Space, Innovation and the Industry of the Future

How do space technologies affect the development of the economy, security and innovation of Polish industry? Participants in the conference “IGNIS: Trajectories of the Future”, held on 13 July 2026 at the Ministry of Development and Technology, sought answers to these questions.

The Kostrzyn-Słubice Special Economic Zone was represented by Antoni Sołtys, Member of the Management Board of KSSSE, who took part in debates on the future of the Polish space sector and the role of modern technologies in building a competitive economy.

The conference clearly underlined the importance of cooperation between industry and the space and defence sectors. For KSSSE this is a particularly important direction of development, especially in the context of investments in the defence sector. One of the most significant examples is the investment by Hanwha WB Advanced System in Gorzów Wielkopolski, which will produce next-generation guided missiles.

The speakers included:

• Josef Aschbacher – Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA),

• Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski – ESA project astronaut,

• Andrzej Domański – Minister of Finance,

• representatives of the European Commission, the Polish Space Agency (POLSA), the Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences and innovative companies in the space sector.

One of the most important moments of the conference was the announcement that the European Space Agency (ESA) will launch a centre in Warsaw dealing with advanced space missions. This is an important signal confirming Poland's growing role in the European space sector, and a further impetus for the development of modern technologies and cooperation between science and business.

Modern industry, dual-use technologies and the space sector will set the direction of investment development in the coming years. KSSSE wants to take an active part in these changes by creating conditions for the development of projects based on innovation, advanced technologies and international cooperation.