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lODZ
CREATES
InnoVATION
news magazine of the city of lodz
NO. 2 (18)/2018
Bespoke
education
Supporting
Entrepreneurship
A humming friend
The Start-Up Recipe
Intrepid art
EDITORIAL
ANNA KRAWCZYK
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
“A person who’s about to start his/her first The final of its 10th edition is due in October. The idea
business adventure is like a backpacker heading for is not just to develop projects but also their makers.
the unknown. He or she will soon experience all sorts The contestants will enjoy trainings, mentoring and
of situations and they won’t all be pleasant. That’s why the support of businessmen and academics – it’s
mentoring is such a good idea,” says Maria Belka, invaluable at the outset of a business adventure.
the owner of Bit Evil SA, CEO and co-founder of Speaking of adventures, Jagoda Szelc’s artistic
Mentors4Starters foundation. adventure has started with a much-admired debut.
According to the expert, living through the many She graduated from Film and Television Direction
faces of an average day and not going crazy is essential Department at Lodz Film School. Although her film
in business. So your brilliant business idea is not “Wieża. Jasny dzień” (“Tower. A Bright Day”) has only
enough. You also need to be persistent and determined. recently been released, it’s already earning a lot of
What’s the role of your inner motivation? Greg praise and popularity. The director claims that you
Albrecht, a venture partner in the VC Data Ventures cannot be afraid in art. The audience is captivated by
fund, will be discussing that. According to him, authenticity and sensitivity.
business should rely more on people than on the Once, artists had their patrons, but today they
idea. He also claims that the success of an enterprise have to worry about their bills themselves. Przemysław
is guaranteed if the team is committed. This is Krawczyński, the owner of Calabarte – a Lodz-based
indispensable for the creation of the trust atmosphere company, will be talking about facing the mundane
in business. troubles of a typical day. He handcrafts unique lamps
Photo: Paweł Ławreszuk
The mentioned experts will be mentors in that are auctioned abroad for several thousand zlotys.
a competition organised by the City of Lodz Office At one point in his life, the artist had to take the risk
called “Młodzi w Łodzi – Mam Pomysł na Start-up” and follow his own way. It turns out that it pays off
aimed at young and creative future entrepreneurs. although no one promises it’s all going to be rosy. ●
LODZ CREATES INNOVATION • NO. 2/2018 3
CONTENTS
6 16
12
INTERVIEW 18 Distributor of first choice
Transfer Multisort Elektronik is the leading distributor
6 Supporting entrepreneurship
of electronic and electric engineering components,
“Striving to reach set goals, stubbornness, ambition
workshop equipment and automatics to over
and teamwork are definitely traits that help in
140 countries
business,” says Marcin Gortat, sportsman and
founder of the Gortat School Business Club 20 Towards innovation
TomTom is associated mainly with manufacturing
SCIENCE car navigation systems; however, its portfolio also
includes many innovative products, such as sports
8 To conquer the Universe watches and mobile fitness trackers
ShootCapsule deals with secure data storage in
space. In the future, the company’s devices will be
22 Tailor-made offices
Zenit offers A-class office spaces, tailor-made for its
used e.g. in missions to the Moon
lessees
10 An ideal residential estate
24 Local patriotism with global reach
“What should an ideal housing community be
BinarApps – a software development company
like,” explain Aleksandra Kozłowska and Alicja
creating apps and IT systems for growing enterprises
Wieczorkiewicz, who came first in the “The House
around the world
of Tomorrow. A model of affordable buildings”
competition 26 Business relies on people
“Even the best ideas will fail if the leader and the team
12 Bespoke education
are not heart and soul in it,” says Greg Albrecht,
Manikins that speak, breathe and blink; hospital
a venture partner in the VC Data Ventures fund
rooms that fully resemble real ones – that’s just
some of the equipment at the state-of-the-art 28 The Start-Up recipe
Medical Simulation Centre at the Medical “Mentors help to direct your actions. They give
University of Lodz you suggestions on how to spend your money for
a quick return,” advises Maria Belka, owner of Bit
15 Comprehensive treatment of chronic hives
Evil SA, CEO and co-founder of Mentors4Starters
The University Urticaria Centre was set up in
Foundation
response to the needs of patients whose treatment
results weren’t satisfactory 30 Opportunity for the inventive
The City of Lodz Office has been organizing “Youth
ECONOMY in Lodz – I Have an Idea for Start-Up”, a competition
supporting young entrepreneurs for ten years
16 A humming friend
The humming toys have reached more than COLUMN
400 thousand customers. The company’s turnover
has increased by a few hundred percent since 33 An office in the privacy of your home
it was set up We increasingly desire to work at our own pace and
in a setting that suits us best
4 NO. 2/2018 • LODZ CREATES INNOVATION
28
PUBLISHER
Investor Service and International Cooperation Bureau
Mayor's Department
City of Łódź
al. Politechniki 32, 93-590 Łódź
tel.: 42 638 59 39
fax: 42 638 59 40
e-mail: boi@uml.lodz.pl
42
CREATIVE INDUSTRIES
REALISATION
34 New creatives at Art_Inkubator INFRAMEDIA Anna Krawczyk
In the penultimate edition, 15 companies found their
place as residents of Art_Inkubator
39 Intrepid art
“People have spiritual needs – it’s our sixth sense. ul. Konstruktorska 10c/25, 02-673 Warszawa
tel.: +48 22 821 0 777
We aren’t able to function without them,” admits e-mail: biuro@inframedia.pl
Jagoda Szelc, director of the film “Wieża. Jasny www.inframedia.pl
dzień” EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
40 A leading light Anna Krawczyk
a.krawczyk@inframedia.pl
“My customers should be aware that their lamp is
one of its kind and there’ll never be a second such JOURNALISTS
lamp,” says Przemysław Krawczyński, the maker Katarzyna Jóźwik
of gourd lamps and the owner of Calabarte k.jozwik@inframedia.pl
Rafał Wilgusiak
r.wilgusiak@inframedia.pl
TOURISM
42 Timeless Abakans EDITING AND PROOF-READING
Katarzyna Olędzka
Seminal pieces of Magdalena Abakonowicz, the Agnieszka Zygmunt
Polish artist, called Abakans after her surname,
can be admired at the Central Museum of Textiles TRANSLATION
ATET Euro-Tłumacze Sp. z o.o.
