Invest in Lublin: 2024 in review – investments, projects, and initiatives.

The beginning of the year is an ideal time to reflect on what we have achieved together and to summarize the successes that are shaping the future of Lublin. The year 2024 was exceptional in many ways – from new investments and cultural events to dynamic economic development and sports successes that have forever marked our city’s history.

January 2024 will certainly be remembered as the moment we opened one of the most important investments of recent years – the Lublin Metropolitan Station which not only improved communication but also quickly became a landmark of our city, attracting attention from Europe and beyond. 2024 was also a year of triumphs for Lublin’s sports scene. Aleksandra Mirosław won the Olympic gold medal, and the Motor Lublin team returned to the Ekstraklasa after 32 years. The Motor Lublin speedway team claimed their third consecutive Polish championship, and the volleyball team Bogdanka LUK Lublin, strengthened by Wilfredo León, gained international recognition. Lublin has truly become a sports capital, with eight teams in the highest divisions of various sports. Another major achievement was the announcement of Lublin as the European Capital of Culture for 2029, which opened new opportunities for our city in terms of promotion, international cooperation, and cultural sector development. Finally, the city attracted a record number of tourists – 1.5 million – which confirms Lublin’s growing role as an attractive travel destination for both Poles and visitors from abroad.

All of these events are the result of a consistent strategy and the hard work of many individuals and institutions. Our Strategy and Investor Relations team played an important role in this, supporting economic development, implementing key projects, and building strong foundations for future successes. We helped foster the growth of Lublin by attracting new investors, implementing crucial economic projects, and creating space for local businesses to thrive.

In 2024, our Investor Relations team responded to 55 inquiries and organized 61 visits for potential investors considering establishing their businesses in our city. Among the interested parties, entrepreneurs from Poland, Germany, and the United Kingdom were the most prominent.

The year 2024 brought a series of new investments to Lublin, which enriched our economy and strengthened the city’s position on the business map. At the same time, we actively supported the development of local enterprises:

• PAIH – In April 2024, the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) opened another Regional Trade Office in Lublin. The location of this new branch is designed to support entrepreneurs from Eastern Poland. It provides real assistance to those looking to expand into international markets as well as to those seeking to grow their businesses in the Lubusz region. The PAIH office will also focus on attracting new investments to the region. More information
• Holiday Inn Express – In late October, the Holiday Inn Express hotel opened in the Wieniawa district of Lublin. It offers 150 rooms, a conference area for 100 people, and a restaurant. The façade is inspired by musical notation, referencing the work of Henryk Wieniawski, a native of Lublin. More information
• Stock Polska opened a distillery in Lublin. The building, covering 5,800 m², is equipped with more than 39 silos, including 5 dedicated to grain storage, with a combined capacity of 2,350 tons. The investment also incorporates several eco-friendly solutions, including green roofs, cascading heat recovery systems, and a wastewater treatment system capable of producing biogas. More information
• Medisept, a leader in the production of medical disinfectants in Poland, began the next phase of its ambitious investment in the Special Economic Zone in Felin on October 25, 2024. The first phase of this investment involved the delivery of a new mixer with a capacity of 30,000 liters, used for the production of disinfectant liquids, gels, and soaps. The mixer is the first visible element of the new expanded part of the factory. This installation will increase the company’s production capacity. More information
• OM ENERGY SOLUTIONS – The company began operations in Lublin in February 2024, focusing on the design, production, and supply of custom battery solutions. The team develops energy storage systems for specific, low-cost applications such as heavy equipment, specialized tools, and drones. More information
• SonUx – A subsidiary of Biomedical Music Solutions (BMS) based in Austin, Texas, USA. The company’s goal is to develop innovative, non-pharmaceutical technologies that revolutionize the use of sound in biomedical devices worldwide. More information
• Adamanta – The investor leased 3,000 m² of warehouse space at Smoluchowskiego Street. The company specializes in importing various types of containers with products in categories such as home and kitchen goods, consumer electronics, DIY tools, garden tools, and more. More information
• OPTIMAL Poland has been operating in the market since 2004 and is the largest supplier of mobile sliding walls and fixed aluminum-glass partitions. In 2024, it leased a 3,000 m² warehouse in Lublin. More information
• Aliplast – On April 16, 2024, the company launched the largest glued photovoltaic installation in Poland. Spanning 40,000 m², the farm has a capacity of 2.5 MW, consisting of 19 inverters with a capacity of 125 kW each, 4,500 photovoltaic modules weighing 123 tons, and a structure weighing 65 tons. More information
• 7R Park Lublin East I – The construction of the final phase of 7R Park Lublin East I has begun. The fourth warehouse, covering over 57,000 m², is fully commercialized. The final building will expand the park to 110,000 m², making it the largest in the region. More information
• INTROGRAF LUBLIN S.A. completed the expansion of its facility at Vetterów Street. The project included additional office space (460 m²), a second production hall (5,100 m²), and a warehouse (1,300 m²). With this expansion, the company plans to double its production capacity, aiming to reach 2 billion cartons and 2 billion leaflets by 2028. New machinery installation will also enhance the company’s offering with UV offset printing finishing techniques. More information
• Synthaverse – The Powiatowy Inspector of Building Supervision issued the permit for the Onko BCG Plant in late April 2024. The company is working to launch the production facility equipped with a commercial line for manufacturing Onko BCG, used for innovative bladder cancer immunotherapy. The investment will significantly increase the production and sales capacity of this essential drug. More information
• Comarch Office Expansion – The company has expanded its office space at Leszczyńskiego Street, creating a new 600 m² area with offices, a reception with terrace access, a large kitchen, two conference rooms, and spaces for relaxation and entertainment. More information
• Centro-Chem – M-invest has completed several unique projects in Lublin:

– office building at Mełgiewska 9F – 1,410 m² of office space, 14 modern units, a successful revitalization of a former fire station.

– office and warehouse building at Zadębie 52 – 414 m² of warehouse space and 228 m² of office space.

– commercial and service building under construction at Mełgiewska Street, offering 826 m² of space tailored to meet the growing needs of the local market. More information about these projects 

• PKF Polska opened its new headquarters. Less than three years after opening its Lublin branch, PKF Polska expanded its team and moved to the modern Orion office building. More information
• Elektro-Jarex Tutaj Sp. K., specializing in electrical, energy, and telecommunications services, and Handlopex S.A., one of the leading domestic distributors of various types of tires, purchased greenfield property at Mełgiewska 34. The plan is to build warehouse and commercial facilities on this site. Details of the investment will be provided as they become available.

Lublin agglomeration

• TRILUX opened its new production and development facility in Świdnik near Lublin in September 2024. The German leader in professional lighting invested approximately 32 million euros in the new plant to increase production capacity and strengthen its presence in the Central and Eastern European markets, bringing them closer to customers. More information
• Lublin Airport launched a cargo terminal. The investment cost nearly 18 million PLN. The modern facility will handle all types of air freight. The new terminal is a modern warehouse and transshipment hall, spanning nearly 2,000 m². It will provide high-standard services for cargo handling, including import, export, and warehouse services, across the country, Europe, and beyond the EU. More information
• HAP Armatura Grupa SBS completed the construction of the HAP Armatura Logistics Center. The investment includes a 3,000 m² warehouse, a 10,000 m² storage yard, automation of logistical processes, and a modern warehouse management system. More information

Lublin continues to grow as a key business hub in Poland, both in terms of the office and warehouse markets. The current stock of modern space in the city is as follows:

• Office Market: The total area of the office market is 251,549 m², consisting of new investments completed in 2024, which added 4,388 m²
• Warehouse Market: The warehouse market grew by 25, 692 m² in 2024 and currently stands at 455,959 m², with the construction of the final phase of 7R Park Lublin East, which began in September 2024, and will add another 57,000 m² to the existing modern warehouse space

These figures demonstrate that Lublin is strengthening its offerings for entrepreneurs year after year, enhancing infrastructure and supporting local and regional businesses.

Our team actively participates in cyclical industry events with both national and international reach. We have proudly represented Lublin, showcasing its potential and best practices at various conferences, including:

