Prof. Piotr Trzonkowski, Head of the Department of Medical Immunology at the Medical University of Gdańsk, received the Primum Cooperatio 2025 award. The distinction was granted to the MUG scholar in recognition of his outstanding scientific achievements, pioneering research in the field of cell therapies, and his effective integration of academic research with business and industry. The awards in the Pomeranian Employer of the Year competition, as well as other distinctions granted by the regional business community, were presented on 6th February during the Employers of Pomerania Gala. The event was attended, among others, by the Rector of the MUG, Prof. Michał Markuszewski. The ceremony provided an opportunity to honour enterprises, institutions, and individuals who, through innovation, social responsibility, and commitment to employees, make a tangible contribution to the development of Pomerania and the national economy.
– This award is a recognition of the hard work of many people who have worked and continue to work with me on inventions that we first developed in the laboratories of the MUG and the University Clinical Centre, and subsequently transferred into a commercial framework, developing modern cell-based medicines within the Poltreg team and, currently, also within our subsidiary Immuthera in the United States. The award is, of course, an extremely gratifying experience, but the path leading to it was not always easy. All the more, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who has stood by me through both favourable and challenging times – said Prof. Piotr Trzonkowski.
The Primum Cooperatio Award (Latin: Cooperation Above All), named after Prof. Bolesław Mazurkiewicz, is awarded to an outstanding representative of the academic community who, through knowledge, creative thinking, and experience, actively contributes to the support and implementation of innovative economic initiatives. The laureate is also a person whose activities demonstrate that effective cooperation between academia and industry is possible and yields measurable benefits for both the economy and science.
– In medicine, the welfare of the patient is always paramount, and in science, truth. These are concise definitions of concepts that have been described in volumes, as different professions interpret them in different ways. This is, in essence, what cooperation is about – how to reconcile the interests of stakeholders in order to pursue a common goal. In the development of medicines, this involves the scientific truths of researchers and physicians striving to create ever safer and more effective therapies, as well as, at a subsequent stage, the role of regulators responsible for legal frameworks and the industry, which must manufacture and deliver these medicines to every patient in need in a financially sustainable manner. An efficient and rapid pathway of such cooperation leads to the introduction of innovative medicines to the market. Beyond the obvious benefits for patients, it also generates employment for highly qualified professionals, modern research laboratories and pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, and often unique expertise that constitutes the competitive advantage of a region and a country – emphasised Prof. P. Trzonkowski. – In Poland, original medicines have begun to be developed independently only relatively recently, and awareness of the need for such cooperation remains relatively limited. Dialogue, the alignment of objectives, and the collaborative development of solutions enabling the rapid and cost-effective implementation of innovations into practice are therefore crucial, as competition never sleeps. Innovative solutions are usually transient, and if we do not seize the opportunity together, someone else will – the MUG scientist added.
The Employers of Pomerania Gala is one of the most important events integrating the business community, local government, and institutions supporting the economic development of the region. This year’s edition had a special anniversary character. During the Gala, the 15th edition of the Pomeranian Employer of the Year competition and the 35th anniversary of the Employers of Pomerania organisation were summarised.
