Author: obc_adm

100,000 trees planted, meadows sewn with flowers, saving wild and honey bees, and biodiversity projects. Such initiatives are implemented by residents of Olivia Business Centre. Olivia itself also offers 24,000 m2 of biologically active area, implements projects for sustainable transport, energy recovery, and draws heat from geothermal sources. It is surprising how many ecological projects can be implemented in one office centre, and Olivia Business Centre, on the occasion of World Earth Day, is announcing a new climate awareness programme for 2021.

In the recently completed Olivia Prize competition organized by the Olivia Business Centre, the largest number of applications concerned social and environmental projects implemented by both large global corporations and smaller enterprises. The largest-scale enterprise was ABAX planting 100,000 trees in Malawi. The company is recreating an ecosystem that has suffered from intense devastation in the last 10 years

ABAX has had a particularly good year in terms of environmental and social responsibility, and our employees were almost hyperactive in this regard – says Dorota Orzęcka, Digital Marketing Manager from ABAX. – In 2020, we planted over 100,000 trees in collaboration with our partner WeForest and supported seven local projects close to our offices. Environmental and social responsibility is part of each of our services, which is why we plant a new tree on the occasion of each subscription. Together with WeForest, we form a team supporting the reforestation program in Malawi. We are making huge efforts to counteract the excessive cutting down of forest areas that used to cover one third of the entire country. Logging has led to the loss of biodiversity and poses a constant threat of lowering the quality and safety of the waters in the area, which is a key resource for thousands of families living there. The project is vigorously implemented in cooperation with local NGOs, the Faculty of Forestry and ten local forest nurseries. – adds Dorota Orzęcka.

Energa Grupa ORLEN, and also based in Olivia, has implemented a number of projects, including initiatives to protect the white stork, such as the installation of platforms for stork nests on power poles or assistance in ringing birds (the “Energa Group Energy Ringers” project). The company also launched a Biodiversity Energy campaign, under which it recreates meadow ecosystems. In this way, it contributes to the development of wastelands in the Narew lagoon system in order to increase biodiversity and ultimately save wild and honey bees. In the following years, the plan is to install hives for educational purposes, as well as to launch workshops for children and teenagers on the construction of “hotels” for wild bees, and to create educational paths.

The energy of biodiversity is a comprehensive pro-environmental, ecological and educational project – says Dr. Alina Skorb-Gała, head of the ESG Department at Energi SA. – Flower meadows help to save forgotten species of plants and animals, they provide food for wild bees, giving them space to live and, in winter, shelter. Plants growing in meadows contribute to lowering the air temperature.

Another pro-ecological initiative is the technological project EVAA (Ecological Vertical Agriculture Assistant), implemented by a team of Sii Polska engineers. As part of the Sii Passion Sponsorship Program, experts from the Gdańsk branch are developing a system that uses artificial intelligence for plant breeding. The main assumption of the project is to reduce water consumption and the area necessary for cultivation. The ecological aspect is extremely important here. In our approach, we want to apply amplification learning to control the physical process of plant development. – says Paweł Czapiewski, project team leader. Reinforcement learning is a special type of artificial intelligence. The idea is that the algorithm only receives a feedback as a reward if the lettuce is thriving. It has to figure out how to achieve optimal results. – adds Paweł Czapiewski.

Olivia announces a climate awareness program

On April 22, International Earth Day, Olivia Business Centre launches a new program to promote climate awareness, under which it will promote activities for sustainable development and transport, as well as reducing energy consumption.

The exacting certifications we undergo confirm that our buildings are a model example of thinking about human well-being and environmental friendliness – says Hamish Potts from Olivia Business Centre. – We want to promote sustainability, including the reduction of waste production, and more responsible use of water and energy., We want to create a more circular Olivia, promoting pro-ecological attitudes, and motivating our employees and employees of Olivia’s residents to think about the environmental footprint that each of us leaves in their daily activities; to take up the challenge of change for the better. – adds Hamish Potts.

Due to the technological solutions used, the Olivia Business Centre buildings have received high marks in the BREEAM certification, from excellent to very good. Recently, they were the first buildings in the world, to obtain the maximum Well certification score, issued by the International Well Building Institute (IWBI), in 25 analyzed categories. Such high marks were awarded for exceptional concern for the health and well-being of people working in Olivia. IWBI advisors recognized both the technological solutions such as titanium coatings, which counteract the deposition of viruses, bacteria and fungi on common surfaces of buildings, and ionizers that purify almost 100% of the air circulating throughout the buildings, as well as recovering energy from the operation of elevator cabins, extracting heat from a depth of 95 meters below the garage halls of buildings or automatically switching off the air conditioning when the windows are opened. Ecological LED light sources are used in all buildings and they are 100% recyclable.

The dominant trend in designing the latest buildings is biophilic design, which puts human well-being at the centre of attention: architectural and functional solutions used in buildings help to ensure a balance between moments of intense work during the day and, just as importantly, moments of rest and relaxation. Olivia Garden, which is undergoing the final preparations before opening, is also part of this trend – an exotic garden with over 800 m2 of space, which will be filled with over 4,000 plants representing 150 species.

Self-expression through art, or the Park On Exhibition in Olivia

In the lobby of Olivia Star, we can admire the works made by the charges of the Park On Association. Thanks to a grant from Olivia’s Oliwa Neighbourhood Budget, the members of the association were able to take part in art therapy classes conducted under the supervision of professional artists. Extraordinary works were created. Created out of love for art. 

Several entities cooperated with each other on the project and it was thanks to them that its implementation became possible. It brought a lot of good not only to the participants themselves, but also to the visitors of the exhibition, because we can admire its tangible effects when visiting Olivia Business Centre. 

The classes were conducted by the visual artist Kamila Szelągowicz (works inspired by ethnography occupy a special place in her work) and Aleksandra Went. running her own studio Wela Ont Ceramika, working in an artistic duo with Alicja Karska. Since the beginning of the association’s existence, i.e. since July 2019, both ladies have declared their help and time as volunteers. The Porcelain Factory in Lubian also contributed to the project, and more precisely provided materials – clay and beautiful porcelain for firing. Working at the Park On Association Urszula Wyrwińska points out: We are extremely happy that it worked. Any support is very valuable to us, because we operate for a short time, and pro bono at that. Without funding from the already mentioned Olivia Neighbourhood Budget, the help of the Porcelain Factory in Lubiana and the Oliwa District Council, which offered a place for workshops , the project would not have been possible. Most of the people who take the classes couldn’t really afford them, living off a modest pension.” 