in Lodz
Marta Kaczyńska
44 CALENDAR
PHOTOGRAPHER
Paweł Ławreszuk
LAYOUT & DESIGN
Krzysztof Konarski – inventivo.pl
COVER PHOTO
Metamorphism Exhibition
it the Central Museum of Textiles in Lodz
Photo: Marta Kowalewska
Circulation
2000 copies
This publication may not be transmitted in any form in whole or in
part without the prior permission of Inframedia Publishing. While
every care has been taken in the publications of this magazine,
Inframedia Publishing can not be held responsible for the accuracy
of the information herein or for any consequence arising from it.
LODZ CREATES INNOVATION • NO. 2/2018 5
INTERVIEW
Marcin Gortat during the 12th MG Camp. Training
with children in Dabrowa Gornicza, July 2017
Supporting entrepreneurship
MARCIN GORTAT is the first Pole in history to advance to the NBA Finals. However, in Poland he
isn’t only famous for being a word-class sportsman but also for being a social activist, eagerly
participating in community action, and lately a businessman as well. Sportsman and founder of
the Gortat School Business Club who wishes to invest in Lodz, his hometown.
Below, he discusses his road to success and its indicators with Anna Krawczyk.
What is your recipe for success? however, a challenge to come to an individual
Let’s not deceive ourselves – it’s to laboriously strive training at 6 AM, when the court is empty, and to
to reach our set goal every day. It just so happens work on your weaknesses. I’ve been doing this for
that nothing is ever free in life. Success is a result 11 years, since I began playing in the NBA.
of hard work or struggle. It’s not an achievement to
play and score in front of twenty thousand people, Your parents are outstanding athletes. Was surpassing
when adrenaline’s pumping, everyone admires oneself and breaking records then a daily occurrence in
you and they take your photos all the time. It is, the Lodz district of Baluty?
6 NO. 2/2018 • LODZ CREATES INNOVATION
Sport was always present in my family. I’m proud been attending our business breakfasts. We
that my parents were fantastic sportspeople are building a professional network that will
and that I’ve inherited their genes. I’ve been enable its participants to find new partners by
practising sports since childhood – first athletics, exchanging referrals. The club is a tool to help
then football. I discovered basketball late at companies grow.
17 but, thanks to my overall fitness, I had a solid
foundation and motor skills that significantly Who is your target audience?
exceeded those of my new friends from the Small and medium enterprises from Lodz
basketball team. This is particularly handy Voivodeship. In March this year, another club
when one is 213 cm high. Baluty, a district of was established at Gortat School in Krakow. We
Lodz where I grew up, strongly influenced my also want to establish the Gortat School Business
development as well. I think that I became League. We observe changes taking place on the
more “feisty.” labour market. They suggest that entrepreneurs
must care better for their employees and offer
Which athletic skills help in business and which
don’t?
Striving to reach set goals, stubbornness, ambition
and teamwork are definitely traits that help
in business. What’s not helpful? I don’t think
there are traits that significantly impede doing
business.
What advice would you give to young people for
whom you’re definitely a role model?
Train, train and, once again, train! Sports open
many possibilities. By training, we gain self-
confidence, our mood improves – as well as our
frame. We also can’t forget about education.
Statistics are harsh: many people train, but only
a handful ever play at the highest level, not
even mentioning the NBA. This is why we must 10th Business Breakfast of the Gortat School Business Club, February 2018
remember that without proper education we
won’t find a job that supports us financially. We them increasingly more benefits. Our offer
teach this at Gortat Schools, already operating in involves organizing the free time of employees
four cities: Lodz, Krakow, Gdansk and Poznan. of large companies and filling it with physical
We have 600 students by now. For the best activity. We know that healthy rivalry and
achievements in sports and education, we take teamwork will positively impact their work
them to EYBL tournaments in various cities in performance.
Europe, or they visit me in Washington and attend
my NBA matches. Education subsidy covers the You are a native citizen of Lodz. What do you think
costs of education; however, we need additional about investment opportunities in the city? What
funding for our pupils’ special trips. projects do you have in mind for Lodz?
I’m very glad that my city is developing so
Which is why you founded the Gortat School quickly. Each time I return to Lodz after
Photo: Wojciech Figurski, Klub Biznesu Szkoła Gortata
Business Club? 9 months of absence and being away from Poland,
Yes, the idea to establish the club came up when I’m greatly impressed by how many places were
we were discussing finding another source of renovated and how many companies decided to
funding for Gortat Schools. With this, we can also move their seats to new office buildings in the city
support developing entrepreneurship. centre. I believe that Lodz is on a good path to
Even though this is our new project, operating become one of the more important cities in Poland
for just a year, it’s been growing very rapidly. once again.
Thirty companies have already purchased
membership packages and another thirty have Thank you for the interview. ●
LODZ CREATES INNOVATION • NO. 2/2018 7
SCIENCE
Rafał Wilgusiak
To conquer the Universe
by
The Space Industry in our country is not impressive, but this sector’s potential notes a dynamic
growth year after year. In 2012–2017, the number of Polish entities registered by the European
Space Agency (ESA) increased sevenfold, i.e. from 50 to over 360 companies. One of them is
ShootCapsule from Lodz, a company dedicated to secure data storage in space. In the future,
the company’s devices will be used e.g. in missions to the Moon.
