What role will data, supercomputers, and collaboration between science and business play in shaping the future of AI? Why is Europe investing in AI factories? We will explore these questions during the panel discussion “Gaia AI Factory: From Infrastructure to Innovation” as part of Thursday Gathering #263: AI Reshaping Daily Life.
Today, the development of artificial intelligence is not only a race to build the best AI models. It also involves major investments in advanced computing infrastructure, secure data environments, and ecosystems that enable researchers, startups, and businesses to create innovative solutions. One of Europe’s most important initiatives in this area is Gaia AI Factory, a project implemented under the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking, aimed at building a strong European AI ecosystem. The Mother and Child Institute is one of the members of the Gaia AI Factory consortium.
During the panel, representatives of organizations co-creating the Gaia ecosystem will discuss how the project can accelerate innovation and strengthen Europe’s competitiveness in AI.
What will we discuss?
Experts will demonstrate how European AI infrastructure can support innovation, scientific research, and cutting-edge medical technologies. Topics will include:
- Europe’s position in the global AI race,
- the importance of Gaia AI Factory for science, startups, and business,
- the use of medical data to develop responsible AI,
- collaboration between public institutions, universities, and companies,
- building secure, reliable, and trustworthy artificial intelligence.
Meet the Panel Experts
The discussion will feature representatives of organizations shaping both the Polish and European AI ecosystem.
Marek Kasztelnik – ACK Cyfronet AGH
Leader of AI and HPC projects and initiatives, architect, and team leader at ACK Cyfronet AGH. He specializes in designing solutions that enable scientific applications to run on distributed HPC resources and cloud environments. On behalf of Cyfronet, he leads research and implementation projects in computational medicine and artificial intelligence and serves as the coordinator of the Gaia AI Factory project.
He is the creator of the Model Execution Environment, a data-processing system for patient simulations integrated with the Helios, Ares, and Athena supercomputers. He also co-created the first version of the EOSC Marketplace and the PLGrid grant system. He is the author of more than 50 publications and presentations focused on e-science, personalized medicine, and high-performance computing.
Dr. Joanna Aftyka – Mother and Child Institute
Data Scientist in the Implementation Department of the Innovation and Artificial Intelligence Center at the Mother and Child Institute, where she develops and implements AI solutions in pediatrics and women’s healthcare. She holds a PhD in Physical Sciences and specializes in medical data analysis and modeling, as well as practical clinical applications of artificial intelligence.
She is the author of scientific publications in the fields of the autonomic nervous system and heart rate dynamics. Combining academic expertise with implementation experience, she works at the intersection of science and clinical practice, including the evaluation and recommendation of medical technologies.
Agnieszka Podkowa – Krakow Technology Park
Project Manager at Krakow Technology Park, specializing in the coordination of national and international projects supporting business growth, innovation, and business transformation. She leads initiatives funded by European programs and collaborates with partners in Poland and abroad to strengthen business competitiveness and foster innovation ecosystems.
Combining entrepreneurial experience with project management expertise, she is also a trainer, mentor, and facilitator of development programs. She supports startups through acceleration programs and hackathons and helps teams develop innovative products and business models. She is a graduate of the international The Tech Commercialization Program organized by the Korea Innovation Foundation.
Dr. Adam Sułek – Sano – Centre for Computational Personalized Medicine
A scientist specializing in AI-assisted drug design and computational methods for discovering new therapies. At Sano, he has worked on projects focused on developing innovative drug candidates, including anticancer and antibacterial compounds.
His expertise combines molecular modeling, experimental data analysis, medicinal chemistry, and AI methods. He has experience spanning fundamental research, technology commercialization, and the development of patent-protected innovations. During the panel, he will provide a practical perspective on the use of biomedical data and artificial intelligence in developing next-generation therapies.
Dr. Karolina Szafranek – Interdisciplinary Centre for Mathematical and Computational Modelling (ICM), University of Warsaw
Deputy Director of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Mathematical and Computational Modelling (ICM) at the University of Warsaw. She is responsible for developing ICM’s activities, fostering cooperation with scientific partners, public administration, and industry, and initiating projects in high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, and data analytics.
For many years, she has been involved in the team developing the meteo.pl service, combining research and development activities with the implementation of practical solutions and their commercialization through the Meteo spin-off company.
Who Should Attend?
This panel will be particularly valuable for:
- startups developing AI-based solutions,
- healthcare professionals and organizations,
- scientists and researchers,
- entrepreneurs interested in artificial intelligence,
- innovators building data-driven products and services,
- anyone interested in the future of AI in Europe.
This is an excellent opportunity to:
- learn about the Gaia AI Factory initiative,
- understand how Europe is investing in AI development,
- discover how medical data supports innovation,
- meet experts from academia, business, and the public sector,
- build connections within the Polish AI ecosystem.
Event Information
Date: August 27, 2026
Thursday Gathering: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Panel Duration: Approximately 60 minutes (6:15 PM – 7:15 PM)
Venue: Varso Place, 73 Chmielna Street, Warsaw
Participation: Free of charge. Prior registration required.
Register now:
https://community.venturecafewarsaw.org/events/320
What Is Thursday Gathering?
Thursday Gathering is a recurring, free networking event organized by Venture Café Warsaw, part of the global Venture Café network and the Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC). The events bring together representatives of business, academia, public administration, startups, and the investment community, creating a space for knowledge exchange, partnership building, and innovation development.