Among the many works made during the eighteen 90-minute workshops  , those associated with the location of Gdańsk-Oliwa, evoking associations with the sea and forests of the Tri-City Landscape Park, were exhibited in Olivia.

Everyone has a need to express themselves through art. In different dimensions and in different manifestations. Art therapy workshops, where the creative process itself has a therapeutic effect, stimulate creativity and play a huge role in Parkinson’s disease. As Mrs. Urszula emphasizes: “This is very necessary at a time when adults are losing something. It’s like a demotion – first giving up your job, then giving up walking. However, many of us discover our talent thanks to this difficult situation. People with the disease begin to create, paint, write books, etc. Many of them want to prove themselves artistically. It’s one of our kinds of expression.” 

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Art therapy has an impact on many levels: it has a corrective function: it allows you to regain mental balance, treat depression, fight anxiety, relieve frustrations, facilitate communication with other people, support the process of building a positive attitude to the world, and raise self-esteem. It also educates, enriching the inner life, expanding skills and knowledge in the field of artistic techniques. Therapy is also a great entertainment, a form of relaxation, a good way to spend free time among people who are similar to you. That is why, even during online meetings, there was no shortage of willing creators.

Urszula sums up her cooperation with Olivia in the following way: The contact with you, at every stage, was wonderful. You have done a lot of good, which is why we wanted to present the works that you have created. I want you to see that every dot that appears here was made by a person who thought warmly of you while working on his work.”

Thank you for such amazing words! And we think very warmly of the Creators and Artists, thanks to whom we can admire this unique exhibition. Welcome to the lobby of Olivia Star!

The past year has brought challenges in every industry. It was no different with coworking space operators. It turns out that these spaces, despite the fact that they are often rented by people who can work from anywhere on a daily basis, attract a permanent group of people. Long before the pandemic, coworkers also used remote work mode and tools, which became popular among all office workers in the last year. At least in part, they will remain with us forever. Therefore, the analysis of coworkers’ experiences can be an inspiration not only for themselves, but for all people returning to the office.

Over the years, it has been common knowledge that coworking spaces are a space dominated by freelancers. The reality, however, shows that this community is a very diverse group of people, and the leaders are full-time employees of companies that have their offices in coworking spaces or people working for companies based in another city (23% of all employees in shared workspaces). The main reason for choosing coworking is the community, which not only builds the right atmosphere, but also gives great opportunities to expand one’s own capabilities through networking. – For me, the most important benefit of being in O4 is the team! – says Michał Mallek, growth hacker at a SaaS company from the HRTech industry. Other than that, the space is great. I really appreciate a well-designed, simple, aesthetically pleasing and modern office. Also, eating together is a good basis for networking, it actually brings people together and gives space and motivation to leave the office – all food events have always had power, they were full of people, so there was someone to talk to.

The second largest group are team managers (17%) – people who combine the characteristics of corporate directors and business owners. – For me, coworking is first and foremost an opportunity to grow – from a desk to a large office – according to our needs, not rigidly. – says Maciej Manufrewicz from Codiline. The flexibility of the contract and the location are also important. And the view from the window, it seems like a small thing, but I can see that it’s important to people.

Only the third group are freelancers (15%): – For me, the first association is primarily people and a place to work where you can do this work effectively . – says Grzegorz Poźniak, from p-beep. People in coworking are people who want something cool out of life. Thanks to this, you can be sure that during the break you will not talk about work over and over again, but you will devote more time to interesting and inspiring topics. Sometimes you will share experiences or help each other. In my life, I value independence, as well as feeling joy and pleasure in life. I don’t like when I have to do something, I rather choose the things I want to do. I believe that I am not entitled to anything in life. If I want or dream of something, I am aware that I must first give something of myself in order to achieve it – adds Grzegorz Poźniak.

The most important reasons for choosing to work in coworking spaces include: the desire to meet people (30%), location (29%), prestige of the place (22%), atmosphere in the workplace (20%), the opportunity to establish business contacts (19%) and flexibility (19%). As many as 61% of respondents declare participation in networking and social events. Educational and development events are also very popular (35% of responses). This result can also be combined with the fact that as many as 58% of respondents confirm cooperation with at least 5 companies from their environment, and 26% with more than 5 companies. These spaces are therefore a forge of business relationships and provide an opportunity for synergy with other coworkers.

This data is confirmed by Steve Munroe , one of the pioneers of coworking spaces in the world, the founder of the iconic HubBud on the island of Bali, the creator of one of the highest-rated industry conferences in the world, Coworking Asia:
– I would say that coworkers are united by entrepreneurship motivated by external factors, they LIKE to go to work. Small companies – those describable by the phrase “the whole team is here” – are looking for flexibility. Coworking is also an opportunity for them to access something they couldn’t afford before. The quality of the furnishings, the business address, the access to prestigious, comfortable locations, such as those with large common spaces and a dining area. For me, the most important factor that unites coworkers is the aforementioned entrepreneurial mind. I’ve always thought that looking for a coworking space is like “buying a community.” Some coworking spaces have better locations, chairs, amenities than others, but especially for smaller businesses and freelancers, it’s the community that binds you to the place. Coworking spaces and flex spaces aren’t necessarily the cheapest options, but they can be the most cost-effective offices.