From the left: Kinga Nowak, Patryk Gajda, Łukasz Wrodycki
The space sector is one of the most innovative Space Agency, and domestic and international
and technologically advanced areas of increasing entities. We wanted to be absolutely sure that our
importance for the economy. Polish engineers make assumptions are justified,” explains Patryk Gajda.
more than just device parts and components. The company’s name is a combination of two
They also make entire tools and instruments words: capsule, which means a tightly locked
constituting integral parts of space missions. container that can protect servers in isolated,
Our specialities include IT, automatic control difficult environments, and shooting, which
and robotics, materials engineering and optical constitutes a natural complement to the name
electronics. One of the most important points of the because it indicates that the company’s solutions
space industry in Poland is Lodz – with its state- will be available to anyone who wishes to “shoot
of-the-art planetarium, unparalleled in Central their data out” from Earth.
and Eastern Europe, and the largest Science and “Our first stop in conquering the universe
Technology Centre in Poland – EC1. is the Moon,” states ShootCapsule’s founder.
According to him, this choice is fully justified
FIRST THE MOON, THEN MARS because we are witnessing another race to reach
ShootCapsule was founded in Lodz over three years Luna. “This time, the race isn’t only for national
ago. Within several years, the company’s current space agencies like NASA, ESA, Roskosmos, JAXA
president, Patryk Gajda, built a team of people full but also for private companies like SpaceX, Blue
of passion and enthusiasm, which have contributed Origin, Moon Express, Astrobotic, iSpace, Bigelow
to this project’s evolution. The first serious press Aerospace or Lockheed Martin.”
releases about ShootCapsule began appearing The company’s major achievement is that this
relatively recently. start-up with a dozen or so employees, without any
“We were after our first talks with the support from “giants”, only taking its first steps in
representatives from Luxembourg, the European the space industry, managed to draw the attention
8 NO. 2/2018 • LODZ CREATES INNOVATION
of space agencies, big companies with a lot of entities. Additionally, it will be equipped with
experience, as well as governmental circles. laser and radio communication facilities, which it
“We’ve achieved all of this with our hard will use to transmit collected data to ground-based
work and determination. We have been the only stations,” states Łukasz Wrodycki.
company from Poland talking with the European
Space Agency concerning the Moon missions. A CHANCE FOR TALENTED LODZ
The Space Agency has expressed their interest in RESIDENTS
our solutions for, among other things, the Moon The company’s long-term goal is becoming a leader
Village project. I fully concur with Jan Wörner, in the field of data storage in space. Their plans for
ESA’s Director General, that the Moon Village the upcoming decade include a gradual increase
project is an open concept that should bring in the number of servers, which will play a key
together both private and governmental entities. role in creating and maintaining the company’s
This confirms my belief that the Moon should infrastructure on the Moon and Mars.
be our first target on our path to colonize the “We want to constantly learn and gain
universe. However, our plans do not end there. experience from the best people in the industry,
In the future, we would also like to participate which is why we began talks with representatives
in Mars missions,” adds Patryk Gajda. from Luxembourg, the European space industry
leader. Thanks to their consideration and
RADIO AND LASER INDUSTRY commitment, we found the previous year to be
Space missions cost hundreds of millions of extremely intense and ground‑breaking with
dollars, and one of their main objectives is respect to further growth,” states Kinga Nowak.
to obtain, deliver, collect and process rapidly “We also count on close partnership with the
increasing amounts of data. Thanks to NASA Ministry of Development and Entrepreneurship
missions alone, hundreds of terabytes of data are and the Polish Space Agency who – as part of the
collected every hour. domestic space sector’s development – would like to
“It doesn’t matter how complex and expensive expand their operations to exploration programmes
the device we launch into space is. If it cannot of the European Space Agency,” she adds.
collect, write and send data, it becomes useless. ShootCapsule still intends to continue working
We want to provide our clients with the opportunity with foreign entities, taking Lodz with it due to
to safely store such data, a type of backup in case the city’s great potential, not only because of its
of failure, interruptions or destruction of primary location or investment opportunities but also
devices,” says Kinga Nowak, chief operating officer because of fantastic young people who will soon
of ShootCapsule. “Implementing appropriate graduate with a diploma in Engineering.
solutions for this is extremely important for future “We are currently looking for programmers,
exploration and colonization of space.” cryptography and security specialists, electronics
ShootCapsule’s main objective is to design experts and low-voltage electricians, specialists
and deliver modern technologies intended to in radio and laser communication, protection
work in space. The company emphasizes that its from radiation and other external factors.
main focus is on exceptionally secure data storage We also plan to develop closer partnerships with
outside of Earth. universities. We believe in the great potential and
“With this, we want to transcend the current enthusiasm of young people to create something
perspectives of the big data market. What we want new and innovative. We pay close attention to,
to offer are primarily two main devices, i.e. S-Box among others, students of Space Engineering at
and D-Server. the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the Lodz
Their main purpose will be to store data University of Technology,” adds the president
backups from various space missions, and in the Patryk Gajda.
future also data from Earth-based entities that It is worth mentioning that ShootCapsule sets
collect particularly sensitive data warranting itself very ambitious goals because it intends to
an exceptional level of security,” explains become an international and – in the future – an
Photo: Paweł Ławreszuk
Łukasz Wrodycki, vice president and chief interplanetary leader in data transmission and
financial officer of ShootCapsule. storage. However, according to the founders, these
“Our ambition is to create a server operating plans are very long-term, and they need to focus
on the Moon, offering data storage for many on their current tasks to make them come true. ●
LODZ CREATES INNOVATION • NO. 2/2018 9
SCIENCE
by Rafał Wilgusiak
What should an ideal housing community be like?
Affordable, friendly, adjusting to our needs but also
compatible with social values, is the explanation
given by Aleksandra Kozłowska and Alicja
Wieczorkiewicz, architecture students at the Faculty
of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environmental
Engineering of the Lodz University of Technology
who came first in the “The House of Tomorrow.
From the left: Aleksandra Kozłowska, Alicja Wieczorkiewicz A model of affordable buildings” competition.
An ideal residential estate
The objective of the competition, organised as part estate they designed, equipped with multiple additional
of the “Mieszkanie Plus” (Flat Plus), programme in amenities and highlights and situated in a historic
cooperation with BGK Nieruchomości and the Faculty setting, may become a place in which the community
of Architecture of the Warsaw University of Technology, spirit may achieve a public dimension.
was to “present an ideal vision of affordable housing The students demonstrate two viewpoints
construction in Poland that promotes social values.” concerning Lodz – a city native’s and an outsider’s.