• LocalTrends European Local Government Forum (Poznań) – How to develop a city strategy in alignment with the general urban plan?
• IV Congress of Urban and Regional Policy (Kraków) – Co-creating Lublin: A participatory approach to developing the Smart Strategy Lublin 2030.
• IV Congress of Urban and Regional Policy (Kraków) – Revitalization for economic regeneration.
• V Forum of the Kraków Metropolis (Kraków) – Social Innovations: Lublin’s approach as a case study.
• Smart City Expo (Tomorrow Mobility) (Barcelona) – Urban Innovation: Creating Cities for All.
• Final conference of the CoMobility Project (Warsaw) – Strategic participatory city management: Co-creating urban spaces sustainably, with a focus on the needs of all social groups.
• City Nation Place (London) – Social Participation: Engaging citizens in city affairs. A case study on the participatory development of the Lublin 2030 Strategy.
• International Students in Lublin: Potential, Experiences, and New Perspectives. Panel discussion on “Support for International Students.”
• Edu&Science and Polonia Meeting in Berlin – Presentation of Lublin’s academic potential and development of academic and research cooperation with German institutions.
• International Congress of Maria Curie-Skłodowska “Innovation is a Woman” – Presentation of the Exploratarium and moderating the panel on the “Regional Science, Education, and New Technologies Center in Lublin.”
• Conference “Poland and Ukraine Partnership in the context of the changing international order” – Presentation and panel discussion on Lublin’s experience in the internationalization of higher education.
• Africa Day in Lublin: Panel discussion on the continent’s history, challenges, and future prospects.
• Meetings with the Polish Diaspora in Chicago: Presentation of Lublin’s academic potential.
• European Science Open Forum (Katowice): Panel discussion on “The Role of Universities in Achieving Climate-Neutral Cities.”
• Visit to the Canadian Embassy and participation in the “Sustainable Cities Mission” discussion panel.
• Participation in the Follow the Leaders event organized by Pro Progressio.

We were also the initiators or co-organizers of industry events, such as:

• Export conference: “Eastern Expansion: Current Trends and Attractive Directions for Foreign Expansion Amid Geopolitical Instability.”
• Conference: “Lublin Export: Diagnosis, Experiences, and Support.”
• Lublin Debate on Digital Advertising in Urban Spaces.
• Activities during Global Entrepreneurship Week – Co-organizing the conference “Green Systems for Cities: Meeting the Challenges of the 21st Century.”
• Conference Check IT 2024.
• Conclusion of the First Term of the Council for Innovative Socio-Economic Development.
• “Lublin Family Businesses – Challenges and Solutions” – Business breakfast.
• May with a Family Foundation – Consultations with experts.
• Celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the Lublin Medical Cluster.
• Grand Opening of the Urban Green Laboratory exhibition, summarizing one of the key projects of the 4th edition of the “Lublin Academic” urban program.
• Financing the Ecological Transformation of Enterprises – PwC Poland and the City of Lublin.
• 𝗛𝗥 𝗡𝗢𝗪 4.0 – Gi Group Holding and the City of Lublin.
• Circular Economy Transformation Academy for Business – PARP, INNOWO Institute for Innovation and Responsible Development, City of Lublin.
• Modern Trends in Contract Logistics in Lublin and its Surroundings – Challenges and Opportunities for Cooperation between the Academic Community, Schools, and Logistics Industry Companies – Lublin Academy WSEI, City of Lublin.
• Launch of the Business Environment Assessment Study report – Antal Poland, Cushman & Wakefield, City of Lublin.
• The Future of Digital Advertising in Urban Spaces – Poznań Debate.
• Business Meetup Lublin.
• Autumn Edition of the Café Panels Project for Academic Staff.

Sharing knowledge and best practices, particularly in the areas of agile city management, participatory actions, the creation of FDI strategies, and building an effective collaboration ecosystem between science and business, has been a priority for us for many years. Therefore, we continue our efforts by organizing business missions and participating in meetings with foreign delegations. In 2024, we expanded our international cooperation network by hosting entrepreneurs from Portugal in the industrial sector, representatives from the Polish-Portuguese Chamber of Commerce, a delegation from the North-East region of Romania, the Ambassador of Uganda, His Excellency Sheikh Duaij Bin Hamad Bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, a delegation from the Georgian administration, a delegation of European experts involved in assessing Lublin’s application for the title of European Capital of Culture, and participating in a meeting with the Mayor of the Taiwanese city of Tainan, Mr. Huang Wei-che.

Our participatory activities, particularly the “Co-Create Lublin: Participatory Development of the Smart Lublin 2030 Strategy” project, implemented by the City of Lublin, were recognized in the prestigious international “Innovation in Politics 2024” competition, organized annually by The Innovation in Politics Institute. This initiative also received the URBACT Good Practice Label.

Clusters play a key role in Lublin’s economic development strategy. They are one of the main pillars of our city’s economic growth, stimulating innovation in specific sectors while fostering collaboration throughout the ecosystem. One of our flagship cluster initiatives is the Lublin Medicine Cluster. This platform for cooperation and innovation in health and medicine is coordinated by the City of Lublin and the Medical University of Lublin. For over 10 years, it has facilitated collaboration in an ecosystem currently comprising over 180 members.