In isolation, in a very slow, seemingly imperceptible, but inexorable way, people’s commitment and sense of purpose decrease. – says the author of the report, Marta Moksa, Managing Director of O4 coworking at Olivia Business Centre. When you’re alone, it’s harder to come up with creative solutions. It’s about satisfaction and mental health. At the same time, ticking off new tasks is increasing. Focus. Efficiency understood as the ratio of the number of completed cases from the list to the time devoted to these activities. Using your home as an office has its positive and dark sides. The time saved on transports and conversations in the kitchen is spent on more and more online meetings, reporting and subsequent tasks. The paradox of recent months is that about 70% of respondents indicate that we have been working MORE lately, not less. So the New Normal is probably a mix of best practices and experiences from both worlds. It’s about empowering people to work from home and supporting them by offering an extraordinary on-site experience. Though anyone who claims to have figured it out and knows the answer to questions about trends and the future of work is cruelly lying and pretending that 2020 never happened. There is no doubt that most people are a little nostalgic for the old days. Those who had nice, human-friendly, heart-and-head designed spaces and harmonious, cheerful people around them miss them more – adds Marta Moksa.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL O4 COWORKING REPORT

We would like to invite you to the seventh exhibition of our Olivia Art series! This time, in the lobby of the prestigious Olivia Star, we present the works of the talented Weronika Macedońska, who works at Bayer Service Center Gdańsk. The exhibition, which we highly recommend, was prepared by the entire Weronika Family. Thank you!

Eleanor was right – she never looked pretty.
Itlooked like a work of art, and art can’t just
be pretty – art has to evoke emotions.
Rainbow Rowell

We give the floor to the Artist herself!

“I hope that my works evoke emotions in you, especially a feeling of happiness and joy. I’ve always loved the process of painting, an effect that stays with me for years. To this day, I still have my more than twenty-year-old sketches, but my life went in a completely different direction. The crayons and the brush had been lying deep in the closet for years. After high school, I left my hometown of Bytów to study in Gdańsk (not related to painting). Then there was the wedding, the first child, the second child, the third child, the cat, the dog and all the time the professional work. It wasn’t until I was on parental leave, with my youngest son, that I dug out brushes and paints… That was two years ago, in July 2019. And so, little by little, I started painting as a hobby… and read about painting techniques.

I paint mainly in the evenings, after work, after children’s extracurricular activities, after shopping, etc. This is a moment for me.

I encourage young mothers to find time for themselves in the rush of everyday life.

happy Mom = happy Family.”

Communing with art is enriching. Contact with it is conducive to the development of our cognitive abilities, and not only creativity – which may seem obvious – but also memory and associative operations. We invite you to Olivia Star. Admission!

Do you want to order Veronica’s unique work? Contact the Artist.

• AkryleNiki.art
• Tel. 502 621 688
• mail: nika.maced@wp.pl 

 

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Dear Residents,

So it happened! We cordially invite you as the first guests to Olivia Garden! We are opening it on May 17 just for you, so that you can be the first to see and feel it with all your senses. We hope that it will delight you, enchant you and that it will become your beloved place.

We designed it with you in mind, so that you can catch your breath there, commune with nature, recharge your internal batteries, and even work surrounded by greenery. You can hide under the leaves of palm trees and ficus, you can sit in a tree house (didn’t you dream of one in your childhood?), you can simply admire exotic plants of 4 continents, picturesque strelitzias, delicate plumerias, lilac gandalphs from the mezzanine. You will be soothed by the sound of the waterfall, the singing of birds, the rustle of the wind…

We know you’ve been waiting for quite a long time, but it’s worth waiting for special things:)

WELCOME! Be a frequent guest of Olivia Garden.

You can already book the day and time of entry to the garden (the first day is May 17th).

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How to do it?

• Go to the website garden.oliviacentre.com
• Register and confirm your Resident status.
• Generate a free resident ticket to Olivia Garden!
• Important: Use an address on your business domain.
• Didn’t receive your ticket? Having trouble registering? Write to aplikacja@oliviagarden.com

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We have prepared a lot of events and surprises for you, which will accompany you for the next few weeks:) Watch our social media, look at the screens in the buildings, don’t miss the reception:)

SEE YOU! After all, meetings are in our nature:)

In a moment, in a moment, we will invite to Olivia Garden all those who want to immerse themselves in greenery, catch their breath and meet in nature.

Follow what’s happening in the garden on:

• Olivia’s Facebook page
• Olivia’s Instagram

For a whole lot of details, please visit:

• Facebook Garden
• Instagram Garden

Within 10 months, Olivia Business Centre has implemented four cooperation projects with Gdańsk universities. Their diversified form is to ensure the exchange of experience between business and the world of science.

The building of the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Gdańsk is located in the vicinity of Olivia Business Centre, on the campus of the university. Opened in 2000, it was the most modern facility built on the site. After 21 years, however, the time for its modernization is approaching. The university authorities want it to meet the high standards of modern public buildings.
Importantly, the twenty years of operation of this space have highlighted the expectations of the academic community towards the so-called common areas. And it is these experiences that will be the main driver of change at the faculty.

In recent days, Olivia has been visited by the Dean of the Faculty of Law and Administration, Dr. Wojciech Zalewski, prof. UG and Vice-Deans: dr hab. Małgorzata Balwicka-Szczyrba, prof. UG and dr hab. Marcin Wiszowaty, prof. UG. They looked to Olivia for inspiration, trying to learn about the top architectural solutions. They also outlined the challenges that the university poses to architects.

We believe that thanks to the cooperation between the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Gdańsk and Olivia Business Centre, our students, employees and guests will be able to experience the numerous advantages of modern arrangements of the common spaces of the faculty, so that after the pandemic they can be used for integration, work, relaxation and meetings – says Prof. Ph.D. Marcin Wiszowaty.

The Faculty of Law wants to develop cooperation with business, because most of its graduates find their jobs here. Such cooperation will broaden the capabilities of the faculty and increase the attractiveness of the course in the eyes of students. – says Maciej Kotarski from Olivia Business Centre. Olivia is the largest concentration of business in the Tri-City. It is located closest to the faculty building and is very well visible from this building. Including. that’s why the deans of the faculty offered Olivia cooperation in the revitalization and development of the concept of common spaces. I hope that in the future, in the part of the faculty with a view of the Olivia Business Centre, a business zone for students will be created, run under the patronage of Olivia – adds Maciej Kotarski.

