Poland in Silicon Valley Center Signs Strategic Partnership with CITRIS at UC

Poland in Silicon Valley Center for Science, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (PolSV) has signed a strategic partnership agreement with the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society and the Banatao Institute (CITRIS), in order to create partnerships with one of the world’s most prestigious multi-campus research networks spanning four University of California campuses.

The formal signing ceremony took place at the San Francisco War Memorial during the plenary session of the US-Poland Science and Technology Symposium 2025, following a keynote address by CITRIS Director Alexandre Bayen, Liao-Cho Innovation Endowed Chair and professor of electrical engineering and computer sciences at UC Berkeley, and associate provost for the Berkeley Space Center.

This landmark partnership establishes PolSV as the primary Polish gateway to the CITRIS network, which encompasses UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Merced, and UC Santa Cruz. It provides Polish institutions with unprecedented access to this elite research consortium.

Connecting Two Innovation Powerhouses
The agreement gives Polish institutions and entrepreneurs direct access to cutting-edge research and development. Key benefits include:

• Co-development opportunities with UC principal investigators
• Direct pipelines to Bay Area startups through accelerators, including CITRIS Foundry and Venture Lab at UC Merced
• Workforce development through internships, workshops, and mentorship programs
• Access to Bay Area venture capital networks and commercialization expertise

“This partnership represents a quantum leap for Polish presence on the global innovation stage,” said Piotr Moncarz, CEO of Poland in Silicon Valley Center. “We’re not just connecting Polish universities to world-class research—we’re creating a bridge that will enable Polish scientists and entrepreneurs to co-develop tomorrow’s breakthrough technologies alongside UC’s finest minds. This positions Poland as a strategic partner in the Bay Area’s innovation ecosystem, with access previously reserved for only the most elite institutions.”

"CITRIS has always been committed to fostering international collaborations that address society’s greatest challenges,” said CITRIS Director Alexandre Bayen. “I am very excited about this convergence of exceptional technical talent and a strong commitment to innovation to support our mission. This partnership creates a powerful conduit for researchers and entrepreneurs to engage with our four-campus network, while our UC community gains access to Poland’s dynamic innovation ecosystem. We’re excited by the prospect of the breakthrough solutions that will emerge from this collaboration.”

About Poland in Silicon Valley Center
Poland in Silicon Valley Center for Science, Innovation and Entrepreneurship connects Polish universities, research institutions, and businesses to Silicon Valley’s innovation ecosystem. Through strategic partnerships with leading institutions, including Stanford University and CITRIS, PolSV provides Polish organizations with privileged access to cutting-edge research, startup mentorship, and venture capital networks.

About CITRIS and the Banatao Institute
CITRIS and the Banatao Institute is a multi-campus research institute spanning UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Merced, and UC Santa Cruz. Founded to develop information technology solutions for society’s most pressing challenges, CITRIS connects world-class faculty with industry partners to accelerate innovation in aviation, health, climate and sustainability, technology policy, and digital infrastructure.

Contact Information

Patrick Consorti

Media Contact

Poland in Silicon Valley Center

patrick.consorti@polsv.org