Interview with the Marshal of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship, Adam Struzik, MD, PhD, marking the co-organization of the 5th International Photonics and Quantum Job Fair

The 5th International Photonics and Quantum Job Fair brought together representatives of science and industry, as well as students, doctoral candidates, and other participants interested in photonics, quantum technologies, and R&D. The event took place on May 29, 2026, at the Faculty of Physics of the Warsaw University of Technology.

The program included, among other activities, a scientific symposium devoted to photonics and quantum technologies, the official opening of the fair, company presentations, award ceremonies for the best student scientific chapter and the best employer, as well as a networking session. Leading companies from the optics and photonics sectors, partners developing quantum technologies, and research institutions took part in the event, giving participants the opportunity to establish professional contacts and learn about internships, traineeships, and job opportunities.

The Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, and ICTER were scientific and strategic partners of the event and presented their activities at a joint stand. Visitors were welcomed by Anna Przybyło-Józefowicz, Wiktor Kulesza, and Patricio Espinoza, who introduced the activities of both institutions, answered questions, and discussed opportunities for collaboration and career development. Also attending the event were Prof. Adam Kubas, Director of the Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS, and Prof. Maciej Wojtkowski, Director of ICTER. Prof. Agnieszka Michota-Kamińska also presented the Excellence Cluster she leads at the Institute, “Advanced biomaterials and technologies for health”, as well as her research group, “Plasmonic nanostructures for bio-spectroscopic analysis.”

The event was organized by the Polish Photonics Society in cooperation with the Faculty of Physics of the Warsaw University of Technology, the Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS, ICTER, Sonovero R&D, and the Polish Technological Platform on Photonics. It was held under the honorary patronage of the Marshal of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship, Adam Struzik, MD, PhD.

During the official opening, led by representatives of the Photonics Society of Poland, the Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS, the Faculty of Physics of the Warsaw University of Technology, and ICTER, the Marshal was represented by Sylwia Sztark, Head of the Regional Innovation System Division in the Department of Regional Development and European Funds at the Office of the Marshal of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship in Warsaw, who welcomed participants and read the Marshal's letter addressed to attendees of the fair.

Below, we present an interview with the honorary patron of the event, the Marshal of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship, Adam Struzik, MD, PhD.

1. Mazovia as a region of innovation

Marshal, Mazovia brings together exceptional scientific, technological, and economic potential, from the Polish Academy of Sciences institutes and universities to research centers and innovative companies. In your view, what role does cooperation among science, public administration, and business play in building Mazovia’s position as a leading region of innovation?

Today, Mazovia is unquestionably the most important scientific and technological center in Poland. It brings together the largest number of universities, research institutes, R&D centers, and enterprises engaged in innovative activities. However, potential alone is not enough. A region’s competitive advantage depends above all on its ability to foster cooperation among science, business, and public administration.

The role of regional government is to create the conditions for such cooperation by building platforms for dialogue, supporting knowledge and technology transfer, and identifying areas with the greatest development potential. We support research and development partnerships, as well as projects carried out jointly by companies and scientific institutions. Thanks to EU and regional funds, innovations can move more quickly from the research stage to market implementation.

Particularly important to us are the areas of Mazovia’s smart specialization, which focus on building a business ecosystem, high-quality food, safe and intelligent infrastructure, and solutions aimed at improving the quality of life of the region’s residents. These are the areas where we concentrate our support because we see in them the greatest potential for economic development and job creation.

The most relevant technological breakthroughs today emerge at the intersection of different environments. That is why we support initiatives that connect researchers, entrepreneurs, and public institutions. It is through such partnerships that innovations can move more quickly from laboratories into the economy and into the everyday lives of residents.

I am convinced that Mazovia’s future position as a leader in innovation will depend not only on the quality of scientific research, but above all on the effectiveness of its implementation. And this is possible only through partnership among science, business, and public institutions.

2. Talent for the economy of the future

The 5th International Photonics and Quantum Job Fair demonstrates the strong interest among young people in careers in advanced technology sectors, as well as the growing importance of attracting and retaining highly qualified professionals. What measures is the self-government of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship taking, or planning to take, to support the development and retention in the region of scientists, engineers, and specialists who will help shape the economy of the future?

In a knowledge-based economy, people are the most valuable resource. That is why one of our most important challenges is to create conditions in which young scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs can develop their ideas, establish companies, and carry out ambitious projects here in Mazovia.

The voivodeship self-government supports the development of future-oriented skills by financing research and development projects, cooperation with universities and scientific institutions, and activities that foster technological entrepreneurship.

It is also worth emphasizing that we invest in talent development at earlier stages of education. Under the European Funds for Mazovia 2021–2027 program, through Measures 7.2 “Strengthening Students’ Competences” and 7.3 “Strengthening Students’ Competences in Integrated Territorial Investments,” we finance a range of projects that develop young people’s skills, support their aspirations, and bring education closer to the realities of the modern economy. We have allocated nearly PLN 500 million in EU funds and approximately PLN 130 million from the state budget to these activities. We see this investment as the foundation for building strong future talent: scientists, engineers, and specialists on whom Mazovia’s development will depend.

Through the European Funds for Mazovia program, we support both research infrastructure and projects carried out by companies in cooperation with scientific institutions. Equally important is building an attractive ecosystem for living and working. Today, young people choose not only a place of employment, but also an environment that offers opportunities for professional development, the possibility to pursue ambitious projects, and a high quality of life. In this respect, Mazovia has a great deal to offer.

We want Mazovia to be a natural place for the development of new technologies, from research and prototypes to market implementation and international expansion. The more innovative ventures develop here, the greater the chances of retaining the best specialists and attracting new talent from Poland and abroad.

