25 years of the Polytechnic Business Club PKB+
The PKB+ Business Club is celebrating its 25th anniversary. For a quarter of a century, it has been bringing together entrepreneurs connected with Gdańsk Tech, supporting relationships between the university and business, and creating a space for collaboration, exchange of experiences, 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+ Business Club is celebrating its 25th anniversary. For a quarter of a century, it has been bringing together entrepreneurs connected with Gdańsk Tech, supporting relationships between the university and business, and creating a space for collaboration, exchange of experiences, 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 Started with Relationships
The history of PKB+ began even before its formal establishment. Many of the later founders of the Club knew each other from student activities at Gdańsk Tech – from the Student Parliament, Techno-Service, the Academic Sports Association (AZS), and other academic environments. After graduation, they founded companies, became managers and CEOs, but still maintained contact with each other. Over time, this natural network of acquaintances evolved into the 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 needed to be established. It primarily grew out of relationships between people who had known each other since their student days at Gdańsk Tech –
The founding date of the Club is considered to be June 2, 2001, when, during a meeting of the Parliamentary Circle of the Gdańsk Tech Alumni Association, the idea of uniting entrepreneurs connected with 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 graduates – entrepreneurs, company presidents, and directors.
– We stayed in touch, but over time there emerged a need to do something together. We wanted to unite entrepreneurs who are graduates of Gdańsk Tech, promote their professional activities, mutually support each other in running businesses, and integrate the economic community with the alma mater – recalls Zbigniew Borkowski, one of the co-founders of PKB+.
More than networking
From the beginning, 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 on the principle of mutual service – the conviction that if someone in the community needs support, the others should genuinely try to help.
– It was not only about networking or exchanging business cards but about trust and real mutual support – emphasizes Tomasz Klajbor.
The method of organizing the Club 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 continuity of activity was ensured by the group of the most engaged members.
– Good principles were very important, but it was the people who decided the durability. Among dozens of entrepreneurs, there was always a group that sustained the activity, submitted ideas, and set the direction for joint ventures. In this "locomotive," the heart of the Club was beating.
From Integration to Collaboration between Science and Business
Over time, the Club increasingly engaged in the cooperation of Gdańsk Tech with the economy. An important moment was the announcement of the PKB+ Manifesto in 2010, which included demands concerning, among others, technology transfer, cooperation between enterprises and Gdańsk Tech faculties, engineering education, and support for companies founded by young graduates. It was a signal that the Club wants not only to integrate its own community but also to actively participate in building relationships between science and business.
Today, PKB+ aims to act as a bridge between the university and business.
– In our program for the coming years, we named PKB+ a "living laboratory of cooperation." We have entrepreneurs, managers, technology experts, scientists, and Gdańsk Tech graduates with vast experience gathered around one table. This is a unique asset – says Tomasz Klajbor.
Such collaboration is intended to lead to concrete outcomes: joint research and development projects, implementations, cooperation between companies and scientific teams, internships for students, or new business ventures. As the current moderator emphasizes, the measure of the Club's success should not be the number of members or meetings alone, but the value of relationships and initiatives arising from these meetings.
The Next Generation of PKB+
An important direction for PKB+ development is also opening up to the younger generation – students, doctoral candidates, young graduates, and startups. The Club wants to combine the experience of individuals who have been running companies and executing large projects for years with the competencies of young people active in the world of 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 future of the Club. 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 out new cooperation opportunities arising from the operation of the Fahrenheit University Association and the potential for broader integration of entrepreneurial communities who are graduates of Gdańsk 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. The main partner of the event is Port of Gdańsk, the largest Polish port and one of the fastest-growing ports in Europe.
This partnership is no coincidence – Gdańsk Tech has been strongly connected with the maritime character of the region since its inception, and the education, research, and technologies developed at the university have long addressed the needs of the maritime economy. Thus, the Port and Gdańsk Tech meet in a natural area of mutual interest: 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 activities so far, honor individuals particularly involved in its development, and look at directions for further science-business cooperation.
The anniversary will also be accompanied by the premiere of the publication “Co-creating the Future. 25 Years of the Politechnika Business Club PKB+,” presenting the history and achievements of the Club, major projects, directions for future activities, as well as statements from its members and people associated with Gdańsk Tech.