The Olivia Prize distinctions have become a permanent feature in the calendar of Pomeranian business events. For the sixth time, Olivia Centre and its residents presented awards for projects and activities contributing to economic development, improving quality of life, and engagement in helping others, carried out in the past year. This year’s edition recognized achievements in five categories.
Olivia Connect is the category for institutions or projects that promote business development and foster collaboration among entrepreneurs. This year, the award went to the Lewiatan Confederation and Employers of Pomerania for consistently highlighting regional issues and the interests of Pomeranian entrepreneurs at the national level, including the organization of the European Forum for New Ideas, an important platform for reflection on Poland’s and Europe’s place in the world.
Olivia Hero of the Future recognizes young scientists for their most innovative research projects. In 2025, the award was given to the research team led by Dr. Marcin Wekwejt from Gdańsk University of Technology for the project “Development of a New Injectable Ceramic-Polymer Bone Cement”. The team developed technologies that support natural bone regeneration processes, which can be applied in fracture treatment and bone defect reconstruction.
The Olivia Harmony category rewards initiatives with the greatest social and environmental impact. The Safe Senior project, aimed at protecting seniors from fraud and cyber threats, received this award. Implemented by EPAM Systems (Poland) Sp. z o.o., the project offers in-person training in neighborhood homes and cultural centers, reaching individuals who are not digitally proficient. Another award in this category went to Homes of Good Energy, run by Energa S.A., which supports children and youth in care institutions while reducing energy costs for these facilities. The program has so far benefited nearly 800 children across 40 institutions, including one located outside Poland.
Olivia Everyday Hero celebrates individuals carrying out remarkable social projects. This year, the award went to Wiktoria Pagiele, conductor and founder of the Olivia Centre Choir, which gathers 40 singing enthusiasts working in various companies at Olivia Centre. The jury highlighted her passion and dedication, including efforts to integrate the Tri-City choral community and a joint performance of the piece “For Yourself and For You” with 200 voices in the Olivia Centre patio in September 2025. The project aimed to raise awareness of mental health issues and the importance of direct interpersonal relationships in everyday life and work.
Olivia Impact honors initiatives with the largest business scale. The main 2025 award went to Speeron Polska for creating Speeron NEXT, a digital services platform for hotel guests that allows access to a range of hotel services via in-room TVs. The technology ensures modern solutions even on TVs up to 10 years old, helping to avoid 1.5 tons of waste and 100 tons of CO₂e per hotel where it is installed. The company is currently finalizing discussions with a Scandinavian hotel chain comprising 8,591 rooms. The distinction in this category went to Develocraft Sp. z o.o. for supporting Tri-City’s economic life, including bringing Alfa Systems, a UK software provider for the financial sector, which established its European technology hub in Gdańsk.
The 2025 award winners were selected by a jury consisting of Marta Moksa (O4 Coworking), Prof. Sylwia Mrozowska (Univentum Labs), Jolanta Szydłowska (Gdańsk Foundation for Manager Education), Grzegorz Borowski (Infoshare), Mateusz Kusznierewicz, multiple-time Polish sailing medalist, and Remigiusz Wojciechowski (Bayer). Awardees received statuettes created by Prof. Tomasz Sobisz, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Sculpture and Intermedia at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk.
The special guest of the evening was Prof. Paweł Horodecki, recognized by Stanford University as one of the world’s most influential scientists. Prof. Horodecki is one of the founders of the Gdańsk School of Quantum Computing and co-author of 150 research papers published in prestigious journals, cited over 24,000 times.
Photo link: https://1drv.ms/f/c/388fa6a44d9eaf4e/IgACo_0VdmnTSZtu2tZM0z-NAbXyL4nxyEZdj4o4E0B26oc?e=TkSDQJ autor: Wojciech Podlecki
