The Pro Silesia Association, which is the subject of our detailed case study, is one of the examples of National Municipal Knowledge Networks (NMKN). It has a regional dimension and operates in the Silesian Voivodeship. Such networks often bring together representatives of cities, academic institutions and companies – this means that they are built according to the Triple Helix structure, the aim of which is to support the exchange of knowledge, learning and cooperation for regional development.
Pro Silesia, established in 2017, was established to promote the Silesian Voivodeship on the national and international stage and to support investments and innovations through the mutual exchange of experiences between network members. One of the key tasks of the association is to facilitate the flow of knowledge and good practices between members, in particular in the field of public policies, sustainable development and urban management. Research has shown that although the network is successful in promoting such activities, it also encounters a number of barriers that limit its effectiveness. In particular, knowledge transfer within the network is usually unidirectional, with academic institutions playing the main role as knowledge providers. The University of Silesia stands out as one of the most active members, providing knowledge and substantive support to cities and companies associated in the network. However, the activity of the private sector is much lower, and cooperation between companies and the academic community is relatively weak, which leads to limited two-way knowledge exchange.
Network structure and activity
Pro Silesia aims to support the economic development of the region, while placing great emphasis on sustainable development and innovation, especially in the context of European policies such as the European Cohesion Policy. As part of its activities, Pro Silesia organizes conferences, webinars, seminars and workshops that aim to strengthen cooperation between cities, scientific institutions and enterprises. One of the most important tasks of the association’s board is to coordinate and facilitate the exchange of knowledge, provide appropriate communication channels and promote good practices. The network members are diverse in size, resources and level of economic development, which means that Pro Silesia tries to adapt its activities to different needs and challenges. A key factor influencing the network’s activities is the structure of the Triple Helix, which assumes cooperation between three main groups: cities, universities and companies. Such a structure is intended to support innovation by combining different perspectives and resources.
Selected Barriers and Challenges
Although Pro Silesia is an important platform for cooperation, the study shows that the network faces several significant challenges. One of the biggest problems is the low level of involvement of the private sector. Companies rarely participate in knowledge exchange, which makes most interactions one-way – universities and cities are the main actors, while companies remain less active. Another barrier that network members point out is the lack of trust between members and the difficulty in ensuring an apolitical environment for cooperation. Political polarization, especially at the level of central government, also makes local cooperation between cities difficult, and some projects are put on hold due to political changes at the government level. An additional challenge is the lack of financial and organizational resources, which limits the network’s ability to fully exploit its potential. Although the network is characterized by a moderately high level of cohesion and understanding between members, the lack of adequate financial resources hinders its development and the ability to implement more advanced projects.
Conclusions
The study of the Silesian network reveals that it has the potential to play a key role in promoting innovation and knowledge exchange in the region, but to fully exploit this potential, some improvements are necessary. First, it is necessary to increase the involvement of the private sector by creating better conditions for cooperation with companies and entrepreneurs. In addition, the network should strive to create a more apolitical and neutral cooperation environment, which could increase trust between members and improve knowledge exchange.
Recommendations
Based on the results of the study, the authors propose several recommendations for the Pro Silesia network. First of all, the network should focus on increasing the role of the private sector, especially through better understanding the needs of companies and adapting its activities to their expectations. In addition, it is necessary to introduce more transparent cooperation procedures, which could eliminate political barriers and increase the efficiency of network management. The network should also focus on strengthening informal channels of cooperation between members, which can increase the level of trust and facilitate the exchange of knowledge. To this end, it is proposed to organize more frequent informal meetings, such as workshops and study trips, which could facilitate the establishment of more personal relationships between representatives of cities, universities and companies. Pro Silesia is a valuable example of an urban knowledge network, which, despite the barriers encountered, has the potential for further development. The implementation of the above recommendations can significantly improve the effectiveness of the network and contribute to its success in the long term.
