25 Years of the Technical Business Club PKB+
The PKB+ Technical Business Club is celebrating its 25th anniversary. For a quarter of a century, it has brought together entrepreneurs connected with Gdańsk Tech, supported the relationship between the university and business, and created a space for cooperation, experience exchange, and the implementation of joint projects. The anniversary is an opportunity to recall the history of PKB+, its most important initiatives, and the people who have co-created this community over the years.
The PKB+ Technical Business Club is celebrating its 25th anniversary. For a quarter of a century, it has brought together entrepreneurs connected with Gdańsk Tech, supported the relationship between the university and business, and created a space for cooperation, experience exchange, and the implementation of joint projects. The anniversary is an opportunity to recall the history of PKB+, its most important initiatives, and the people who have co-created this community over the years.
It All Started with Relationships
The history of PKB+ began even before its formal establishment. Many of the future founders of the Club knew each other from student activities at Gdańsk Tech – from the Student Parliament, Techno-Service, AZS, and other academic environments. After graduation, they established businesses, became managers and CEOs, but continued to stay in touch. Over time, this natural network of acquaintances evolved into a need to create a shared space for alumni active in business.
– PKB+ was not born at a desk nor from the idea that another business organization had to be established. It grew primarily from the relationships between people who knew each other from their student days at Gdańsk Tech – says PhD Eng. Tomasz Klajbor, the current moderator of PKB+.
The official start of the Club's activity is considered to be June 2, 2001, when during a meeting of the Parliamentarian Circle of the Gdańsk Tech Alumni Association, the idea of uniting entrepreneurs connected to the university was presented. The initiators were Ryszard Markowski, Zbigniew Borkowski, Jerzy Bogdanis, and Edward Gwóźdź, and the idea was supported from the beginning by Prof. Janusz Rachoń. A few months later, on October 16, the first founding meeting took place with the participation of 25 Gdańsk Tech alumni – entrepreneurs, company presidents, and directors.
– We kept in touch, but over time the need arose to do something together. We wanted to unite entrepreneurs who are graduates of Gdańsk Tech, promote their professional activities, support each other in running companies, and integrate the business community with their alma mater – recalls Zbigniew Borkowski, one of the co-founders of PKB+.
More Than Networking
From the start, PKB+ was meant to be more than just a place for exchanging contacts. One of the most important principles became mutual assistance and building relationships based on trust. The Club operated under the principle of reciprocal service – the conviction that if someone from the community needs support, others should genuinely try to help.
– It was not just about networking or exchanging business cards but about trust and real mutual support – emphasizes Tomasz Klajbor.
The way the Club was organized was also significant. Instead of the traditional role of president, the role of moderator was introduced, in accordance with the principle primus inter pares – first among equals. Moderators changed, bringing their own ideas, and the continuity of activities was ensured by a group of the most engaged members.
– Good rules were very important, but people decided the longevity. Among the several dozen entrepreneurs, there was always a group that sustained activities, proposed ideas, and set directions for joint initiatives. This 'locomotive' was the heart of the Club – says Zbigniew Borkowski.
From Integration to Collaboration Between Science and Business
Over time, the Club became increasingly involved in collaboration between Gdańsk Tech and the economy. An important moment was the announcement of the PKB+ Manifesto in 2010, which included demands concerning, among others, technology transfer, cooperation between companies and Gdańsk Tech faculties, engineering education, and support for companies of young graduates. It was a signal that the Club not only wants to integrate its own community but also actively participate in building relations between science and the economy.
Today, PKB+ aims to serve as a bridge between the university and business.
– In our program for the coming years, we called PKB+ a “living laboratory of cooperation.” We have entrepreneurs, managers, technology experts, scientists, and Gdańsk Tech alumni with vast experience around one table. This is a unique asset – says Tomasz Klajbor.
This cooperation is intended to lead to concrete results: joint research and development projects, implementations, collaboration of companies with research teams, internships for students, or new business ventures. As the current moderator emphasizes, the measure of the Club’s success should not be merely the number of members or meetings but the value of relationships and initiatives that arise from these meetings.
The Next Generation of PKB+
An important direction for PKB+’s development is also opening up to the younger generation – students, doctoral candidates, young graduates, and startups. The Club wants to combine the experience of people who have been running companies and managing large projects for years with the skills of young people active in new technologies, artificial intelligence, and new business models.
– If we manage to combine the experience of one generation with the energy and skills of the other, we can create something truly exceptional – emphasizes Tomasz Klajbor.
Zbigniew Borkowski shares a similar vision for the Club's future. In his opinion, the most important goal of PKB+ remains unchanged: connecting entrepreneurs originating from Gdańsk Tech, mutual support, and building relationships with the university. He also points to new cooperation opportunities resulting from the operation of the Fahrenheit Universities Union and the potential for broader integration of entrepreneur communities who are alumni of Gdańsk’s universities.
Anniversary with the Future in Mind
The culmination of the 25th anniversary celebrations will be the Jubilee Gala, which will take place on October 23, 2026, at Gdańsk Tech under the patronage of the Rector Magnificus. The main partner of the event is Port Gdańsk – the largest Polish port and one of the fastest-growing ports in Europe. This partnership is deliberate – Gdańsk Tech has been strongly connected with the maritime character of the region since its inception, while education, research, and technologies developed at the university have long responded to the needs of the maritime economy. The Port and the University meet in a natural area of shared interests: the development of modern infrastructure, technologies, and competencies important for Pomerania and the entire economy.
The Gala will be an opportunity to summarize the Club’s activity so far, honor individuals particularly involved in its development, and look at the directions for further cooperation between science and business.
The anniversary will also be accompanied by the premiere of the publication “Co-creating the Future. 25 Years of the Technological Business Club PKB+”, presenting the history and achievements of the Club, important projects, directions for future activities, as well as statements from its members and people associated with Gdańsk Tech.