Steeped in history, the Polish city of Lublin had fallen upon hard times in the 20th century. However, its 2013 to 2020 strategy plan is already reaping dividends in positioning the city as a centre of business, investment and entrepreneurship within easy reach of both Warsaw and neighbouring Ukraine.

Lublin province in south-eastern Poland is thinking outside its borders, its marshal, Krzysztof Hetman, tells fDi, thanks in no small part to a new airport and bridge connecting it with central Poland. 

Lublin is rapidly establishing itself as a leading business hub in eastern Poland, with companies attracted by the city's large and highly skilled talent pool. Now, it is looking to benefit from the growing nearshoring trend, and is setting its sights on attracting businesses in the business process outsourcing sector.  

For more than a decade, the Medical University of Lublin has been attracting foreign students to the city with its English-language medical degrees. Now, the rest of Lublin's medical sector is catching on to the idea of targeting foreign customers, and the city is positioning itself as a medical tourism hub.

Lublin is working hard to strengthen the links between academia and business, with incubators fostering innovation and co-operation in the technology sector.