Over 100,000^m2 of office space and common areas of the business centre, which were designed by the Design Anatomy studio associated with Olivia, provide extensive knowledge and experience, thanks to which the renovated interiors of the university will be able to meet the highest standards of modern buildings. – In our opinion, the publicly accessible parts of the Faculty have an extraordinary and at the same time untapped potential. – says Justyna Biłat, architect at Design Anatomy. We want to create zones for various purposes, where you will be able to calm down, meet in a group of students, talk to colleagues, have lunch, relax with coffee, organize brainstorming or discussion after the conference. Our team of architects puts people and their needs first, and the main idea of our projects is the general well-being of the recipients. The space of the faculty is rich in natural greenery, and plants have a positive effect on the microclimate of the interior, increase the comfort of use, contribute to the reduction of stress and increase satisfaction with work, including scientific work. – emphasizes Justyna Biłat.

Cooperation in the field of knowledge exchange, practice and competence development is also assumed by a letter of intent signed with the Faculty of Philology of the University of Gdańsk. It assumes joint consultations of study programmes, as well as the participation of Olivia’s representatives in the Programme Councils of the Institutes of the Faculty of Philology, in order to adapt the curriculum to the expectations of the modern labour market as much as possible. What’s more, Olivia’s employees will also have the opportunity to conduct classes and workshops for students of Philology, and students will be able to do internships among companies residing in the business center. The cooperation will also include the recruitment of students to work in the largest business center in the country. Students will also have an insight into the specifics of Olivia’s activities in connection with their scientific research as part of their diploma theses at all levels of education.

Cooperation between business and academia must start as early as possible. The inclusion of students and academics in the processes of global corporations is possible thanks to such cooperation as with the University of Gdańsk. – says the attorney. Bogusław Wieczorek, Plenipotentiary of the Management Board of Olivia for public relations, and at the same time a member of the Council of the National Centre for Research and Development. Both those who study the letter of the law and those who work on researching and learning about different cultures and languages will soon be able to put their knowledge into practice. I hope that in the long run, this will also mean the establishment of new economic relations with foreign countries and the possibility of using the best international models in Polish business. – adds Bogusław Wieczorek.

For nearly two years, the Physical Culture Association of the University of Gdańsk has also been operating, which aims to develop physical activity among young people, and which was established by the University and Olivia Business Centre. Especially in the era of the pandemic, experts point out that all forms of physical activity have a significant impact on improving physical and mental condition. Therefore, it is worth taking actions that promote a healthy lifestyle.

The University of Gdańsk is not the only university with which Olivia Business Centre has close relations. In the spring of 2020, Olivia financed the MediMod diagnostic module, built by Vivia Next, which was then donated to the Medical University of Gdańsk. The first Covid19 diagnostic centre for non-motorised people in Poland was established in the facility; walk-through. MediMod is a self-sufficient, mobile research unit. Its design allows for the provision of several zones and a sluice for collecting material inside, limiting the contact between the swab taker and the patient to the necessary minimum, ensuring the safety of the medical staff and the patient.

Olivia is also a member of the Economic Convention at the Rector of the Gdańsk University of Technology. It is a unique platform for consultations and expressing opinions and positions between the scientific and economic communities on all matters affecting the economic development of the country and the region. The Convention is composed of representatives of leading enterprises representing various fields of economy, economic organizations and business environment institutions, invited by the Rector of Gdańsk Tech. It should be emphasized that Gdańsk University of Technology was ranked highest among Polish technical universities in the “Excellence Initiative – Research University” competition, which provided additional funds in the amount of approx. PLN 200 million. The funds will be allocated to the further dynamic development of the university, including activities within the newly created Research Centres.

Such diverse fields of cooperation between Olivia Business Centre and the most important Tri-City universities, which are national leaders in their fields, allow to create opportunities for students, academics and entrepreneurs that would not be possible in other situations. Each form of cooperation opens up new paths of development for each of the parties involved.

In just 10 months, Olivia Business Centre has implemented four projects in cooperation with Gdańsk universities. Diversified cooperation is to ensure the mutual exchange of experiences between business and the world of science.

The building of the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Gdańsk is located in the vicinity of Olivia Business Centre, on the campus of the university. It was opened in 2000 and was the first most modern facility built in this area. Now, 21 years later, the building is surrounded by some of the most modern academic buildings in the country, so the time is inevitably approaching when the work on its modernization will begin, to meet the modern standards of public buildings. The years of the functioning of this space have also shown the expectations of the academic community towards the common areas. It is these experiences that will be the main driving force behind changes at the faculty.

In recent days, a number of Olivia’s spaces were visited by prof. Ph.D. Wojciech Zalewski, Dean of the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Gdańsk, and vice-deans: prof. Ph.D. Małgorzata Balwicka Szczyrba and prof. Ph.D. Marcin Wiszowaty. The visit was aimed at assessing the possibilities, proposed solutions and expectations that the university sets for the project’s architects.

These are very interesting, modern solutions – says Prof. Ph.D. Marcin Wiszowaty. We believe that thanks to the cooperation between the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Gdańsk and Olivia Business Centre, our students, employees and guests will be able to experience the numerous advantages of modern arrangements of common spaces of our Faculty, so that after the pandemic, they can be used for integration, work, relaxation and meetings – adds Prof. Wiszowadae.

The Faculty of Law wants to develop cooperation with business, because most of the Faculty’s graduates find a job in business, so such cooperation will expand the Faculty’s possibilities and increase the attractiveness of studies in the eyes of students – says Maciej Kotarski from Olivia Business Centre. Olivia, on the other hand, is home to the largest concentration of business in the Tri-City, and at the same time it is not only the closest to the Faculty building, but is also very visible from this building – precisely from the common spaces that Olivia will help to arrange. That is why the deans of the Faculty suggested cooperation with Olivia, including in the revitalization and development of the common spaces concept. I hope that in the future, a business zone for students will be created in the part of the Faculty with a view of Olivia Business Centre, which will be run under the patronage of Olivia – adds Maciej Kotarski.

Design Anatomy , a studio associated with Olivia, designed over 100,000m2 of office space and common areas of the business centre providing enormous knowledge and experience, thanks to which the renovated interiors of the university will be able to meet the highest standards of modern buildings. – In our opinion, the publicly accessible parts of the Faculty have an extraordinary and, at the same time, untapped potential. – says Justyna Biłat, architect from Design Anatomy. We want to create zones with very different purposes, where it will be possible to take a moment’s breath, to meet in a group of students, talk to colleagues, eat lunch, relax over a coffee, organize a brainstorming session or a discussion after the conference. Our team of architects puts people and their needs first, and the main idea of our projects is the general wellbeing of the recipients. The space of the department is rich in natural greenery, and plants have a positive effect on the microclimate of the interior, increase the comfort of use, contribute to reducing stress and increasing job satisfaction, also in the scientific field. – emphasizes Justyna Biłat.