Our ambition is to create a strong regional innovation ecosystem that will serve not only as a foundation for Polish technologies, but also as a starting point for their global development.

3. Funding and support for innovation

The development of breakthrough technologies requires long-term investment and appropriate support instruments. What opportunities offered by the regional government of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship should research teams, startups, and companies developing innovative technologies be paying attention to today?

Mazovia currently offers a broad range of instruments supporting the development of innovation, from scientific research to bringing new technologies to market.

A particularly important source of support is the European Funds for Mazovia 2021–2027 program, which enables the financing of research and development projects, investments in R&D infrastructure, implementation of innovations, and cooperation between companies and scientific institutions.

The scale of this support is significant. Under Measure 1.1 “Research, Development, and Innovation in Enterprises” of the European Funds for Mazovia 2021–2027 program alone, we have already co-financed dozens of R&D projects, modular projects, and investments in companies’ R&D infrastructure. The total value of EU co-financing awarded so far has exceeded PLN 248 million, with an additional nearly PLN 90 million directed toward the development of research infrastructure at scientific institutions. This shows that we support not only the creation of new technologies, but also the development of the research facilities necessary to advance them and bring them to market.

We also support the development of startups and young technology companies through acceleration and incubation programs financed by the self-government of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship. One example is the Mazovian Makers program, which connects Mazovian startups with businesses and institutions operating in the region’s areas of smart specialization. The program is based on work on real technological challenges defined by partners before the recruitment process begins, which strengthens its practical and implementation-oriented character.

At the same time, we are developing support for academic entrepreneurship through incubation programs carried out in the region, including in Radom, Siedlce, and Płock. Their goal is to help students and researchers transform research results and technological ideas into solutions ready for commercialization. As a result, young companies can draw both on the resources of universities and on the experience of business partners, significantly increasing their chances of market growth.

It is also worth emphasizing that our support is directed not only to existing businesses, but also to sectors that will shape the economy of the future. One example is Measure 12.1 STEP for the development of biotechnology, launched under the European Funds for Mazovia 2021–2027 program. Through this instrument, a project involving novel gene therapies implemented by Mazowiecki Bródnowski Hospital received nearly PLN 140 million in EU funds.

In the coming months, another call for proposals is also planned for research organizations developing gene therapies. This shows that Mazovia is investing in the most advanced and strategic technologies, which may be significant not only regionally or nationally, but also at the European level.

When speaking about long-term investment, we should not forget the “Entrepreneurial Youth” program. Through this initiative, we seek to equip young residents of our voivodeship with the knowledge and practical skills that, in a few years, will make it easier for them to start their own businesses. In this way, we aim to lower the barriers for future generations to bring new business ideas to the market.

4. COALESCE and the potential for cooperation

The Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS has been designated as the Polish hub of the COALESCE project, one of the most important European initiatives, under the auspices of the European Commission, developing modern standards for science communication and cooperation between science and society. What role can regional governments play in harnessing this potential and building synergies among European initiatives, scientific institutions, and the residents of Mazovia?

The COALESCE project shows that contemporary science cannot function in isolation from society. Effective communication of research results, building trust in science, and engaging citizens in the process of creating innovation are becoming increasingly important.

Regional governments can play a very important role in this process. We are a natural partner for both scientific institutions and residents. We can create space for cooperation, support initiatives that popularize science, and help translate research results into concrete solutions that respond to the region’s needs.

Mazovia has for years been involved in international projects and cooperation networks through which European experience reaches our region. Initiatives such as COALESCE make it possible to connect the potential of science, public administration, entrepreneurs, and society even more effectively.

We are particularly pleased that the Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS will serve as the Polish hub of the COALESCE project. This is not only a prestigious distinction for one of the region’s most important scientific institutions, but also an opportunity to involve Mazovia in the development of European standards for science communication and for building relations between science and society.

As the voivodeship self-government, we want to support the use of this potential by developing cooperation among the Institute, other scientific institutions, companies, and the region’s residents. This will allow the solutions and good practices developed within COALESCE to find practical application in Mazovia, strengthening both the culture of innovation and public trust in science.

I believe that the presence of the Polish COALESCE hub here in Mazovia will create new opportunities for international cooperation, knowledge exchange, and the engagement of residents in the co-creation of innovations that respond to today’s social and economic challenges.

5. A message to the young generation

What message would you like to share with students, doctoral candidates, and young researchers who are considering their professional future in science, new technologies, and the innovation sector?

We live in a time of exceptional opportunities. Technologies that only a few years ago seemed like elements of the future are now becoming part of our everyday lives. This means that the younger generation has the chance to take part in changes that will shape the world for decades to come.

I would like to encourage students, doctoral candidates, and young researchers to be bold in pursuing their ideas. Do not be afraid to take on ambitious challenges, collaborate across disciplinary boundaries, and seek practical applications for your research.

Mazovia needs your knowledge, creativity, and energy. You will be the ones co-creating solutions for the economy of the future—in areas such as quantum technologies, photonics, artificial intelligence, medicine, and the green transition.

It is worth remembering that innovation begins with curiosity about the world and the willingness to ask questions. I wish you never to lose that curiosity.

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We thank the Marshal of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship, Adam Struzik, MD, PhD, for granting this interview, extending honorary patronage to the event, and supporting its organization through co-financing from the funds of the self-government of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship. We also extend our gratitude to Sylwia Sztark, Head of the Regional Innovation System Division in the Department of Regional Development and European Funds, and to the entire team of the Office for their kindness, commitment, and ongoing cooperation with the Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS, including within the framework of the COALESCE project.