Information and telecommunication technology

The Podkarpackie Voivodeship stands out for its scientific and research resources in the areas of information and communication technologies. In addition to the well-qualified human resources there are many ICT companies. At the end of June 2024, as many as 9,259 companies representing this sector were registered in the REGON database. Experts emphasise that the advancement in ICT will beneficially affect the innovativeness and competitiveness of the other smart specialisations of the voivodeship.

ICT enterprises are mainly located in the large cities of the region, with the highest number in Rzeszów and the adjoining areas. This is where the country's largest IT company, Asseco Poland, a software producer listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, was founded and is still based. It has expanded its operation by establishing a capital group present in nearly 60 countries worldwide, and employing around 33,000 people. Rzeszów is also home to such strong companies as OPTeam S.A (listed on the stock exchange) and Polskie ePłatności. The region’s oldest ICT companies include Zeto Rzeszów and Etob-Res. There are also much younger, and highly successful enterprises: PGS Software, which has joined the Dutch capital group Xebia; Ideo - a major player in e-commerce; and G2A, a company providing a sales platform specialising in video games. ICT companies significantly contribute to the region's GDP.

Of major importance for the smart specialisation Information and Telecommunications is the Eastern Poland IT Companies Cluster bringing together around 130 entities from the Podkarpackie Voivodeship and other regions of Poland. Coordinated by the Informatyka Podkarpacka Association, the cluster provides a platform for cooperation between companies, and between businesses and research institutions. Effects of the cooperation with universities include the dual study programs offered by the University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszów. Students work in companies associated within the cluster, which beneficially affects their practical training. The cluster also cooperates with business environment institutions, administration as well as clusters associating entities operating in other sectors.

Operation of business environment institutions is also important for the advancement of the ICT sector. The Rzeszów Regional Development Agency has an attractive offer for start-ups. The project entitled Starting Platforms ‘Start in…’ makes it possible for young IT companies to gain access to office space, as well as legal, specialist technological and business services, and to acquire subsidies. At the initial stage of their operation enterprises, including those started by university students, can also receive support from business incubators. The Podkarpackie Innovation Centre in Rzeszów also plays an important role. It provides support to school and university students wishing to realise their innovative ideas. Here they use the ProtoLab, i.e. laboratories and advanced equipment, and they can receive mentoring, funding for prototypes and for project implementation. The PIC also supports cooperation between business and research entities and it provides grants to entities conducting research related to implementation of R&D projects.

Educational programs connected with ICT are conducted by all the universities in the Podkarpackie, and graduate courses of study in this specialization are on offer at eight universities. The educational options available in this area are constantly expanding with new courses and specialisations being launched in response to market needs. Three schools in particular, i.e., the Rzeszów University of Technology, the University of Rzeszów and the University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszów have excellent facilities with educational and research laboratories, and conduct scientific research related to ICT. The region also has around 60 schools providing education to future IT technicians, programming technicians and similar specialisations.    

Interesting and highly unique educational initiatives in the region include the project entitled “RaP STEAM – robotics and programming in primary schools within the Podkarpackie Voivodeship”. Classrooms have gained advanced equipment and teachers have received technical training. Over 770 schools conduct special computer science classes, extracurricular activities, camps and workshops promoting robotics and the study of programming. Over 7,600 primary school students will benefit from this strategic project of the Podkarpackie Region, as it will be continued until the end of 2029. The voivodeship government has designated 133 million PLN for the project in the frames of the program European Funds for Podkarpackie 2021-2027.  

In terms of the infrastructure, the Podkarpackie Region is well prepared for the progressive digitisation. In 2019, as many as 96.8% businesses and 86.8 % households had access to broadband internet, which was above the Polish average.  The progress in digital transformation and process automation necessitate  changes in the companies operating in the Podkarpackie. Digital transformation is one of the main pillars of the fourth industrial revolution, which has introduced the widespread use of new information technologies, mobile technologies, machine learning and artificial intelligence. Due to the versatility of these technologies, today these solutions are commonly applied in all the branches of economy. Therefore, the IT industry contributes to the competitiveness of and innovation in the other smart specialisations of the region. The smart specialization Information and Telecommunications is becoming one of the pillars of the economic advancement of the voivodeship, and this fact is reflected, e.g., by the rapidly growing number of companies operating in its area. According to the data from the Central Statistics, nearly four thousand such entities have been started in the Podkarpackie between 2019 and 2022.