Cooperation in the field of knowledge exchange, practice and competence development is also assured by a letter of intent signed with the Faculty of Philology of the University of Gdańsk. As part of the cooperation, joint consultations of study programs are intended, as well as the participation of Olivia representatives in the Program Councils of the Institutes of the Faculty of Philology, in order to adapt the education program to the expectations of the modern labour market as much as possible. What’s more, Olivia employees will also be able to conduct classes and workshops for students of Philology, and students will be able to do internships among companies residing in the business centre. The cooperation will also cover the recruitment of students to work in one of the largest business centres in the country. Students will also have an insight into the specifics of Olivia’s activities in connection with their scientific research as part of their diploma theses at all levels of education.

Cooperation between business and academia must start at the earliest possible stage. Including students and researchers in the processes of global corporations is possible thanks to such cooperation as with the University of Gdańsk – says Bogusław Wieczorek, plenipotentiary of Olivia’s Management Board for public relations and a member of the Council of the National Centre for Research and Development. Both people studying the letter of the law as well as those working on researching and learning about different cultures and languages will soon be able to use their knowledge in practice. I hope that in the long term it will also mean establishing new economic relations with foreign countries and the possibility of using the best international models in Polish business. – adds Bogusław Wieczorek.

The Association of Physical Culture of the University of Gdańsk has also been operating for almost two years, the aim of which is to develop the physical activity of young people, which was established by the University and Olivia Business Centre. Especially in the time of a pandemic, experts point out that all forms of physical activity have a significant impact on improving the physical and mental condition. It is therefore worth taking actions that promote a healthy lifestyle.

The University of Gdańsk is not the only university with which Olivia Business Centre has close relations. In the spring of 2020, Olivia financed the MediMod diagnostic module built by Vivia Next, which they then donated to the Medical University of Gdańsk. The facility now has the first walk-through diagnostic centre in Poland. MediMod is a self-sufficient, mobile research unit. Its design allows for several zones and a lock for collecting the material inside it, limiting to the necessary minimum the contact between the person taking the swab and the person being examined, ensuring the safety of both medical staff and patients.

Olivia is also a member of the Economic Convention at the Rector of the Gdańsk University of Technology. It is an unusual platform for consulting and expressing opinions and positions between the scientific and economic circles on all matters affecting the economic development of the country and the region. The convention is composed of representatives of leading enterprises representing various sectors of the economy, economic organizations and business institutions invited by the Rector of GUT. It should be emphasized that the Gdańsk University of Technology was ranked highest among Polish technical universities in the competition “Excellence Initiative – Research University”, which provided additional funds in the amount of approximately PLN 200 million. They will be allocated to the further dynamic development of the university, including activities within the newly created Research Centres.

Such diverse fields of cooperation between Olivia Business Centre and the most important Tri-City universities, which are national leaders in their fields, allows the creation of opportunities for students, researchers and entrepreneurs that would not be possible in other situations. Each form of cooperation opens up new development paths for each of the parties involved.

The largest Polish business centre is home to the giants of the IT sector and related services. Why are Gdansk people what are the benefits of operating in such business hubs as Olivia Business Centre?

One of the biggest magnets is Gdańsk itself, which is recognized in numerous rankings as one of the best Polish cities to live and do business. On the other hand, well-known travel portals emphasize its still undiscovered potential, attracting the attention of tourists from Europe and many other regions of the world. However, global business did not need to confirm the potential of Gdańsk in the reports and located its headquarters in the capital of Pomerania a few years ago. Amazon, Intel, Epam, Sii and InfoShare are among the European and global leaders in their sectors, and they have their offices in Olivia Business Centre in Gdańsk.

Why Gdansk?

The growing attractiveness of the city is important for companies opening their offices in Gdańsk. What matters is not only the available human resources, but also the image of the city in the eyes of employees thinking about relocation. Such a positively received Gdańsk is a magnet, definitely facilitating the acquisition of qualified employees from other regions of Polish, but also for expats moving to Gdańsk from many European cities.

The location of the city and its main spatial assets are also important. Employees from the IT sector are often young people who appreciate modern, big-city life, but very often combined with sports passions. Gdańsk has the advantage of being close to both the sea and the towering hills of the Tri-City Landscape Park, which is a mecca for lovers of mountain biking, jogging, Nordic walking and orienteering. – says Maciej Kotarski, Director of the Commercialization Department at Olivia Business Centre, who admits that these arguments are of great importance during business negotiations: For future employees, the location of the workplace in the city center and its good communication are also of great importance. This is exactly what Olivia Business Centre can boast of, providing access to virtually all forms of urban transport along with the PKM railway, reaching deep into Kashubia, and thus enabling quick and comfortable access for residents of towns located even 60 km from Gdańsk. In the case of Olivia, the proximity of the highest rated districts of Gdańsk in terms of quality of life: Oliwa and Przymorze, as well as the proximity of the university campus are also of great importance. This makes life much easier for graduates, who are not obliged to look for a new place of residence in connection with their first serious job.

The same is emphasized by Olivia’s residents: A great advantage for us is the location, which means that almost every employee has exactly the same commute time despite living in different towns – says Bartosz Badzioch from Predict X. I myself commute about 70 km to work. Access to many services such as a car wash, sewing room, hairdresser, restaurants and many others makes life much easier. This is an advantage that allows us to attract new employees. In addition, thanks to Olivia we met many people working in IT, thanks to which we got to know the Polish job market in the IT industry much better.

