Development

Gorzów Wielkopolski and Zielona Góra, as the regional and national centres, make up a bipolar transmission system of economic and social growth to development of the Lubuskie Voivodeship. Although their metropolitan functions are not fully developed, the cities create a concentration zone of economic activity, as well as scientific, cultural and social functions for the Lubuskie Voivodeship. They are also important centres of growth for the western Poland and for cross-border cooperation. Investment potential should be numbered among the most significant development potentials in both cities. The industrial sector is stronger in Gorzów Wielkopolski, while services dominate in Zielona Góra. Science and technology parks established in Nowy Kisielin near Zielona Góra and within range of Gorzów Wlkp. and the prospect of establishing scientific cooperation with the business sector should increase innovativeness of the regional economy. Favourable location between big cities (Berlin, Poznań, Wrocław and Szczecin), systematically improving accessibility of the voivodeship’s cities and availability of investment areas in their functional zones are decisive for the benefit of this development potential. The important problem, characteristic for the entire region and which has special significance for the centres of the voivodship (where most (18) universities are located) is the insufficient R&D sector. Gorzów Wielkopolski and Zielona Góra must seek to improve the rank of their universities, and to stop the outflow of the most talented youths to the bigger academic centres. Accessibility and ICT infrastructure will play an important role in the use of the potentials and in breaking the barriers to development of these cities. Completion of the S3 expressway construction (up to Lubawka) and modernisation of the main railway lines seem to be particularly important. Development of the Airport in Babimost and its accessibility from the both voivodeship cities are also important (especially for Zielona Góra). Water transport and its tourist function is also an important, however, untapped potential, mainly for Gorzow Wlkp.. Improvement of the public city and commuter transportation is the key to development of the metropolitan areas. Extension of the tramway line network and its rolling stock modernisation are the important priorities for Gorzów Wlkp., while a launch of S-trains connecting Zielona Góra with the Triple City of the Lubusz Region is important for the City of Zielona Góra. The new instrument of the E, namely the integrated territorial investments, should suit the task. Development of the metropolitan functions of Gorzów Wlkp. and Zielona Góra will also be dependant on development of higher-level public services. The cultural offer, availability of housing plots with technical infrastructure, the offer of sports and recreation, the level of safety, revitalization of city centres and post-industrial areas, will (next to the already mentioned scientific and economic functions) determine the attractiveness of these cities for its residents, investors and visitors, and as a result, their development. The cities play an important administrative role: The City of Zielona Góra as the seat of the Voivodeship Assembly, the Marshal of the Voivodeship and the Marshal Office, and the City of Gorzów Wlkp. as the seat of the Voivod of the Lubuskie Voivodeship and the Voivodeship Office. Gorzów Wlkp. and Zielona Góra are the natural centres of the both subregions of the northern and the southern voivodeship. Initiatives of the communes’ co-operation within the frames of the Gorzów Wlkp. agglomeration in the north and the Zielona Góra agglomeration in the south are valuable in this context. They should not, however, lead to reduction of the regional cohesion. On the contrary, an extremely important aspect of development for the two voivodeship centres is to supplement each other in their functions, in the process of cooperation, not competition. Żary is a strong centre of industry, craft and trade, which went through the period of the industrial collapse during the transition of the system relatively gently. Żagań, however, is a city with many cultural and tourist attractions, as well as growing industry. Żary and Żagań, located close to each other, may create a strong dual city, additionally strengthened by development in the direction of Szprotawa and Lubsko. They form the third most populated and investor attractive areas in of the voivodeship (just after the voivodeship cities). Nowa Sól, despite its still high unemployment rate, has been rapidly developing in recent years. The developed zones of economic activity (Urban Zone of Business Activity , and Kostrzyn-Słubice Special Economic Zone) and the established Park Interior determine the development potential of the city. In addition, Nowa Sól is situated close to Zielona Góra, creating the so-called Tricity of the Lubusz Region with Sulechów. Świebodzin and Słubice are the powerful development centres thanks to their location along the Europe’s main transit routes. Their importance and potential will increase after the completion of the A2 motorway and the S3 expressway with exits. Similar development requirements apply to the City of Międzyrzecz. Słubice is also an important trade centre at the Polish and German border creating a transborder agglomeration with Frankurt (Oder) having a population of around 85 thousand. Collegium Polonicum, a common teaching and scientific unit of the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań and the European University Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder), is also an important development factor of the city.