“Poland is no longer an emerging market. It’s a partnering market.”
Dr. Magdalena Kulczycka, founder of the Biotech Innovation Institute, is a molecular biologist with experience spanning academia, entrepreneurship, and venture capital. Her institute fosters biotech growth from lab to market through consulting, venture building, and business development, with particular focus on Poland’s life sciences sector and the broader Central and Eastern European region.
Poland’s biotech sector has undergone substantial transformation over the last few decades, evolving from a centrally planned system to one of Europe’s more dynamic innovation economies. This evolution creates opportunities for pharmaceutical companies and contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) seeking European partnerships. Speaking to PharmaSource at Nordic Life Science Days (NLSDays) in Gothenburg, Magdalena outlines why Poland merits attention from international partners and how organizations can successfully navigate this market.
The Biotech Innovation Institute
Magdalena’s career trajectory reflects the broader evolution of Poland’s life sciences sector. “I started in molecular biology working at the bench with a pipette, but very quickly I realized that great research needs the right ecosystem to reach patients or the market,” she explains.
That realization led her through tech transfer, venture investments, and ultimately ecosystem building. “What connects all these roles is a single mission: to help innovative research move from concept to commercialization,” Magdalena says. The Biotech Innovation Institute provides strategic and operational support for biotech projects, helping them mature faster into successful companies.
According to Magdalena, Poland’s scientific talent needs connective infrastructure to engage effectively with international partners. She addresses this challenge through the institute. “I’m spreading knowledge and linking international partners with the right counterparts from the Polish ecosystem,” she notes. The institute functions as a translation layer—not just linguistically, but in understanding what each counterpart needs and connecting appropriate stakeholders.
The Entrepreneurial Mindset
Poland’s transformation from a centrally planned economy created ripple effects throughout its research community. “We’ve moved from a central plant system to one of the most dynamic innovation economies in Europe,” Magdalena observes. “This shift has created a new generation of scientists who are not only excellent researchers but also emerging entrepreneurs.”
These scientists now commercialize ideas, build teams, and create market value. “That entrepreneurial mindset didn’t exist at this scale a decade ago,” Magdalena says. “Right now we’re witnessing a dramatic shift in mindset that’s driving entrepreneurial growth.”
The biotech sector’s growth trajectory outpaces Poland’s overall economic expansion. “Both are expanding, but biotech is moving faster than the rest of the economy,” Magdalena notes. The sector has matured considerably, shifting from service-based models to proprietary science. “We’re seeing platforms, therapeutics, and diagnostics developed in-house by companies. It’s a natural evolution and it’s happening right now in Poland, being a leader in the Central Europe region.”
Scientific Capabilities and Infrastructure
International partners evaluating Poland for R&D collaborations find substantial depth. “The academic base in molecular biology, medicinal chemistry, and bioinformatics is very strong,” Magdalena explains.
“Our scientists are globally trained, multilingual, and open to joint development,” she adds. “Therefore, it’s easy to find partners for collaboration.”
The innovation landscape spans multiple stages and modalities. “The majority of Polish biotech companies are still in proof-of-concept or early clinical phase, but the pace of innovation is really high,” Magdalena notes. Breakthrough work occurs in immuno-oncology, gene therapy, diagnostics, and AI-assisted drug discovery. Many ventures originate as academic spin-offs that have learned to operate like startups before maturing into larger entities.
Poland also hosts established manufacturing sites developing in-house innovation projects alongside service operations.
CDMO Capabilities and Quality Standards
Poland’s contract services landscape reflects historical strengths in bioprocessing, formulation, and small molecule API production. “A number of CDMO-type organizations now offer integrated services from preclinical R&D and analytical support up to GMP manufacturing,” Magdalena says. “It’s a fill-and-finish pipeline covered.”
International sponsors increasingly recognize that Polish companies deliver high-quality services with rapid turnaround times. “Poland can be considered a country where you can find reliable CDMO partners,” she notes.
Quality system alignment often comes up in partnership discussions. “Bio-pharmaceutical business is a global business. If you want to function in this ecosystem, you need to meet world standards,” Magdalena explains. Poland follows European Medicines Agency (EMA) regulations, with some facilities holding FDA certifications. “There is no compliance hurdle. There is no gap.”
Geographic and Strategic Advantages
“Beyond being the sixth largest economy in the EU, there is something deeper: the energy and ambition of the people,” she says. “Polish biotech teams are fast, creative, and open to collaboration.”
For Western partners, this represents access to a growing R&D hub that can strengthen innovation pipelines and supply chain resilience—lessons reinforced during recent pandemic disruptions.
Poland’s geographic position translates into logistical advantages. “Poland sits in the heart of Europe, and that gives a unique logistical advantage for manufacturing networks,” Magdalena explains. “It means shorter delivery times, better cost control, and the ability to serve multiple markets from one base.” Strong connections with surrounding Central European countries strengthen overall European supply chain resilience.
Overcoming Misperceptions
International partners often arrive with outdated expectations. “Many expect early-stage operations and discover instead highly professional, innovation-driven organizations,” Magdalena says. Partners find teams that are fast, flexible, genuinely interested, and deliver quality results.
“Many people come to Poland without knowing anything about this market, and they’re surprised that there are actually no polar bears on the streets,” she jokes. “Instead, they find really interesting and smart partners for developing biotechnological projects.”
These misperceptions stem from information gaps and outdated assumptions. “That’s why I highly encourage everyone to come over to Warsaw and keep in touch with Biotech Innovation Institute, serving as a single point of contact to find the right partner for your business,” Magdalena says.
A common mistake involves assuming operational approaches transfer directly. “Each ecosystem has its own rhythm and relationship dynamics,” Magdalena notes. She recommends engaging early with local organizations such as the Biotech Innovation Institute or the Polish Investment and Trade Agency to understand operational nuances. “That would facilitate building very strong and fruitful collaborations and help you save time in finding the right partner and establishing such relationships.”
“Poland is no longer an emerging market. It’s a partnering market,” Magdalena emphasizes. “We have the talent, we have the infrastructure, and we have the collaborative mindset needed to co-create innovations. Working with Poland means partnering with quality, flexibility, and long-term relations.”