The importance of promoting Gdańsk is also emphasised by Grzegorz Borowski , since 2007 the organiser of InfoShare – the largest IT conference in Central and Eastern Europe, based in Olivia Business Centre, and some of whose events also take place in the Gdańsk office centre. Olivia is definitely a good location for the development of companies in our sector. We have a lot of IT companies here, starting from the largest global brands such as Intel and Amazon, through large service providers such as EPAM or SII, ending with a whole host of smaller local companies, also extremely important for the entire ecosystem. This is important in the context of access to human resources, but also their circulation. However, Gdańsk and, more broadly, the Tri-City is, on the basis of many rankings, the best place in Poland in terms of quality of life. This helps in relocation, in attracting talents from outside the region to the Tri-City. This is strongly supported by the local authorities, as well as the regional development agency – Invest In Pomerania (with its “Live More Pomerania” program).

InfoShare has also established an academy for IT staff training, whose CEO, Andrzej Kiesz , also sees other factors that make the Tri-City a kind of hub for the IT sector: Tri-City is definitely a space where the IT segment is developing extremely dynamically. And it’s not just about the fact that we have a lot of attractive office space here, or the fact that the Tri-City is a great place to live and relax. It’s about the entire IT ecosystem. There is a full cross-section of IT companies operating in the Tri-City, from global giants (Amazon, Intel, Nordea, Acoustic, Nike), through service providers (SII), to local and dynamically growing ones, e.g. SentiOne, GetResponse, and Speednet. There are also companies whose IT is not the core of their business, but they have very extensive technology departments, e.g. LPP, Hapag-Lloyd, and Wirtualna Polska. Virtually every IT engineer will find something for themselves. The development of the IT ecosystem is additionally actively supported by Invest in Pomerania, which helps companies start their operations in the Tri-City. In addition, it attracts talents to Gdańsk and helps such people in relocation.

The success of local businesses further promotes the city

However, it is not only the support of local institutions that plays a role in creating synergies. Business is also doing its part to attract the eyes of programmers to Gdańsk. InfoShare, becoming a meeting place for experts from virtually every corner of the globe, also contributes to the promotion of the capital of Pomerania. A huge number of participants from outside the region and abroad take part in our events, thus getting to know the offer of companies from the Tri-City, whether in terms of potential jobs or possible new investments (building their branches here) – says Grzegorz Borowski. In 2020, 672 startups from 50 countries took part in our startup competition. For many of them, this is their first encounter with our region, and the information we receive from them clearly indicates that it will not be the last. Through our activities, we also try to develop the competences of employees of local IT companies, giving them access to recognized global experts (the last Infoshare was attended by over 180 speakers representing all continents). Recent years have seen not only the implementation of the largest technology conference in this part of Europe (over 6,000 participants in 2019 and over 7,500 as part of an online conference this year), but also many other projects (e.g. Pipeline Summit, Future3, Tech3Camp, Poland Prize) supporting the development and education of programmers, managers, startup founders, as well as promoting the potential of Pomerania.

The IT segment is characterized by the dynamic development of enterprises, but also by periodic needs resulting from project orders, which is why it is so important for them to have a bank of office space available in the place where they locate their companies.

We started our operations in Poland in 2018. We were looking for a very small space with the ability to expand it over time. – says Bartosz Badzioch from Predict X. This was due to the lack of knowledge of the Polish market. We didn’t know if we would be able to find the right specialists. The obvious choice was Coworking O4 in Olivia. For us, the key condition was the ability to expand the office as the company grew. Perhaps in the future we will also lease space directly from Olivia Business Centre. It all depends on the development of the Polish branch and the number of projects carried out for our parent company located in London. Despite all the possible office moves, the address will remain the same. Only Olivia in the Tri-City gave us such an opportunity. – emphasizes Bartosz Badzioch.

Synergy helps you grow

A well-conducted promotion of the city contributes to attracting investors, but in itself it is not a factor that allows the business to develop dynamically. Representatives of the IT sector emphasize that one of the key factors that allow them to expand their capabilities is moving in the environment of much larger companies with which they enter into cooperation. This is confirmed by the founder of InfoShare, Grzegorz Borowski: Having been residing in Olivia for several years, we can see a lot of benefits from functioning in this environment. We already cooperate with many companies that have their offices in the center, but this environment itself also makes it easier to establish new relationships, including business ones. Some of our events, such as Tech3Camps, are organized here, knowing that this location is very convenient for many of their participants. Bartosz Badzioch from Predict X sees it no differently: We are currently working with 6 companies. We work with most of them during the recruitment process for our company. We also use the services of PR companies as well as a law firm. Certainly, easy access to these companies has made it easier for us to grow. We can efficiently discuss all matters on the spot. The very presence in Olivia has also resulted in greater recognition of our company on the IT market.

Develocraft, a company that develops applications, mainly for the Scandinavian market, also emphasizes that by locating its headquarters in a business hub, it achieves measurable benefits. According to Michał Bułakowski, who is responsible for the company’s marketing, the place where the company has its headquarters allows the company to be properly positioned in the eyes of customers: The location itself and the modern office complex build trust with customers with whom the company has not had contact before. Being present here certainly helps to broaden horizons and the possibility of easy access to people with different skills. In particular, O4 – Cowroking provides us with favourable conditions, and in Olivia we cooperate with about 10 companies. One of our local projects is the Olivka app, which we have prepared for the Natka restaurant. Michał Bułakowski also admits that their company cooperates with about 10 companies based in Olivia. Also in this case, these are not only their customers, but also the companies to which Develocraft outsources the services.

An old saying says that if you want to catch a big fish, you can’t fish in shallow waters. The reputation of Gdansk, which has been built for years, makes it easier for companies to acquire customers and employees, but when analysing the statements of successful entrepreneurs from the IT segment, the right choice of the place where the business will be located is also of great importance in success.

Several giants of the IT sector and related support services have their headquarters in the largest Polish business cent. Why Gdańsk and what are the benefits of operating in business hubs such as Olivia Business Center?

One of the greatest magnets is Gdańsk itself, which in numerous rankings is recognized as one of the best Polish cities in which to live and run a business, while well-known travel websites emphasize its still undiscovered potential, attracting the attention of tourists from Europe and many other regions of the world. However, global business did not need to confirm Gdańsk’s potential in reports and already a few years ago many companies located their headquarters in the capital of Pomerania. Amazon, Intel, Epam, Sii and InfoShare are among the European and world leaders in their sectors, and they have offices in the Olivia Business Center in Gdańsk.

Why Gdansk?

