The theme of the 3rd edition of the conference “Kraków Metropolitan Area for Business” was security. The Kraków Nowa Huta Przyszłości S.A. prepared the event, which gathered nearly 100 participants (entrepreneurs, representatives of the public sector and research units, students and scientists). During the conference, experts shared up-to-date knowledge on multidimensional threats.

 
In an unpredictable world, efforts to ensure business security are key not only to growth, but also to stability of the businesses. The current geopolitical situation, the war in Ukraine, the intensifying competition between military and economic powers affect the shape of business relations. The conference “Krakow Metropolitan Area for Business. Business Security in the modern world” was opened by Łukasz Sęk, Deputy Mayor of the City of Kraków, and Wojciech Piech, Plenipotentiary of the Marshal of the Małopolska Region for Entrepreneurship and Market Development. The local government officials stressed the importance of economic development for raising the quality of life of residents and pledged comprehensive support of the administration. Wojciech Warian, Chairman of the Board of Kraków Nowa Huta Przyszłości S.A., discussed the company’s activities and plans, as well as its importance for the further economic development of Kraków and Małopolska.

In the first part experts presented three dimensions of business security in the modern world. Dr. Ing. Paweł Szczepański (CEO of QES Consulting sp. z o.o.) spoke about the types of risk in industrial processes, Marcin Pyclik (CEO of the Polish Chamber of Security) advised how to take care of the physical and material security of businesses in the era of war and terrorist threats, and Agnieszka Wajda-Kukiz of DISKUS Polska Sp. z o.o. presented effective methods of destroying data.

In the second part, representatives of institutions supporting economic development presented current opportunities for financing investments in broadly defined business security.

Magdalena Piasecka-Mosteniec (Małopolska Centre for Entrepreneurship) discussed the ongoing and planned calls for proposals for European funds. Mariusz Sałęga from the Provincial Fund for Environmental Protection in Krakow presented the possibilities for entrepreneurs to obtain funding under the calls implemented by the WFOŚiGW.

The panel discussion was devoted to intelligent energy systems and included Anna Sowiżdżał (Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow), Dr. Paweł Jastrzębski (Innovation Director, MPEC Krakow), Karol Ostrowski (Department of Municipal Economy and Infrastructure, UMK) and Wojciech Gruszecki (Board Member, Elsta Sp. z o.o.).

The experts presented the potential of renewable energy sources pertaining to Krakow and Poland, and pointed out what should be done so that Polish entrepreneurs can count on a secure supply of energy at affordable price. Prof. Anna Sowizdzhal pointed out, among other things, the huge potential of geothermal energy, and Pawel Jastrzebski stressed that MPEC is receiving more and more inquiries from entrepreneurs about green energy and is trying to do everything to provide it. In the case study titled. “How we stole 28 million PLN from Polish companies,” Mateusz Bilinski, cyber security specialist at Niebezpiecznik.pl, presented the weakest links of every company in the area of digital resilience to threats.

Leading the conference, editor Zbigniew Bartuś stressed that the Internet is used by 5.5 billion people, or two-thirds of the Earth’s population, which provides huge opportunities for business development, but also carries serious risks. AI makes it possible to create, distribute and disseminate false texts, photos, videos to commit theft, fraud, blackmail or what is particularly dangerous today to manipulate public opinion. Gaps in security systems and lack of vigilance among network users open up opportunities for hackers to attack. Experts at the conference highlighted the broad spectrum of threats and suggested forms of response.

The importance of the topic is evidenced by the frequency of increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks. Powerful companies, agencies, public entities are becoming targets. In recent days, the target of a cyberattack, became a hospital in Krakow – a place on which people’s health and lives depend. The Ministry of Digitization stresses that Poland is the most attacked country in the European Union today. Several hundred situations are reported daily, which require a response from the special services.

During networking, participants in the conference “Krakow Metropolitan Area for Business. Business Security in the modern world” stressed that they would be happy to participate in further substantive conferences on specific threats of the modern world and methods of reducing them. Traditionally, there was also a local accent related to culture. Jerzy Maciej Fedorowicz, Deputy Director of the People’s Theater, drew tickets for a performance among the conference participants.
The next edition of the conference will be held next year, but right now we encourage you to sign up for our newsletter to keep up to date and receive the latest information and invitations to upcoming events.

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