The southwestern Polish city of Wroc³aw is vying to be chosen as the location of the new European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso proposed the establishment of the institute in 2005 after much debate on insufficient progress made in carrying out the EU's Lisbon Strategy. The Lisbon Strategy, adopted in 2000, seeks to reform the European Union over 10 years into the world's most competitive economy based on knowledge and surpassing other economic powerhouses including the United States. This is one of the most ambitious goals that the EU has ever set itself. The European Institute of Innovation and Technology would be modeled after the famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States. The EIT would carry out research for the benefit of European industry and at the same time educate an elite group of scientists. The European Commission expects to spend 2.4 billion euros on the project by 2013.

For a better Europe

When Barroso announced his idea of a European Institute of Innovation and Technology, Poland was enjoying its newfound membership of the European Union, having joined the bloc a year earlier. The greatest benefit of membership is access to billions of euros that the EU has earmarked for the development of new member countries. However, successive Polish governments, in their foreign affairs policies, have favored closer ties with the United States. This has resulted in mixed feelings toward Poland among some of its key European partners. Critics say that, with such policies, Poland risks getting a reputation as a member country that willingly takes but offers little in return.

Wroc³aw's bid to be chosen as the location of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, or at least one of its six Knowledge and Innovation Centers, is designed to redress the balance.

One of Poland's most rapidly developing cities, Wroc³aw applied to be considered for the headquarters of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology just after Barroso announced his plan. The bid became one of the key projects of the city's ambitious mayor Rafa³ Dutkiewicz, who has set his sights on promoting the city internationally. Among other projects, Wroc³aw will be one of the venues of the Euro 2012 European soccer championships that will be held in Poland and Ukraine. However, despite Dutkiewicz's efforts, Wroc³aw has failed to win a bid to host the Expo 2012 World Exhibition.

Teaming up for Wroc³aw

In February, Prime Minister Donald Tusk appointed a special government team to support Wroc³aw in its bid to be the headquarters of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. The team is led by Barbara Kudrycka, minister for science and higher education and a former member of the European Parliament. Other key members of the team are Dutkiewicz and former prime minister Jerzy Buzek, who is currently a member of the European Parliament.

Wroc³aw's fight for the European Institute of Innovation and Technology has involved not only City Hall and the government, but also the local academic community led by Prof. Tadeusz Luty, head of the Wroc³aw University of Technology and chairman of the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland.

In November last year, local and regional councils and four leading Wroc³aw schools founded the Wroc³aw Research Center as a possible site on which to develop the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. Earlier, Polish copper giant KGHM announced its readiness to support such innovation projects. State-controlled KGHM is the largest business in the Lower Silesian region of which Wroc³aw is the largest city.

Rivals and detractors

In its bid to host the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, Wroc³aw is competing with other European cities such as Munich, Vienna and Budapest.

Meanwhile, Barroso's idea to establish the institute has met with criticism within the EU. Many of the critics, who include scientists and businesspeople, argue that Barroso's idea would take funds away from other innovation projects.

EU officials in Brussels are likely to decide on the location of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology in the next few months.

£ukasz Medeksza