Profile

The Bydgoszcz Metropolis Association unites 20 cities, towns, communes and districts from the western part of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Province in central Poland, with a population of over 600,000. Its members are united by common goals focused on developing the economic and tourist potential of the region. For several years now, the Association has been effectively contributing to better cooperation, positive relations and mutual trust between its partners, as well as building a sense of metropolitan community among its residents. For many years, Bydgoszcz, the main city of the Metropolis, has been perceived as an industrial centre, bringing together companies from sectors such as chemicals, food, electrical machinery and polymer processing. While this continues to be the city’s strength, today’s Bydgoszcz, together with the Metropolis communes, delights visitors with a plethora of tourist attractions, cultural events and entertainment options, and draws new significant investors from various sectors, particularly warehousing and logistics as well as modern business services. Year after year, the city climbs higher in the rankings of the most robust economic centres in Poland. The appeal of Bydgoszcz as a convenient business destination has been confirmed by numerous awards and distinctions, such as the 1st place in the World Bank’s “Doing Business in Poland 2015” ranking, two titles of the “Emerging City of the Year” in the CEE Business Services Awards in 2016 and 2019, and signs of distinction in other prestigious real estate contests such as CIJ Awards Poland or Eurobuild Awards. A diversified economy The well-developed manufacturing sector in Bydgoszcz continues to play an important role in the region’s economy. Although industrial companies represent less than 9% of the total number of businesses operating in Bydgoszcz, they employ more than half of the city’s working population. However, there is more to Bydgoszcz than industrial manufacturing. Over the past 20 years, the city has genuinely transformed, becoming one of the key IT centres and business services hubs. Bydgoszcz consistently implements the policy of “a city open to outsourcing” and strives to create the best possible milieu for investors. As a result, the modern business services sector has noted impressive growth in the city. Over a relatively short time, Bydgoszcz evolved into a seat of approx. 60 centres offering BPO, SSC, IT and R&D services while the number of new jobs has skyrocketed from 1,000 in 2010 to approx. 11,500 at present. The potential of Bydgoszcz has been noticed by a growing number of international companies which decide to open their branches here, appreciating the city’s convenient location, the wide range of available investment areas and office spaces, educated workforce and access to knowledge. Attractive options and investor support Another reason why the Bydgoszcz Metropolis attracts investors is that they can rely on comprehensive support from local government institutions and the business environment. Two dedicated companies have been set up by the city authorities for this purpose: the Bydgoszcz Regional Development Agency and the Bydgoszcz Industrial and Technological Park. Additional support structures in the area covered by the Bydgoszcz Metropolis Association include the Technology Park in Solec Kujawski and the Nadnotecki Industrial Park. The Bydgoszcz Regional Development Agency offers comprehensive “one-stop shop” support, enabling efficient and effective implementation of investment processes. With a dedicated project manager, investors can walk through the maze of formalities before setting up a business, obtain the required permits, find a suitable office, warehouse or land for investment. Specialists also provide information on current local costs, salaries and wages, support the recruitment process and inform investors about available investment incentives. Importantly, prospective investors can use a unique online database of investment options from the Bydgoszcz Metropolis Association at http://www.invest.barr.pl, which currently lists over 600 hectares of available investment land and facilities for various purposes. The Bydgoszcz Industrial and Technological Park (BITP) also offers attractive investment areas, located near an international airport and the pan-European VI A transport corridor. The E261 road conveniently connects Bydgoszcz with two major Polish cities, Poznań and Wrocław, close proximity to the A1 motorway enables fast travel between Bydgoszcz and Gdańsk in the north while the S5 expressway (currently under construction) and the planned S10 mean that the transport connectivity of the Metropolis will significantly improve in the coming years. Apart from investment areas, BITP offers rental of office premises as well as conference and training facilities to business clients. A special office building was constructed in the BITP for newly established businesses and people who appreciate freedom, independence and comfortable working conditions. Naturally, Bydgoszcz has many other modern office facilities to choose from, with over 136,000 square metres of high-standard premises today. Investments under construction include many A class buildings with top-quality office facilities, and the Grand Prix winner in the “Pomerania and Kujawy 2018 Winning Constructions” competition. New office buildings attract users not only with their top class finish, but also attractive central locations, easy access to public transport, as well as numerous technological facilities or customisable spaces. The market of warehouse and production facilities in Bydgoszcz is also expanding rapidly. Currently, entrepreneurs can choose from approx. 