The growing attractiveness of the city is important for companies opening their offices in Gdańsk. It is not only the available human resources that count, but also the image of the city in the eyes of employees thinking about relocation. Gdańsk,perceived in such a positive way is a magnet, which definitely facilitates the recruitment of qualified employees from other regions of Poland, but also for expats who move to Gdańsk from other European cities.

The location of the city and its main spatial advantages are also important. Employees from the IT sector are often young people who appreciate modern, metropolitan life, but very often combined with their sports passions. Gdańsk has the advantage of being close to the sea and the hills of the Tri-City Landscape Park, which is a mecca for mountain biking, jogging, Nordic walking and orienteering enthusiasts. – says Maciej Kotarski , director of the commercialization department at Olivia Business Center, who admits that these arguments are of great importance during business negotiations: For future employees, the location of the workplace in the TriCity centre and its good transport links is also of great importance. This is what the Olivia Business Centre can boast of, providing access to virtually all forms of urban transport along with the PKM railway reaching into the depths of Kashubia, and thus enabling quick and comfortable access for residents of towns located up to 60 km from Gdańsk. In the case of Olivia, the proximity to Oliwa and Przymorze, which are rated the highest in terms of the quality of life, is also very important, as is the proximity of the university campus. It makes life much easier for graduates who are not obliged to look for a new place to live in connection with their first serious job.

The same is emphasized by the residents of Olivia : The location is a great advantage for us, which means that almost every employee has exactly the same travel time despite living in different places – says Bartosz Bandzioch from Predict X. I myself commute about 70 km to work. Access to many services such as a car wash, tailor, hairdresser, restaurants and many others makes life much easier. This is an advantage that allows us to attract new employees. In addition, thanks to Olivia, we have met many people working in IT, thanks to which we got to know the Polish job market in the IT industry much better.

The importance of promoting Gdańsk is also emphasized by Grzegorz Borowski, the organizer of InfoShare since 2007 – the largest IT environment conference in Central and Eastern Europe, based in Olivia Business Center, with some of the events also taking place in the Gdańsk office centre: Olivia is definitely a good location for the development of companies from our sector. We have a lot of IT companies here, ranging from the largest global brands like Intel and Amazon, through large service providers such as EPAM or SII, ending with a whole host of smaller local companies, also extremely important for the entire ecosystem. This is important in the context of access to human resources, but also their circulation. But Gdańsk and the Tri-City more broadly, based on many rankings, is the best place in Poland in terms of the quality of life. This helps in relocation, in attracting talents from outside the region to the Tri-City. It is strongly supported by local authorities and the regional development agency – Invest In Pomerania (with its “Live More Pomerania” program).

InfoShare has also established an academy that conducts IT training, whose board president Andrzej Kiesz also sees other factors that make Tri-City a hub for the IT sector: Tri-City is definitely a space where the IT sector is developing extremely dynamically. And it’s not just that we have a lot of attractive office space here, or that the Tri-City is a great place to live and relax. It’s about the entire IT ecosystem. The Tri-City has a full range of companies operating in IT, from global giants (Amazon, Intel, Nordea, Acoustic, Nike), through service providers (SII), to local and dynamically growing companies, e.g. SentiOne, GetResponse or Speednet. There are also companies where IT is not the core of their business, but have very extensive technological departments, such as LPP, Hapag-Lloyd or Wirtualna Polska. Virtually every IT engineer will find something for themselves. The development of the IT ecosystem is additionally actively supported by Invest in Pomerania, which helps companies to start operations in the Tri-City. Moreover, it attracts talent to Gdańsk and helps such people to relocate.

The success of local businesses further promotes the city

However, not only the support of local institutions plays a role in creating the synergy effect. Business also plays its part in drawing programmers’ eyes to Gdańsk. InfoShare, a meeting place for experts from virtually every corner of the globe, also contributes to the promotion of the capital of Pomerania. Our events are attended by a huge number of participants from outside the region and from abroad, thus getting to know the offer of companies from the Tri-City, whether in terms of potential jobs or possible new investments (building branches here) – says Grzegorz Borowski. 672 startups from 50 countries took part in our startup competition in 2020. For many of them, it is the first contact with our region, and the information we receive from them clearly shows that it is not the last one. Our activities develop the competences of employees of local IT companies, giving them access to recognized global experts (over 180 speakers representing all continents took part in the last Infoshare). Recent years have seen not only the implementation of the largest technology conference in this part of Europe (over 6,000 participants in 2019 and over 7,500 as part of online conferences this year), but also many other projects (e.g. Pipeline Summit, Future3, Tech3Camp, Poland Prize) supporting development and education of programmers, managers, founders of startups, as well as promoting the potential of Pomerania.

The IT segment is characterized by dynamic development of enterprises, but also periodic needs resulting from design orders, which is why an office space bank, available in the place where their companies are located, is so important to them.

We started our activity in Poland in 2018. We were looking for a very small space with the possibility of expanding it over time. – says Bartosz Bandzioch from Predict X. It was caused by our ignorance of the Polish market. We didn’t know if we would be able to find the right specialists. Coworking O4 in Olivia was the obvious choice. For us, the key condition was the possibility of expanding the office as the company grows. Perhaps in the future we will also rent space directly from Olivia Business Centre. It all depends on the development of the Polish branch and the number of projects implemented for our mother company located in London. Despite all possible office moves, the address will remain the same. Only Olivia in the Tri-City gave us such an opportunity. – emphasizes Bartosz Bandzioch.

Synergy helps you grow

Well-conducted promotion of the city contributes to attracting investors, but in itself it is not a factor that allows business to develop dynamically. Representatives of the IT sector emphasize that one of the key factors that allows them to expand their opportunities is to operate in the environment of much larger companies with which they cooperate. This is confirmed by the founder of InfoShare, Grzegorz Borowski: Having been at Olivia for several years, we can see a lot of benefits from functioning in this environment. We already work with many companies with their offices in the centre, but this environment in itself facilitates establishing new relationships, including business ones. We organize some of our events, such as Tech3Camps, here, knowing that for many of their participants this location is very comfortable. Bartosz Bandzioch from Predict X sees it no differently: We are currently working with 6 companies. We work with most of them during the recruitment process for our company. We also use the services of PR companies as well as a law firm. Certainly, easy access to these companies made our development easier. We can efficiently discuss all matters on the spot. The mere presence in Olivia has also resulted in greater recognition of our company on the IT market.