“The point of departure for design considerations Alicja Wieczorkiewicz comes from Lodz where she
was to be the analysis of conditions that are or will be grew up and entered the university. As a native of the
affecting the housing environment in Poland. A whole city, she knows its problems well. Aleksandra Kozłowska
range of such factors exists, from societal, environmental, hails from Mazovia. She was born in Płock and grew up
economic, urban planning and technological changes in the small locality of Mała Wieś. She came to Lodz to
to new forms of communication or mobility. study and became emotionally attached to the city.
Hence the contradictory name of our project: Residential “During the years I spent in Lodz, I lived in a large
construction is not enough – the story of a tailored block of flats, a city centre tenement house and a modern
residential estate,” Aleksandra Kozłowska explains. residential building. This prompted me to rethink my
own residential needs and those of others, too. Hence the
TO REGAIN THE CITY idea to develop a model residential housing project set in
The two students, now in their first year of the second the Lodz context,” Aleksandra Kozłowska says.
cycle study programme in architecture at the Lodz
University of Technology, came up with the project to THE CHALLENGES OF MODERNITY
answer the current challenges, faced by cities and their The objective of the project was to answer the question
inhabitants as a result of changes in the surrounding what should the ideal housing environment look like.
world. Industrial and technological growth brought The basic assumptions of the project reflect the analyses
processes that once developed naturally in society and and observations made in Lodz and other cities as well
the city to a halt. Streets and public spaces lost their as individual experience and interests set against the
importance, pedestrian traffic was replaced by cars and background of current social challenges. According
contacts between neighbours, once supporting cohesion to Aleksandra Kozłowska and Alicja Wieczorkiewicz,
and explaining how cities came to be, died out. Lodz’s biggest issues are regenerating and revitalising
The competition’s winners claim that their ambition the city centre.
was to reawaken the need of social centres, reactivate The authors of the award-winning project note that
real (instead of virtual) human relationships and restore the city centre and its immediate surroundings contain
the former importance of courtyards as public meeting numerous blocks with remnants of unused industrial
spaces between residential buildings. The residential buildings. Using these areas to design social residential
10 NO. 2/2018 • LODZ CREATES INNOVATIONLaureates of “The House of Tomorrow. A model of affordable buildings” competition
estates may lead to a win-win situation. Undeveloped the tenant’s costs. A flat can grow or shrink according
areas will cease to be an urban wasteland, new flats to the needs of its occupants, hence the ‘tailored’ part.
will be built and newcomers will spur the city centre’s As one can easily imagine, our needs evolve during life.
economy by patronising stores, services and public They are different when we are single and different when
communication. On the other hand, the inhabitants we start a family. The same happens when our children
will receive an attractive place to live in that does not decide to move out.
require them to own a car due to proximity of the public An ideal residential environment must follow our
communication network. Embedding the residential changing needs.
environment in a historical setting may have the The project’s authors also point out a connection to
additional benefit of educating the future society. the textile history of Lodz.
“Being in close contact with architectural
monuments from an early age gives hope of increasing HOUSING FOR EVERYONE
the awareness of the young generation, their sensitivity Aleksandra Kozłowska and Alicja Wieczorkiewicz
and respect for national heritage,” Aleksandra Kozłowska stress that the project is aimed at young people who
stresses. have already moved out, young couples, families with
It is also important to ensure that the planned children and seniors.
residential estates have an open and a social nature, “We want to reach those unable or unwilling to
unlike those built by developers. The young architects buy their own mortgaged flat or reluctant to give up
believe that the latter, currently located on the peripheries living in the city and move to the suburbs,” Alicja
of large cities, are low-grade investments that give rise Wieczorkiewicz recites.
to numerous problems, for example due to producing “Another group is people who want to have their
closed, isolated communities. Nor can they be said to job, stores and service outlets within reach, create
satisfy the needs of their residents. The duo argues that a community based on cooperation, understanding
the social profile of such estates is very limited, as their and integration, or be able to adjust or change their
inhabitants come from the lowest social strata. On the flat depending on their needs,” Aleksandra Kozłowska
other hand, Western Europe favours diversity in housing adds.
Photo: Maciej Kacprzak Paweł Ławreszuk
environments. A planned estate should be attractive It is worth noting that both award winners
for people from all social classes and be based on a rent have already garnered other prizes, for example in
system. the nationwide “Cembrit BOLD III” competition,
Another important assumption is the modularity a competition to “design a concept for developing the
of flats, a feature that provides two benefits. The first is Kolumna’s public space from the railway station to the
an affordable price that impacts costs of tenancy, and the Szare Szeregi Square,” and have also been recognised in
other – the adaptability of modules and their number to the “Lodz Walls” competition. ●
LODZ CREATES INNOVATION • NO. 2/2018 11SCIENCE
Katarzyna Jóźwik
Bespoke education
by
Dr Maria Bartczak
in the intensive care room
Manikins that speak, breathe and blink; hospital rooms that fully resemble real ones – that’s just some
of the equipment at the state-of-the-art Medical Simulation Centre at the Medical University of Lodz,
situated at ul. Pomorska 251, which was officially opened on 16 February 2018.
The project concentrates modern medicine learning system offered by this facility stand out. It is
teaching techniques onto an area of 4,5 thousand the student who is responsible for the “patient” with
square metres, and its total cost was PLN 56 million. whom they are entrusted, which is impossible to do
It was co-financed from European funds under during a rotation at a hospital or an outpatient clinic.
the Operational Programme Knowledge, Education, The opportunity to make independent decisions lets
Development, as well as co-financed by the Ministry them pit their theoretical knowledge against practical
of Health and the Medical University of Lodz. skills, indicates general errors, as well as enhances
the comprehensive learning process.
