The Rockwool company ( headquarter – Hedehusene ) will invest PLN 250 mln in 2008, in the Suwałki Special Economic Zone (SSEZ) at its Malkinia plant (in Podlasie). The investment is largely due to the growing demand for building materials, which has been particularly visible since Poland’s entry into the EU.According to the President of the Board of Rockwool Poland, Andrzej Kielar, the development will enable the doubling of production capacity at Malkinia, together with the creation of 75 new workplaces. A further 100 jobs will be created among firms cooperating with the plant.Rockwool Poland has been operating since 1993; it produces stone wool at two factories - in Cigacice and Malkinia. During its 15 years in Poland, Rockwool has invested over PLN 400 mln.

Source: PAIiIZ: www.paiiz.gov.pl

William Demant Holding, Danish hearing instrument manufacturer opened new factory in Poland. The new plant is located in Mierzyn, near Szczecin, and was overtaken from the company partner, also Dansih company Sonion. Next to the production the company wants to conduct research there. There are plans of increasing the employment from present 150 workers to 300 in the end of 2008. Sonion has been in Szczecin since 1997.

Source: SPCC News: www.spcc.pl; taken from Rzeczpospolita 14.01.2008

Danish Nørhaven A/S has decided to end the company’s activities within paper manufacturing through its subsidiary Skolwin Paper International in Szczecin, Poland. As reasons for the decision “unforeseen and unsurmountable investment needs, inappropriate to Nørhaven A/S’ foundation" were declared. Norhaven bought the factory in Szczecin in December 2005 planning huge investments. The factory officially stops on 1st February 2008. The factory officially was closed on 1st February 2008. However, the production was stopped soon in November 2007. As a consequence around 250 employees were dismissed.

Source: SPCC News: www.spcc.pl; taken from www.norhaven.dk, Przegląd Papierniczy, 1.02. 2008;

The first randomised study in the world to compare the results of stenting and by-pass surgery in patients with left main coronary artery stenosis has been conducted by a Polish-American team of cardiologists and heart surgeons. A group of 105 patients in a number of centres, mainly in the American Heart of Poland centre in Ustron (Poland) and the Upper-Silesian Heart Centre in Katowice (Poland), were involved in the project. A publication regarding this recently appeared in the "Journal of the American College of Cardiology" - one of the most highly regarded American medical journals in the field of cardiology.

Caffeine supplied to the body through, for example, coffee, reduces the risk of suffering from Parkinson's disease - reveal tests run by scientists from the Department of Molecular Biology at Gdansk University. Research has shown that caffeine links itself to neurotoxins, responsible for the development of this disease and is excreted from the body with them, preventing them from depositing in brain. "Our research is the first in the world to show the mechanical capture of neurotoxins through creating complexes with caffeine. This may prevent neurotoxins from reaching the digestive tract" - said Prof. Grzegorz Węgrzyn head of the Department of Molecular Biology at Gdansk University.

Polish schoolchildren were hugely successful during the International Astronomy Olympiad held in Thailand, where they won two gold and three silver medals. The International Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics was held between 30th November and 9th December in Chiang Mai in north Thailand. It was attended by 87 children from 21 countries (mainly Asia and Europe). The Polish team counted 5 pupils and two supervisors – Prof. Jerzy Kreiner and Mgr Grzegorz Stachowski.

The European Commission has finally registered Oscypek sheep-milk cheese produced by a few counties in the Podhale region (southern Poland). On February 14th the decision has been published in the EC Official Gazette and will come into life in 20 days. This also means that Oscypek will be granted the status of the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). Oscypek, the traditional sheep-milk cheese, has been produced in the Tatra region for centuries, with first reports about its production dating back to 1416. Slovakia vetoed the registration maintaining that Poland cannot register and protect the name of the cheese as in fact Oscypek has become a common name of the product. As the two countries reached agreement the EC decided to register Oscypek.