Develocraft, a company that creates applications, mainly for the Scandinavian market, also emphasizes that by locating its headquarters in a business hub, it achieves tangible benefits. According to Michał Bułakowski, responsible for the company’s marketing, the place where the company is based allows the company to be properly positioned in the eyes of customers: The very location and a modern office complex build trust among customers with whom the company has not had contact before. Being in this place certainly helps in broadening the horizons and the possibility of easy access to people with various skills. O4 Coworking gives us particularly favorable conditions, and in Olivia we cooperate with other companies. One of our local projects is the Olivka app, which we have prepared for the Natka restaurant. Michał Bułakowski also admits that their company cooperates with about 10 companies based in Olivia. Also in this case, these are not only their customers, but also companies that Develocraft entrusts to provide services.

An old maxim says that if you want to catch a big fish, you can’t go fishing in shallow waters. The reputation of Gdańsk, which has been built over the years, makes it easier for companies to acquire clients and employees, but when analyzing the statements of successful entrepreneurs from the IT sector, the right choice of the place where the business will be located is also of great importance in the success.

On March 3rd, we celebrated World Wildlife Day. This is a perfect opportunity to mention Olivia’s Guest, who is the fastest in the world and visits us quite regularly. Who is it? Peregrine falcon!

Lightning fast

The Peregrine Falcon (Falco Peregrinus) is the absolute speed record holder – not only among birds, but among all animals on Earth. Let us emphasize once again that the fastest moving organism on the planet. Its fastest flight, recorded by man, was from speed of 322 km/h, although some declare that the falcon can fly even over 400 km/h. A man named Ken Franklin (Greifvögel und Falknerei, 1999) reached a speed of 400 km/h with his falcon from great heights and thinks it could be even higher.

The Peregrine Falcon holds one more record – it is the species of bird of prey with the largest range. There are few places on Earth where it does not exist – these are m.in. polar regions, tropical forests, Iceland and New Zealand.

The peregrine falcon is one of the larger representatives of its family, the male grows up to 45 cm in length and has a wingspan of 100 cm, while the female can reach 51 cm and a wingspan of up to 115 cm.

The Peregrine Falcon does not roam

The peregrine falcon, contrary to its name, cannot be classified as a migratory species. The use of this nickname in many languages, e.g. “Wanderfalke” in German, “Peregrine” in English or “Pellegrino” in Italian, probably comes from the times when falconers caught young migratory birds, best suited for hunting purposes. With very few exceptions, the peregrine falcon is practically a sedentary species.

Otto Kleinschmidt, a German pastor, wrote in 1912 about the peregrine falcon: “There is no other bird that is more attached to its homeland and breeding ground than the peregrine falcon.” On the other hand, one of the doyens of Polish ornithology, Count Kazimierz Antoni Wodzicki, noted: “Of all the falcons, it wanders the least, and in many places it roams all year round, e.g. in cities, churches and towers.” Prof. Jan Sokolowski also drew attention to the unfortunate choice of the name: “The name of this species ‘migratory’ is not happily chosen (…). Our peregrine falcon wanders more or less in the first year of its life, but later on it settles permanently and ventures at most on small excursions in the country, which have nothing to do with regular migrations.”

Sloth among birds

Experts on the subject say that the peregrine falcon is one of the laziest birds. While, for example, a hawk hunts until it succeeds, a falcon will only attempt to attack a few times. If it does not manage to catch its prey, it gives up, sits down in a quiet place and rests, sometimes even until the next day.

He also doesn’t want to build a nest. A piece of sheltered ledge, a hole or hole in a tall building, an abandoned nest of another bird of similar size, and a ground brood in the far north are enough for these birds.

The Falcon Is Faithful

Falcons are referred to as serial monogamists. This means that, in fact, the pair is created anew every year (spring and autumn mating), but due to strong territoriality, if both individuals from the pair are alive, they form a pair again.

Falcon in Danger

Until the 1940s. The peregrine falcon nested in all regions of Polish, although in decreasing numbers. In the late 1950s. A catastrophic decline in the number of this species began, which was influenced by environmental pollution. Between 1958 and 1960, only five falcon nests were recorded in Wielkopolska. The nests spotted in Pomerania (near Goleniów, Człuchów and in the Tuchola Forest) were among the last.

Rescue

It was not until the late 1990s that a group of falconers saved these beautiful birds from extinction. Thanks to this, we can again enjoy their sight in Polish cities (where most of the native peregrine falcons nest), in forests and by water reservoirs – here fleeting individuals like to winter. Efforts to restore and reintroduce* the population of the species are coordinated by the Council of the Peregrine Falcon Restitution Program in Poland.

The Falcon Loves Skyscrapers

A huge metropolis, New York City is a favorite destination for peregrine falcons. It is home to the world’s largest population of these birds of prey. Their nests are located on bridges and skyscrapers on the outskirts of the city.

Falcon on the highest nest in Northern Poland

The falcon in Olivia Business Centre joins other Tri-City falcons nesting on the premises of PGE EC Gdynia and LOTOS Gdańsk. You will be able to see our falcon soon (we captured it for a while, it wasn’t easy!) on Olivia’s Facebook page.

One of the falcon pairs has been nesting at the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw since 1998. Internet transmission is carried out from the nests at the Palace of Culture and Science, in Warsaw’s Bielany district, on the chimney of MPEC in Włocławek, KGHM in Głogów, LOTOS in Gdańsk and PGE EC Gdynia.

_{Reintroduction – reintroduction of a species that has become extinct for some reason or whose previous attempts to introduce it have failed. The reintroduction method may also apply to those animal and plant species whose numbers in a given area have drastically decreased and are negligible, and thus are threatened with extinction.}

_Origin:

• _{https://jestemnaptak.pl/artykul/sokol-wedrowny}
• _{http://peregrinus.pl/pl/sokol-wedrowny/}
• _{https://www.ekologia.pl/srodowisko/przyroda/sokol-wedrowny-opis-wystepowanie-i-zdjecia-ptak-sokol-wedrowny-ciekawostki,26094.html}