MODERN DIMENSION OF SCIENCE “Simulation evokes emotions in students, and
Even the smallest details matter at the facility, emotions are conducive to the learning process,”
beginning with the selection of bedding and ending emphasizes Dr Maria Bartczak, director of the
with the diversity of age and sex of manikins. Thus, Medical Simulation Centre at the Medical University
the delivery room contains manikins of a woman of Lodz. “By providing practical classes at the facility,
in labour and a newborn with its umbilical cord we act in two ways. We complement all classes with
still attached. Simulated clinical conditions, coupled a debriefing, which we do with the students. They
with highly advanced simulators and manikins that grade their own work and share their thoughts.
faithfully recreate a human being, enable future Adults learn better when they arrive at a specific
physicians, paramedics and nurses to gain practical conclusion, rather than when they are told so. In this
professional skills and learn teamwork. respect, simulated situations affect the students more
Leaving all decisions to students, later graded strongly, much more than a traditional lecture or
by the teaching instructor, definitely makes the reading a book.”
12 NO. 2/2018 • LODZ CREATES INNOVATIONALMOST A LIVE PERSON condition. The possibilities are numerous, and, in
These modern techniques of passing skills to most cases, we are only limited by our imagination
future physicians would not be possible without the and not the simulators’ capabilities.”
facility’s highly advanced equipment, making The facility is also equipped with manikins
it resemble a real, fully equipped hospital. used to train basic medical skills such as opening
The students work under realistic conditions in the airways, intravenous line insertion or basic
operating and delivery rooms or at the ER. The key resuscitation activities. The classes are coordinated
benefit is the opportunity to practice both technical by a 13-person team of instructors, assistants and
medical skills and teamwork on 20 human simulators. medical simulation technicians. The latter are
Thanks to advanced manufacturing processes, responsible for the simulators’ real-time reactions to
working with manikins fully reflects the reality of decisions made by students.
a physician’s or nurse’s work with real patients.
“The simulators are really advanced. They can
do many things. We want students to work with
them,” admits Dr Maria Bartczak. “They can blink
and speak. And they breathe, which enables us to
measure their respiratory rate and detect various
respiratory system pathologies. The students can
also examine a simulator and, based on its changing
parameters, e.g. respiratory rate, saturation, heart rate
and pulse, diagnose life-threatening situations, such
as respiratory failure or heart failure, and identify
their causes. Medical simulations allow students
to make individual therapeutic decisions based on
information obtained during an examination, and
to observe how their actions impact their ‘patient’s’ Operating room
EQUIPMENT OF THE MEDICAL PRACTICE IS KEY
SIMULATION CENTRE IN LODZ: Students also appreciate the possibility of learning
by applying theoretical knowledge in practice. The
● over 20 high-fidelity simulators, including a woman need to confront theory with practice is stressful
in labour, a newborn, adults and children of various but motivates them to act. The opportunity to
ages, and a physiological anaesthesiology simulator experiment on one’s own on the simulators, and not
that simulates putting patients under anaesthesia; on a live patient, can identify gaps in knowledge
●n early 130 manikins for practising CPR, nursing and allow the student to fill them.
and pelvic examination; “As students, we feel quite safe during rotations
●o ver 230 trainers for practising technical skills: at a hospital. We do not make any crucial decisions
opening airways, performing examinations and because we’re accompanied by a physician showing
intravenous line insertions; us what we do wrong and what we do right,”
● f ull-size simulator of an ambulance’s patient admits Elżbieta Surdek, a sixth-year student of
compartment with a pre-hospital action zone and the Faculty of Military Medicine at the Medical
a model of an apartment; University of Lodz. “At the Centre, we are suddenly
●a pre-hospital zone for conducting battlefield dropped into a causal chain. We have a team of
medicine and tactical emergency rescue classes for, three or four people, all of which are students. And,
e.g., the Faculty of Military Medicine; suddenly, we must make decisions, implement
●1 1 high-fidelity rooms with advanced simulators,
specific procedures and algorithms. There’s no
including a hospital emergency room, an intensive one to tell us what to do. Then, it turns out that
care unit, two operating rooms, delivery rooms;
actions performed by applying purely theoretical
● t eaching and medical equipment;
knowledge are sometimes incorrect.”
● r ooms for conducting objective structured clinical
The students also appreciate the wide array of
examinations (OSCE) using European standards;
●a bility to record and discuss actions taken by
possibilities for training practical skills provided
students. by the Medical Simulation Centre. Classes offered
by the facility constitute an opportunity to train
LODZ CREATES INNOVATION • NO. 2/2018 13SCIENCE
the technical skills required in the profession of LIFELONG LEARNING PLANS
a physician or a nurse, which will surely bear fruit Even though the Medical Simulation Centre was
in the future. officially opened in February this year, classes with
“The scope of possibilities on offer is very students have been conducted there since October
impressive, as well as the multitude of procedures 2017. Currently, the facility’s resources are available
you can perform,” admits Jakub Kulesza, to students (including English-language ones)
a fifth-year student of the Faculty of Military majoring in medicine at the Faculty of Medicine
Medicine at the Medical University, president of and Faculty of Military Medicine, as well as those
the Medical Simulation Science Club. majoring in nursing and obstetrics. The classes
“It should be emphasized that all procedures of will be expanded to 5 percent of tutorial hours for
emergency medicine or anaesthesiology are actions individual majors; ultimately, however, the Centre
that cannot be safely trained on a patient whose wants to provide classes to all medical majors.
life is in danger. When training on simulators, we “I believe that all students of the Medical
can develop muscle memory and practice many University should possess basic skills of
procedures which will be invaluable for us in our cardiopulmonary resuscitation or acting in
later professional work.” life-threatening situations,” admits Dr Maria
Bartczak.
NOT JUST AS A PHYSICIAN Students also have similar expectations; they
Another key advantage of the Medical Simulation are particularly keen on the opportunity to perfect
Centre is the possibility to learn how to work their own skills while using modern equipment.
in a team. In a life-threatening situation, “I would like for each unit of the University
a physician’s or a nurse’s capacity for working to have hours assigned when the students would
with other members of a medical team is very be able to practice emergency procedures on the
important. Moreover, a student can perform simulators,” says Jakub Kulesza.
