Kielce – the host city of ERC 2023 – is a city with a centuries-old tradition, the capital of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, and at the same time the most important administrative, economic, academic and cultural centre in the region. Kielce is a modern metropolis, dynamically developing, open to tourists, new technologies and important investments. The visitors say that Kielce is a gem among the cities of south-eastern Poland.

One of the most important points on the economic map of Kielce is a trade fair centre: Targi Kielce S.A. As the second organizer of exhibitions in Central and Eastern Europe, it enjoys a reputable and stable opinion on the European market. Targi Kielce, which is the organizer of the most famous business events in the city, is the engine of business development in the region thanks to 90,000 m2 of modern exhibition space, over 254,000 visitors and guests and 6,000 exhibitors from nearly 60 countries.

Thanks to the Targi Kielce, this located in the heart of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains city is a place where multi-million contracts are concluded. Every year, the Fair attracts tens of thousands of exhibitors and entrepreneurs to Kielce. The Targi Kielce calendar includes over 70 events – fairs and exhibitions – including PLASTPOL – the most international fair in Poland, the world-renowned MSPO – the third defence industry fair in Europe, AUTOSTRADA-POLSKA – the only such fair in Europe, SACROEXPO – the largest sacral fair in Europe and AGROTECH – the most visited agricultural fair.

In the conference base of the fair, which consists of 19 multifunctional conference rooms and a congress hall for 850 people, several hundred conferences are held annually. The fair is also a place of sports, educational and cultural events.

The most famous defence industry event in Poland has been held at Targi Kielce for 31 years. The MSPO International Defence Industry Exhibition is not only a comprehensive presentation of military equipment, but also business meetings and contracts concluded between defence sector manufacturers from different continents. This year, the fair will be held on September 5-8, 2023.

At the stands of Polish and world leaders of the defence industry, we will see helicopters, armoured and missile equipment, explosives, equipment and materials of chemical troops. The companies will also present armament and aviation equipment, defence equipment, as well as the necessary armament of navy units.

Targi Kielce will traditionally feature an impressive set of helicopters. The arrival to Kielce has already been announced: multi-role AW149, AW109 Trekker, S-70 Black Hawk, APACHE AH-64 attack aircraft, Robinson R-44 training aircraft, light MD-530 and CH-47 Chinook transport aircraft.

The 31st edition of the International Defence Industry Exhibition in Kielce breaks records, although has not yet started. As of the end of August, the reserved space already amounted to 34,000 m2, the list of exhibitors included 701 companies from 36 countries. Representatives of the defence industry will come to the capital of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, including from Austria, Belgium, Estonia, Finland, India, Israel, Japan, Canada, Lithuania, Republic of South Africa, United States of America, Australia, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and South Korea.

During this year’s Salon, the “Al Worden Endeavour Scholarship” project is launched, addressed to Poles, the aim of which is to encourage young people to work as engineers and space explorers. In the final of the project, 4 students and a teacher will be selected, who will take part in a week-long training for astronauts at the Space & Rocket Centre in the United States. The scholarship is supported by the Polish Space Agency, Targi Kielce and Kallman Worldwide. Alfred Merrill Worden – American astronaut, colonel of the United States Air Force, participant in the Apollo 15 mission. He was an honorary guest of the United States National Exhibition during MSPO 2019.

Cosmic topics also appear on the agenda of the debate organized by the Ministry Development and Technology during the second day of MSPO. The event allows discussion on the topic development of the EU industrial policy and the role of the defence industry sector, international industrial cooperation, including the development of synergies with the space sector in terms of economic and defence challenges. Important stakeholders of the European defence sector and experts representing industry, politics and academia were invited to participate in the debate.

This autumn in Kielce you will not escape from the cosmic theme! We invite you to Kielce www.kielce.eu.