Podlaskie Region, bordering Lithuania and Belarus, has around 1.1 million residents. It holds a leading position in Poland in dairy processing and the manufacture of agricultural machinery, boats and medical implants. Its IT sector also plays an important role, with an ecosystem sometimes described as the 'Silicon Forest'.
The regional capital, Białystok, has around 300,000 residents and is Podlaskie’s main academic and research hub. It hosts the three largest universities in north-eastern Poland: the University of Bialystok, Bialystok University of Technology and the Medical University of Bialystok. The latter established Poland’s first Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine.
The regional authorities, based in Białystok and maintaining a permanent representation in Brussels, coordinate European funding and strategic projects to strengthen regional development and resilience. These include the Agricultural Valley 4.0, aligned with the European Regional Innovation Valleys initiative and built around three technological pillars: AgriTech, FoodTech and HealthTech.
Contact detail
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Head of office
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Brussels Office Address
Avenue de Tervueren 48
1040 Brussels
Belgium
S3 Strategy
The main drivers of innovation in Podlaskie are the region’s smart specialisation sectors, identified in the Smart Specialisation Strategy for the Podlaskie Region:
1) agri-food;
2) metal, machinery and boatbuilding;
3) medicine and life sciences;
4) eco-innovations.
Information and communication technologies (ICT) support all four core sectors.
Strategic R&I Projects
Innovation Ecosystem Agricultural Valley 4.0
Funding programme
European Funds for Podlaskie 2021-2027
Project goal: improvement of regional innovativeness and development of regional smart specialisations in the areas of AgriTech, FoodTech and HealthTech through building a permanent ecosystem of cooperation between businesses, science and institutions.
Latest Updates
- By Martina Campajola
Strong regions, strong Europe: ERRIN at the European Week of Regions and Cities 2026
ERRIN spent the European Week of Regions and Cities moderating sessions, following debates and meeting more than a dozen member delegations. Here is a selection of the moments closest to our priorities, from the EU Missions and the next MFF to talent, culture and competitiveness.
- By Martina Campajola
Investing in regions with cohesion policy for a more competitive Europe
ERRIN joined regional leaders from the EUregions4cohesion coalition and Members of the European Parliament to debate the future of Cohesion Policy in the 2028–2034 EU budget. The coalition presented its new position paper, which includes recommendations on place-based innovation, smart specialisation and the European Semester.
- By Martina Campajola
ERRIN and its members call on the Commission to safeguard the EU Missions and mission-oriented approach in the next MFF
More than 35 regional and local authorities urge EU decision-makers to keep the EU Missions running until at least 2030 and to keep the mission-oriented approach at the heart of Europe's future research and innovation framework. The letter underlines the strategic importance of preserving and strengthening the EU Missions and the mission-oriented approach as central pillars of Europe's competitiveness, resilience and innovation agenda.
- By Zoé Thomazeau
ERRIN members to host events at the European Week of Regions and Cities 2026
The European Week of Regions and Cities, taking place in Brussels from 12–14 October 2026, will once again serve as a leading platform for dialogue on regional and urban policy in Europe. This year the motto is 'Strong regions, strong Europe'. ERRIN is pleased to announce that its members will be strongly represented in this year’s programme, with sessions addressing a wide range of topics relevant to Europe’s regions and cities.
- By Martina Campajola
ERRIN is pleased to welcome Podlaskie Region as a new member
ERRIN is pleased to welcome the Podlaskie Region as one of its new members for 2026. Based in Białystok, Poland, the region coordinates European funds and strategic regional projects, with smart specialisation priorities spanning agri-food, medical and life sciences, eco-innovations, and advanced manufacturing.
- By Zoé Thomazeau
East Poland Innovation Day 2026
The East Poland Innovation Day 2026 will highlight the innovation potential of Eastern Poland, bringing together policymakers, innovation leaders and ecosystem builders. The event will spotlight five rapidly developing regions, Lubelskie, Podkarpackie, Podlaskie, Świętokrzyskie and Warmińsko-Mazurskie, positioning them as emerging hubs of technological growth and collaboration within Europe. Pirita Lindholm, ERRIN director, will take part in an expert panel on scaling regional innovation ecosystems.