Students’ actions are supervised from the monitoring station Incubator
several functions during classes. They can be In addition to its educational activities, the
a medical team member or a leader passing facility also plans to expand its commercial activity.
instructions to other members. In the future, it intends to provide medical and
“I like the fact that we work in teams of postgraduate training for medical personnel, with
several people managed by a leader,” says the aim to expand the participants’ knowledge and
Elżbieta Surdek. “This way, we suddenly realize skill set, as well as to optimize teamwork.
that ordering other people is very difficult. This The Medical Simulation Centre in Lodz is one
Photo: Paweł Ławreszuk
can tell us whether our future self is a member of several facilities of its type operating in Poland.
of a team acting on orders, or a person who Similar facilities are located in, among other cities,
gives these orders. It’s important to know one’s Warsaw, Lublin, Torun, Poznan, Bialystok and
strengths.” Katowice. ●
14 NO. 2/2018 • LODZ CREATES INNOVATIONby Rafał Wilgusiak
Comprehensive treatment of chronic hives
The University Urticaria Centre (UCARE) based at the Central Teaching Hospital of the Medical University
of Lodz diagnoses and treats people suffering from chronic hives (urticaria). The patients can enjoy
a comprehensive medical advice and assessment of their health because this exceptional place gathers
under one roof dermatologists, allergists, immunologists, paediatricians, GPs and psychiatrists.
of UCARE in
Lodz and Head of
the Interfaculty
Chair of Clinical
Immunology and
Microbiology as well
as the Department
of Immunology,
Rheumatology
and Allergy at the
Medical University
Prof. Anna Zalewska-Janowska Prof. Marek Kowalski of Lodz.
As much as 25 percent of the population is WHAT IS URTICARIA?
suffering from urticaria. However, the illness The main symptoms of urticaria are wheals, which
becomes chronic among 2 percent. look like a nettle rash, as well as intense itching.
“The greatest challenge both for the doctor Other symptoms may include being short of breath,
and the patient is to identify the cause of hives. It stomach ache or diarrhoea. Hives very often appear
requires a full involvement as well as extensive, in response to higher stress levels, adding up to the
interdisciplinary diagnostic support,” observes Prof. patient’s embarrassment and anxiety.
Anna Zalewska-Janowska, Head of the Department “Wheals are not difficult to identify but
of Psychodermatology at the Medical University of discovering their causes may be problematic due to
Lodz. In her work, she emphasizes the importance the multitude of interconnected factors,” says Prof.
of biopsychosocial model of patient care as well as Anna Zalewska-Janowska.
the correlation between the psyche, skin issues and Urticaria is frequently accompanied by
other somatic disorders. gastrointestinal or respiratory tract infections. Acute
UCARE centre in Lodz was set up in response urticaria can be triggered by, e.g., some antibiotics,
to the needs of patients whose wheals on skin had x-ray contrast agents, local anaesthetics or non-
an unknown cause or whose treatment results steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
weren’t satisfactory. This was the first such centre There are even more causes behind chronic
in Poland to be certified by a global network hives. It may be triggered by infections, allergic
GA2LEN UCARE (Global Allergy & Asthma response to food, medicines, occupational allergens,
European Network Urticaria Center of Reference autoimmunological diseases, systemic diseases,
& Excellence). Around the globe, there are several stress, depression, stimulants, special diets, eating
dozen of clinics which specialize in treating habits and dietary supplements. Therefore, it is
urticaria. Being one of them means that you have extremely important to diagnose the cause of the
access to the latest research results. illness properly.
“For us, it’s a gateway to broaden our “Presently, we’re working on expanding the scope
Photo: Paweł Ławreszuk
diagnostic potential, it ensures that our staff of diagnostic tests and on improving the competence of
becomes more competent, knowledgeable and our staff by acquainting them with latest international
experienced in treating chronic urticaria,” explains guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic
Prof. Marek Kowalski, the man behind the idea hives,” emphasises Prof. Marek Kowalski. ●
LODZ CREATES INNOVATION • NO. 2/2018 15ECONOMY
Anna Krawczyk
A humming friend
by
The moment a family welcomes a new member is, at one and the same time, beautiful and somewhat
scaring. All of a sudden, mum and dad are filled with a sense of tremendous responsibility and
a desire to secure the best of everything for their child from the very start. However, being a parent is
intrinsically connected with being chronically short of sleep. So what should we do to help the child
fall asleep and, in addition, get more sleep ourselves? MyHummy toys come to the rescue.
MyHummy toys are humming teddy bears. The
idea to turn the teddies into a business was born out of
a need. When Anna Skórzyńska, the company’s co-
-owner, became mum, she discovered that her son fell
asleep when he listened to the noise of a hairdryer.
“I asked myself: why not create a cuddly toy which
would emit white noise and, at the same time, would be
safe even for new-born babies?,” she remembers.
It turned out that no one had yet come up with such
an idea although doctors from Queen Charlotte’s and
Chelsea Hospital proved 25 years ago that background
sounds, or white noise, remind babies of sounds they
heard throughout the nine months they had spent in
mummy’s tummy. So such noise, like the one emitted by
hairdryers, makes the infants feel safe.
A VARIETY OF SHAPES, COLOURS AND... SOUNDS
The noise is computer generated, but the company
modifies the default sound versions created by
a programmer and adjusts them to the needs of infants.
“Regardless of the type of noise, children react to it
differently. MyHummy toys are equipped with various
kinds of sounds (hairdryer, sea waves, falling rain) and
we also extend their playing time. So we adjust not only
the volume and the intensity of noise but also its type Marcin Gawroński & Anna Skórzyńska in the MyHummy cafe in Warsaw
so that the toy is suitable for each particular child,” adds
Anna Skórzyńska. Anna Skórzyńska is responsible for marketing.
