Krakow Technology Park: Connecting the Dots Around 3D Printing

The Krakow Technology Park (KTP) serves as a central hub for innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship in the Małopolska Region in Poland. Leveraging its core competencies, KTP supports companies in their development, assists technology startups in bringing their solutions to  the market, and helps SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) digitize and implement new technologies. Among the promising technologies, 3D printing stands out.

Network Organization

Krakow, the second-largest city in Poland with nearly 760,000 inhabitants, hosts a thriving IT industry that attracts foreign investors. The city also houses several research and development centers where both technological and product innovations take place. KTP plays a facilitating and networking role. “We cooperate with companies from the Malopolska Region that we support with technology implementation so that they accelerate their growth,” Monika Machowska, vice director of KTP, outlines one of the activities. Some of these companies are located within KTP’s premises.

For the input of knowledge, KTP collaborates intensively with regional partners who are specialized in AI, robotics, VR, AR, cybersecurity, 5G, and 3D printing. By tapping into their expertise, KTP identifies knowledge and innovations and connects them with industry demand. Rather than investing in its own test laboratories, KTP leverages state-of-the-art infrastructure available through its partners. “It’s smarter to make us of their facilities”, Monika Machowska says.

Recently, KTP became an EU Digital Innovation Hub, opening up new opportunities to evaluate SMEs’ digital solutions based on maturity and support their transition to digital enterprises.

Linking Startups with SMEs

Simultaneously, the Krakow Technology Park serves as a nurturing ground for startups. Through incubator and accelerator programs, as well as funding opportunities, KTP supports startups at various growth stages. Their solutions are brought to market through initiatives like the Living Lab. The Living Lab, operated by KTP, isn’t a physical laboratory but rather a methodology for testing innovations and products in a real-life environment with actual customers. Startups are matched with industrial companies throughout the region, particularly SMEs seeking solutions developed by these startups. Overall, KTP supports around 350 companies in the region. Additionally, KTP manages a Polish Investment Zone (previously known as Special Economic Zone) with approximately 200 active companies. Investing in this zone grants access to special government subsidies, making it an attractive option for international businesses.

Growing Attention to 3D Printing in Southern Poland

In the years 2010-2012, various initiatives related to additive manufacturing emerged from universities in Southern Poland. Some of these startups eventually entered the market through crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter. Monika Machowska: “Although the additive manufacturing market was growing, many SMEs were then unaware of the potential offered by 3D printing. The Krakow Technology Park recognized its role in showcasing this potential. That’s how we got involved in 3D printing.”

KTP took its first steps into a European AM project and became the only Polish region to participate in the European Union’s Vanguard Initiative. Since then, acceptance of 3D printing within the regional business community has improved. Last year, KTP organized a conference on 3D printing in the industry, attracting over 50 participating companies. Monika Machowska explains that many companies, particularly in the automotive industry, now use 3D printing. “They recognize both the financial benefits and the ability to respond and test quickly technological issues. Additionally, they see the potential for new value chains created by additive manufacturing.”

Recently, sustainability and climate neutrality have played an increasing role in the choice to adopt 3D printing. A new mindset is emerging – one that sees additive manufacturing as a solution for conserving resources and moving toward climate-neutral production.

Closer to the AM Knowledge Sources

For the Krakow Technology Park, joining the 3DOP project (3D Printing Optimized Production) was a logical step. Invited by the Slovenian organization Tecos, with which they already had a collaboration, KTP gains by participating in 3DOP access to a large community and the opportunity to find effective solutions for their companies.

KTP actively participates in the work packages printed electronics and moulds for plastic processing. Quite a few companies in the region are active in developing and producing medical devices. For those companies printed electronics and printed molds can be very interesting. The Krakow University of Technology is also developing knowledge in this field. The spin offs from this knowledge area at the university can count on support from the KTP. Monika Machowska: “By participating in the 3DOP project, we aim to create a virtual space that provides regional companies with access to cutting-edge technology and innovations related to additive manufacturing from the rest of Europe.”  

Application of Printed Electronics

As a tangible example of how the 3DOP project knowledge benefits the regional business community, a local startup is testing printed electronics from another work package. “We have invited one of our startup companies from the region, PHOTO4CHEM”, Monika Machowska says. The company offers solutions for 3D printing equipment and devices aimed at automation through the implementation of 3D printing in production, as well as at the prototyping and R&D phase. KTP has supported them via their acceleration programmand matched them with industrial players from the region, supporting the in pilot implementations.  Currently, their main products are photopolymer resins suitable for applications in digital dentistry as well as engineering and construction applications. The startup is involved in WP3  and is applying printed electronics, This represents the first achievement within this work package.

Strengthening Competitive Position through 3D Printing

“We ultimately want more companies to be aware that 3D printing improves their competitive position. That’s why we’ve decided to make 3D printing one of the nine areas of expertise within the Digital Innovation Hub”, says Monika Machowska. Although KTP (Krakow Technology Park) participates in the work package on printed electronics of the 3DOP project, it also closely monitors developments in the other work packages. “We also see significant potential in the work package on metal printing,” says the vice-director of KTP. The work package on the sustainable implementation of AM technology within 3DOP remains an area of keen interest for KTP.

The goal is to disseminate knowledge from all relevant projects within the industry in the region. In the final part of the 3DOP project, which focusses on AM implementation, Monika Machowska hopes to involve more Polish companies. “Our job is to connect the dots, and having access to knowledge from various partners is crucial. 3DOP provides us with that access,” concludes Monika Machowska.