also had the opportunity to host. We hope that these meetings will lead to concrete projects, including within prestigious cross-cutting programmes, where we have already identified international leaders. Presenting the research potential of Bialystok University of Technology is an excellent way to receive invitations to international consortia, which is crucial for the development of our University.
The aim of the natureTECH Centre for Natural Products Research at Bialystok University of Technology is to intensify the University’s activities related not only to the development but also to the dissemination of the best technologies in the areas of agrifood, biotechnology and food production.
In the chemical, biotechnology, agri-food engineering and solid fuel combustion laboratories, as well as in microscopy and biomaterials laboratories, our researchers presented advanced technologies and the University’s modern research equipment. They also discussed long-standing research into the utilisation of industrial waste and the development of solutions for its effective processing into valuable raw materials, which perfectly aligns with the principles of the circular economy.
– We are able to precisely indicate to farmers and food processors real opportunities for managing waste generated on their farms and in their facilities in order to generate clean energy independently. All post-production residues can be utilised in many different ways: for food, feed, fertiliser or fuel purposes – said Prof. Sławomir Obidziński, DSc, PhD, Eng., from the Department of Agri-Food Engineering and Environmental Management at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences of Bialystok University of Technology. – By combining brewery and construction waste, we create valuable soil and lime fertilisers. We have also implemented technologies for producing fuel pellets with the addition of potato flour and waste rice cakes. The same raw materials can be used as components of feed mixtures or – due to their valuable nutritional properties – as a basis for producing fibre and other innovative food products.
The Podlasie Ecosystem at a glance
The three-day programme of the foreign guests’ stay in the region was designed to demonstrate the full synergy between science and business taking place within the Innovation Ecosystem Agricultural Valley 4.0. The main objective of this initiative is comprehensive R&D networking, connecting entrepreneurs with one another, businesses with researchers, and scientists from different academic centres.
The delegation visited:
- partner universities involved in the project: Bialystok University of Technology, the University of Bialystok and the Medical University of Bialystok;
- companies: Medgal Sp. z o.o. (a leading manufacturer of medical implants), Cztery Szpaki (a renowned producer of natural cosmetics) and Kuchnia Wikinga (one of the largest producers in the meal delivery sector in Poland and Europe).
At the Marshal’s Office of the Podlaskie Voivodeship, they met with Marshal Łukasz Prokorym and Member of the Board of the Podlaskie Voivodeship Jacek Piorunek.
– We wanted to show our partners the full potential of the Innovation Ecosystem Agricultural Valley 4.0, in which key universities from Podlasie closely cooperate with modern businesses – explained the organisers of the visit.
Connecting people is the foundation
The importance of direct meetings and the exchange of ideas was highlighted by Dr Urszula Ala-Karvia, representing the Ruralia Institute of the University of Helsinki in Finland:
– We first met the 4Podlaskie project team last year in Seinäjoki, Finland, during an event organised by us. It took literally five minutes of conversation for a connection to emerge. We have already attempted to jointly apply for funding from the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme. Today, we are here to continue discovering this region, which was previously completely unknown to us – said the Finnish researcher of Polish origin. – I think that during this visit each of us found something fascinating for ourselves: from regional policy, through laboratories and technology, to advanced scientific research into metabolism. The most valuable thing is that this knowledge stays with us. When, in the future, one of our partners in Finland presents a specific research or technological need, we will immediately be able to say: ‘We know who can help you – we have excellent partners in Poland.’ This kind of networking and building connections is the absolute foundation of modern science.
The future shaped by innovation
The visit of foreign delegations from Finland, Spain and Romania proved that the challenges facing the agri-food sector are common to the whole of Europe. Thanks to its developed infrastructure, interdisciplinary teams and active involvement in the Innovation Ecosystem Agricultural Valley 4.0 project, Bialystok University of Technology is consistently strengthening its position as a key regional technology hub with an international reach.
The University contributes expert knowledge and modern laboratory infrastructure to the implementation of the initiative. Among the flagship products and systems developed by Bialystok University of Technology in cooperation with 4Podlaskie are:
- Natural Calf Feed – an innovative formula developed through cooperation between researchers and practitioners, aimed at improving milk and meat quality and providing comprehensive support for sustainable livestock farming;
- A blockchain-based food traceability system – a modern digital solution ensuring full transparency throughout the entire supply chain, from producer to consumer.
Monika Rokicka