The company not only offers toys that come in She built her experience as a journalist working for
various shapes and colours but they also vary in terms news websites. She co-owns the business with Marcin
of how they work. Gawroński, who has several years of experience as
The humming mechanism and other toy parts are a businessman. He owns the sewing facility in Łowicz,
produced in Poland. The teddy bears are designed by where some myHummy toys are manufactured.
a Polish designer and are sewn in Lodz, Łowicz and Gawroński is responsible for the production of
Gorzów Wielkopolski. myHummies.
“Our mission is to help the youngest children
THE DEBUT THAT MADE QUITE A NOISE fall asleep. This is also a very important issue for the
Anna Skórzyńska and Marcin Gawroński’s company children’s parents who want to find a moment of rest
made its debut in June 2015. Their products were shown in the first trying months of parenthood,” says Marcin
at parenting fairs and became a sensation. Gawroński.
16 NO. 2/2018 • LODZ CREATES INNOVATION“We pay the utmost attention to the quality of our
products because we want the teddies to be safe even
for new-born babies. Our aim is to create a safe and
calm environment for children and foster their healthy
development” adds Anna Skórzyńska.
THE INTERNET AND A COFFEE SHOP
In their hatching stages, the toys were sold online only
within Poland whereas now the company delivers its
products to about 300 shops all across the country.
Recently in Warsaw, the owners opened even a coffee
shop under the brand’s name, where you can also
purchase myHummy toys. One of three sewing rooms located in Łowicz
market is over 10 billion zlotys. The forecasts suggest
that until 2021, it will be growing at an average pace of
4.5–5 percent.
“It’s a rewarding market renewing itself every
day. Once the child is born, it becomes the whole world
for the parents. I know it very well because I have
experienced it twice myself,” adds Anna Skórzyńska.
The parenting industry is exceptionally challenging
because it is the safety and appropriate development of
children that are at stake. “Even though we registered
our business only three years ago, our achievements
have already been noticed. We’ve received numerous
awards: Złoty Brzuszek, SuperMama Awards, Liked
& Wanted, Znak Jakości KidZone, MadeForMums
Awards,” says Marcin Gawroński.
In mid 2016, Anna Skórzyńska was chosen
by Google to be the ambassador of her personal
programme aimed at European entrepreneurs.
Moreover, she has been noticed by the most prestigious
daily economic newspaper, the “Financial Times”.
The company employs 19 people at present, but it is
continuously expanding. They are currently searching
for a seamstress and a storeman. The employees enjoy
The company not only offers toys that come in various shapes
a comfortable work environment, bonuses and vouchers.
and colours but they also vary in terms of how they work “It’s in the DNA of our company to maintain
top standards. We adhere to fair market practices,
“We don’t limit ourselves to the Polish market. On maintain good relations with customers and we are
the contrary, more than 75 percent of what we produce active community members. Many business awards
is exported. We deliver to Germany, Russia, the Czech that we’ve received compel us to remain to be such: EY
Republic, Belgium, Norway, Switzerland, France, the Entrepreneur of the Year in the New Business category,
US and even Iceland. It goes to show that our products Polish Company – PwC International Champion in the
answer a real need and are not just a short-lived Foreign Market Debut category, European Business Club
fashion,” explains Marcin Gawroński. Poland Award,” sums up Anna Skórzyńska.
At present, the company is expanding its offer to
A PROFITABLE INDUSTRY incorporate pregnant women. Current products are
Photo: Paweł Ławreszuk
The humming toys have reached more than being perfected and, simultaneously, a new collection
400 thousand customers. The company’s turnover of myHummy teddy bears is being developed. The
has increased by a few hundred percent since it was company also plans to introduce their products to new
set up. In Poland alone, the value of baby products markets in Europe and outside it. ●
LODZ CREATES INNOVATION • NO. 2/2018 17ECONOMY
by Katarzyna Jóźwik
Distributor of
first choice Andrzej Kuczyński
They began as a small brick-and-mortar store selling electronic parts. Today, they are the
leading distributor of electronic and electric engineering components, workshop equipment and
automatics to over 140 countries. Transfer Multisort Elektronik (TME) is a company that found its
niche in the market and has been exploiting it successfully for years.
The TME founders are two brothers, Zbigniew “However, they made the capital mistake of
and Adam Kuczyński, and the company name quoting prices which were completely removed from
refers to the most important ideas underpinning its the then market conditions. We decided to capitalise
business: technology transfer and a wide range of on that and developed our own product catalogues
electronic goods. with prices that Polish customers could afford. The
idea caught on,” Andrzej Kuczyński admits.
THE RIGHT NICHE
Even though the company was formally registered THE BUSINESS AND INTERNATIONAL
in 1990, its beginnings go back to the late 1970s / COMMUNITY
early 1980s. Mail order sales proved their worth not just in
“Actually, it all started with removing old Poland, but on the international market as well.
resistors and transistors from TV sets,” TME In 2002, TME started to export its components.
management board member Andrzej Kuczyński Currently, the company is servicing customers
admits, chuckling. Then, he adds: “The first thing from more than 140 countries and has 11 foreign
that Zbigniew did was recovering still operational subsidiaries. It has also opened an office for
components from damaged devices and reselling the MEA (Middle East and Africa) in Cracow.
them in Poland and abroad.” A specialised team sells the products in
Back then, with Poland having virtually 22 languages and export accounts for 65 percent of
no access to electronic components, anything company sales.
scrapped from damaged TV sets was worth its “TME is supplying components to both
weight in gold. individual customers and global corporations
The Polish transformation in the early 1990s but the latter generates 96 percent of company
and the transition to market economy allowed the turnover,” Andrzej Kuczyński explains.
Kuczyński brothers to operate on a much wider The company became one of the world’s most
scale. The company has since then grown by leaps important distributors of electronic components. It
and bounds. After two years in the business, favours not just advanced logistics, but also swift
a general sales department was founded, followed decision-making, allowing products to be delivered
one year later by printed product catalogues, to customers much faster. Right now, orders from
distributed to customers. European customers are delivered within 24 to
In 1996, TME began to sell its range of products 48 hours. Fully adjusting the product offer to buyer
via a website, an innovative business concept in demands is also key. This is not just about the wide
those days. The mail order sales idea came from range of 250 thousand offered products, but also
a Dutch company. keeping an up-to-date inventory list online.
