On November 16, 2015, a delegation of representatives of the Ivano-Frankivsk region visited the ancient Polish city of Krakow, which is famous not only as the cultural capital of Poland, but also as the center of the country's scientific and innovative potential.

Representatives of the Ukrainian delegation represented the Precarpathian University named after V. Stefanyk, in particular, its science park, the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Center for Investment and Development and the Agency for the Development of Private Initiative. The purpose of the delegation was to familiarize themselves with the experience of Polish colleagues in the direction of administration and development of technology transfer centers and commercialization of research, which adapt scientific developments for practical use and thereby contribute to the development of the local economy and increase its competitiveness.

During the intensive one-day program of the visit, the participants of the meeting managed to visit the world-famous Jagiellonian Innovation Center, the Technology Transfer Center and the entrepreneurship incubator of the Krakow Academy of Mining and Metallurgy (AGH, Krakow). AGH also presented its experience in the field of support and development of entrepreneurship of the Faculty of Personnel Retraining.

The participants of the visit were impressed by the so-called Polish biotechnological valley - Life Scince Park (LSP) on the basis of the Jagiellonian University. This is a huge complex of three buildings with a total area of ​​20,000 sq. meters. This powerful science park works in clearly defined areas. In particular, activities are carried out to finance and develop the most promising scientific projects at their early stage, provide research services in the fields of biology, chemistry, pharmacology, cosmetology and medical analytics. Within the park, the LSP Clinical Research Center with the latest equipment and facilities conducts current research in the field of socially demanded medical niches (allergology, dermatology, etc.). The Quality Institute tests products for recognition of their quality and assignment of a special JCI (Jagiellonian University) mark, conducts rating assessments and publishes popular science publications on the topics of product quality. Applied research is also carried out in the areas of education and training: in particular, two of its own programs for preschool institutions are being tested, and a postgraduate course in the field of business implementation in biotechnology is operating. LSP also formed a conference service offer: it has several modernly equipped conference rooms at its disposal.

The scheme of activities of the Krakow Science Parks was adopted by PNU specialists. ARPI experts, in turn, summarized their impressions of the visit as follows: Now, more than ever, is the time for Ukraine to reorient itself from tacitly promoting the outflow of young scientists to scientific bases abroad - to creating alternative scientific platforms in its own country. It is worth starting with our region, properly developing the PNU Science Park. In this way, we will create added value for potential investors, consumers and the local economy. There are more than enough examples of borrowing similar experience in Europe.