The past year concluded with several important initiatives. On one hand, we supported the growth of the entire Lublin medical community, and on the other hand, we initiated and engaged in specialized initiatives such as the Healthcare Investment Hub – a programme organized by the Polish Development Fund (PFR) dedicated to startups in the MedTech, HealthTech, and BioTech sectors (partner role), the Mother&Child Startup Challenge – an initiative by the Institute of Mother and Child aimed at startups creating innovative healthcare solutions for women and children (partner role), and the Unicorn Hub 2.0 Startup Platform (partner role). Additionally, we signed an agreement to establish a collaboration network for the development of vocational education within a cross-sector framework: Business, Education, and the Labor Market. The coordinator for this initiative is the Provincial Labor Office in Lublin. Furthermore, we successfully implemented our InnoDesign project, initiating cooperation between cluster members: the Lublin University Children’s Hospital, Lublin University of Technology, and Simba sp. z o.o. The goal of this project is to create modern, safe, and user-friendly spaces that positively impact the well-being and treatment process of young patients at the hospital.

The second ecosystem we coordinate is the Lublin IT Upland which aims to highlight the potential and create a favorable environment for the development of the IT sector in Lublin. It is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the local economy. The priority goal of the project is to support the local IT infrastructure in Lublin by creating mutual links between the science and business communities related to IT, ICT, AI, and space technologies.

Only thoughtful and comprehensive actions lead to success. Therefore, our work focuses on three integral areas: economy (investments), academia, and strategy and analysis, which complement each other. The academic initiatives and projects supported and coordinated by the Strategy and Investor Service Department of the City of Lublin have already become an integral part of the city’s fabric, gathering each year a large number of stakeholders – residents of Lublin and the Lublin Voivodeship, students, and university staff. Among the flagship initiatives of the past year, we can highlight:

• Academic Lublin– The goal of this competition is to provide financial support for the implementation of academic projects or initiatives that contribute to the popularization of science and the growth of the city’s academic potential. In 2024, 11 projects were realized as part of the 4th edition of the competition, and a fifth call was concluded, with a total amount of 98,000 PLN, through which 12 publicly accessible academic initiatives will be carried out in 2025.

• Visiting Professors in Lublin – The purpose of the Visiting Professors in Lublin Program is to create an image of Lublin as a city friendly to the academic community, strengthen international research cooperation, as well as support the development of educational potential and the process of establishing and maintaining international contacts with scientific centers around the world by Lublin’s universities and research institutes. In 2024, 6 visits took place as part of the third call of the Visiting Professors in Lublin Program.

• Lublin Science Festival – The jubilee 20th edition of the Festival featured a record number of 1,940 projects (including 42 projects in foreign languages and 137 projects conducted in an online format). All festival projects totaled 3,780 hours of work and 37,526 reserved spots. The City of Lublin organized the opening Gala of the Festival.

• City Scholarship Program for Students and PhD Candidates – The goal of the program is to support exceptionally talented individuals whose scientific and research activities contribute to the development of Lublin—both its economy and science. This year’s program call gathered 30 PhD applications and 69 student applications. The results will be announced by the end of January 2025.

• Lublin Student Council – The only advisory body of its kind in Poland, the Lublin Student Council serves as an advisory and consultative body for the Mayor of Lublin on matters concerning the academic environment of the city of Lublin and is authorized to propose initiatives related to the development of the city’s academic life.

• Creation of the Academic Task Force – The task force brings together representatives from all public and private universities in Lublin, as well as from municipal organizational units.

• Lublin as the European Capital of Culture 2029 – Nine Lublin universities declared their cooperation to secure the title of European Capital of Culture for Lublin in 2029. Rectors and the Mayor of Lublin signed letters of intent, stating that they will continue to support culture’s contribution to the long-term development of the city. The joint initiative has increased the chances in the competition and highlighted the unity and strength of academic Lublin, which can speak with one voice.

• Peer Tutoring – Through providing free tutoring, Lublin students introduce younger peers to the offerings of local universities and to the educational and professional development perspectives in our city. In 2024, the 4th edition took place, with approximately 80 meetings (both online and in-person). This edition gathered 50 participants, including 14 tutors—students and PhD candidates from Lublin’s universities.

• Mayor of Lublin’s Best Thesis Competition – The goal of the competition is to increase students’ interest in topics related to broadly understood local development, mainly in the economic, social, cultural, and environmental contexts, and to encourage students to undertake this topic in their research. The 15th edition of the competition was the most popular, with as many as 36 works submitted. Most of them were master’s, engineering, and bachelor’s theses, with four doctoral theses submitted. Four honorable mentions were awarded.