18 NO. 2/2018 • LODZ CREATES INNOVATIONCONTINUOUS GROWTH a new office building will allow new workplaces for
TME is always striving to refine its services. In less regular employees and interns.
than two months, a new company office building “We are looking for specialists in various
will open in Lodz. The management board is also areas,” Andrzej Kuczyński says. “This includes
strongly committed in the construction of a logistics programmers, salesmen, engineers, project managers,
centre in Rzgów near Lodz. accountants and even blue-collar workers.”
“Right now, we are working on a fully automated The new logistics centre may provide jobs
and robotised logistics centre which we plan to to hundreds of people. The company is open not
turn into the world’s most modern facility,” Andrzej just to those with experience, but also to fresh
Kuczyński stresses. university graduates. Moreover, it cooperates with
There are plans to open new foreign subsidiaries
in the US, India and Australia.
In other news, the company is working on
a brand-new version of its sales platform and website
which serves as the main point of contact with
customers. All those investments and innovative
solutions are meant to shorten the product delivery
time as much as possible.
“From the get-go, the mission of our company
has invariably been to become a distributor of first
choice,” Andrzej Kuczyński admits. “We want to
provide our customers with tools and opportunities
that will help to vault our company into the top of
their business partner list.”
In 2017, the number of company customers
reached 170 thousand, a number translating into In 2017, the number of company customers reached 170 thousand,
1.5 billion of components sold (with an average a number translating into 1.5 billion of components sold
4,000 shipments per day). The company turnover
grows 23 percent per year on average. Accordingly, the University of Lodz and Lodz University of
its key efforts include continuing to increase the Technology to promote knowledge about electrical
number of offered products, improving logistics and engineering and new technologies.
expanding operational capabilities in terms of both
office and warehousing infrastructure. SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE
The company’s activities are not restricted to
A COMPANY BACKED BY PEOPLE improving its logistics system and expanding
TME unceasingly reiterates that it is the employed staff numbers but also include efforts with a social
staff that makes up its strength. dimension. One of such initiatives is the plan to build
Right now, the company provides jobs for a kindergarten-cum-crèche for children of employees,
more than 700 employees. Wishing to optimise the with opening planned for early 2019 at the latest. The
business partner servicing process, the company centre’s objective will be to provide day care for about
did away with traditional purchase, sales and 80 kids while their parents are working but also to
product departments. They have been replaced develop an extensive teaching curriculum.
with small employee teams that focus on a specific “The project is our direct response to the needs of
product range. Highly skilled electronic engineers our employees,” Andrzej Kuczyński stresses.
and specialists are assigned to one of 11 product TME’s social activity is not, however, limited to
groups. Company representatives operate on both the the local community. The “TME Edukacja” project has
domestic and international market. The company’s a global dimension and aims to support and educate
commitment to social responsibility, employee young people worldwide, especially in areas where
growth and ensuring the best employment conditions access to electronics and technology knowledge is
possible was recognised in the 2017 edition of the limited, and thereby oppose technological exclusion.
“TOP5 Lodz Employers” competition. Currently, the project is conducting workshops using
Photo: TME
TME refuses to be satisfied and plans to continue self-made educational kits and supporting schools in
expanding its team in the near future. Moving to 10 African countries. ●
LODZ CREATES INNOVATION • NO. 2/2018 19ECONOMY
by Katarzyna Jóźwik
Towards innovation
TomTom is associated mainly with manufacturing car navigation systems; however, its portfolio
also includes many innovative products, such as sports watches and mobile fitness trackers,
which have gained the customers’ appreciation.
The company’s operations focus primarily
on future-proof solutions, and most of them are
developed by the company’s Lodz office, which was
founded in 2008 and acts as the company’s R&D
centre.
MAP DIGITIZATION
The company takes advantage of the legacy of the
National Cartographic Publishing House, which
owned GeoInvent, a company specializing in
digitizing maps and creating technologies used
to steer self-driving cars. After some time, it was
taken over by Tele Atlas, to finally join forces
in 2008 with TomTom, a leading manufacturer Piotr Orłowski
of navigation systems software. Thus arose
completely new opportunities for designing the company provide a detailed 3D road model,
modern traffic management solutions. Currently, while RoaDNA provides fully optimized route
TomTom specializes in manufacturing advanced profiles. The system, working in tandem with
geolocation solutions, and what makes the sensors installed in vehicles, can steer the car.
company special among its competitors is that it Positioning and navigation (LTP) support systems
manufactures its own maps, not just navigation made in this manner are aimed at a diverse group
software. of business customers, whereas the self-driving
“The device itself is just a piece of electronics car steering software is aimed at the automotive
that requires advanced programming solutions. industry.
And it’s not just digital maps but also positioning “The HD maps we make are a necessary
calculations,” admits Piotr Orłowski, the Lodz component of self-driving cars,” emphasizes Piotr
office site owner. “The GPS signal received by Orłowski. And he adds: “We have partnered with
a car is not very accurate. Its positioning can be certain car brand manufacturers, with whom we’re
influenced even by other nearby vehicles. working on self-driving car designs. It should be
The accuracy of our product is based on emphasized that this technology is a solution of
navigating the map’s content, not the car’s location the future; its implementation works are being
in relation to the GPS.” conducted continuously.”
Although autonomous vehicles are a tangible
SELF-DRIVING CARS market product, their operation is still in the
One of the Lodz team’s flagship projects is research and testing phase.
steering software for unmanned cars, where
accurate positioning is required. HD maps – the SMART CITY MANAGEMENT
manufacture of which was pioneered worldwide Smart Cities systems are another project of
by TomTom – combined with a particularly the company. The software and applications
detailed digital map, RoaDNA, enable determining developed by the company aim to enhance the
the car’s position and planning the route, even broadly defined traffic management in cities.
when we are driving fast. HD maps developed by The traffic and travel management systems on
20 NO. 2/2018 • LODZ CREATES INNOVATIONYou can also read