470 thousand square metres of modern warehouse space. Approximately 340 thousand sq. m remain under planning and construction in Bydgoszcz, with an additional 435 thousand sq. m in neighbouring communes. Development companies offer high-quality warehouse facilities, perfectly connected with the emerging road infrastructure. Qualified workforce A rapidly expanding market of services and a thriving manufacturing sector generate a constant demand for qualified workforce. Bydgoszcz is the largest academic centre in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Province, with ten universities educating nearly 30,000 people, and nearly 7,000 graduates entering the labour market every year. In the whole region, the number of graduates reaches approx. 14,000 per year. The region can boast high-quality education and teaching programmes adapted to the needs of the labour market. Universities with long-standing traditions in technology, medical sciences and humanities are the cradles of excellent workforce. Local businesses and investors gladly join forces with the academia, giving university students and secondary school pupils an opportunity to explore their own technologies and working environment. With a strong record of good practices, curricula have been designed and partner degree programmes created at universities and secondary schools with a significant involvement of local businesses. Universities work not only with major corporations but also with smaller businesses that cannot afford to set up their own R&D sections and run expensive research. As part of Technology Transfer Centres established at the Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology and Kazimierz Wielki University, authors of business ideas are assisted by the universities and their facilities to develop and commercialise innovative solutions. An interesting travel destination It is no coincidence that Bydgoszcz made it to the Top10 in the prestigious European Best Destination 2020 ranking. Together with other member communes and poviats, the Bydgoszcz Metropolis represents a unique area with plenty of exciting attractions. Undoubtedly, the Brda river is the greatest treasure of Bydgoszcz, flowing through the very centre of the city and hosting numerous events along its banks. Walking along the boulevards, taking a break on the Młyńska Island, or discovering the city’s past along the TeH20 Route of Water, Industry and Crafts, visitors will discover an extraordinary city. Despite its scale and vibrancy of a large urban centre, it lives at its own rhythm. All this creates a special harmony of the city, far from monotony and yet radiating peace and balance. The centre of Bydgoszcz, with its main streets and squares, is vibrant all year round while many smaller lanes are the place to go to find alternative cafés and restaurants, unusual museums and hydraulic engineering monuments connected with the city’s industrial past, as well as the local market of regional products. These places and, above all, the people who can be met there create a unique ambiance of Bydgoszcz. Visitors will soon realise it certainly deserves a visit to experience the charms of the city and may want to return here again, or even build a long-lasting bond. Enchanting places can also be discovered in other parts of the Bydgoszcz Metropolis. Whichever direction travellers might choose, they will experience an amazing diversity with contrasts that will surprise and inspire them. The most famous destinations include Biskupin and Wenecja, the Nadwiślański Landscape Park and the Noteć River Valley. Every year, the Association’s communes host famous events: the Plum Festival in Strzelce Dolne, “Music in the Moonlight” concerts in Lubostroń, Łabiszyń Encounters with History or the Cistercian Fair and the re-enactment of the Battle of Koronowo, as well as numerous sports attractions, in particular athletic competitions that attract crowds of visitors who want to see excellent contestants from around the world. The Bydgoszcz Metropolis is an important business and academic centre with numerous cultural and sports events taking place here as well. It is a place of thriving modern economy and global success in business. This is where the idea of work-life balance finds a practical application. Here beats the heart of the Pomerania and Kujawy region!