• Educational Fair “Salon Maturzystów 2024” – Promotion of the potential of Lublin’s universities and the academic environment in six Polish cities: Lublin, Białystok, Łódź, Gliwice, Kraków, and Warsaw. Together with seven universities (Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, Lublin University of Technology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Medical University of Lublin, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Lublin University of Business and Administration) – over 3.2 thousand kilometers were collectively covered.

Thanks to these and other initiatives, Lublin has become one of the most recognized academic centers in Poland, achieving the highest internationalization index in the country in 2024—15.32%.
More information about student and academic activities.

In-depth analysis of the macro- and micro-environment, along with proper identification of trends, enables a quick response to changes and adaptation of actions to meet the expectations of recipients. Therefore, our team, in addition to ongoing tasks and collaboration with investors, as well as the Lublin business and academic environment, develops, among other things, social, economic, and spatial diagnostics related to our city, and also creates Big Data tools that can be used by all Lublin residents.

Our own research, as well as that conducted in cooperation with Lublin’s scientists and researchers, provides us with the necessary information to properly design actions in line with the Lublin 2030 Strategy, as well as to support the Lublin business environment.

Among the aforementioned studies, the following were conducted:

• Study on Living Conditions in Districts (Residents’ Survey for the Citizen Budget) – Survey research conducted in the fall of 2024, along with voting for the 2025 Citizen Budget (BO 2025). The goal was to assess the effectiveness of the development policy implemented by the local government and analyze the current needs of Lublin’s residents. A report on this study is currently being prepared, which will be available in Q1 2025. The results of last year’s study can be found at: Lublin Reports.

• Study on the Fate of Secondary School Graduates in Lublin, 9th edition (2023-2024) – This is a cyclical study, which from 2016 to 2021 was aligned with the implementation of Goal D.4. Attracting and Retaining Talent in Lublin within the Lublin 2020 Strategy. Since 2022, it has been aligned with the implementation of Area A.3 of the Lublin 2030 Strategy. The annual study of Lublin graduates allows for assessing the scale of youth migration to other academic centers in Poland and abroad, determines the potential of Lublin’s universities based on their ability to attract the best graduates, and facilitates the diagnosis of needs for projects aimed at retaining the most talented youth in Lublin. The report for the 2023/2024 study is currently being prepared. The 8th edition of the study, which collected data on 3,776 Lublin secondary school graduates, of which complete data was obtained on the further fate of 2,965 (78.5%) graduates of Lublin high schools and technical schools from the 2022/2023 academic year, is available at: Lublin Monitoring.

• Subnational Business Ready Study in Poland – The inauguration of this study, conducted in partnership with the World Bank, aims to provide a comparative assessment of the business environment. In the case of Poland, this will be carried out in 18 major cities, including Lublin. The study aims to encourage EU member states to engage in political dialogue, share knowledge, and engage in peer learning to bring their regulatory practices closer to best practices. The study will be conducted in 2025.

• Publication of the report “Lublin. Indicators of Urban Services and Quality of Life according to the PN-ISO 37120:2015-03 methodology” – This is the third edition of the report, which is a compilation of statistical indicators compliant with the “smart city” standard. The report includes data for over 100 indicators defining various aspects of city functioning, grouped into 17 categories, such as economy, education, environment, finance, transport, and energy, for the years 2018–2022. Due to the adopted methodology, this document is not analytical but rather a statistical compilation of data for Lublin in the field of smart city development.

Among other interesting publications, the following were included:

• Monograph “Young People and the City of the Future. Lublin 2030”
• Report on the State of the City.
• Modeling Economic Growth in Contemporary Poland, Chapter: “The Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Poland: A Panacea for Growth?”
• The Competitiveness of Nations 3, Chapter: “Corporate Strategies and Government Policies for Technological Development in Poland’s Peripheral Regions”;
• ICT, the Business Sector, and Smart Cities, Chapter: “Smart Cities in Practice: Citizen-Centric Creation of Urban Development Strategies.”

Something ends, and something begins. Although some of the projects we carried out were concluded last year—Co-designing Inclusive Mobility and Making-city—the year 2024 was full of new international initiatives and national partnerships, including project applications that, after a positive evaluation, may be realized in 2025, such as Driving Urban Transitions to a Sustainable Future (Interreg Central Europe Program), Green Systems for Cities to Meet the Challenges of the 21st Century (support for project implementation), and AI-Powered Eco-design Upskilling for Smart Specializations in Industrial SMEs – AISMARTEco-Design. More information about them coming soon.

We would like to express our gratitude to all our partners, the business and academic communities, as well as the residents of Lublin who actively contribute to the development of our city. Together, we are shaping a stronger Lublin!