On September 6, 2013, the second edition of the Podkarpackie Festival of Science and Technology was launched at the Regional Center for the Transfer of Modern Manufacturing Technologies \u2013 Mielec County, in Mielec. The event lasted two days, from September 6 to 7.\nThe opening ceremony was attended by high-ranking officials, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy Janusz Piechoci\u0144ski, Deputy Minister of Education Tadeusz S\u0142awecki\u2014responsible for vocational and continuing education\u2014and Alicja Wosik, Deputy Voivode of the Podkarpackie region. Local authorities were also present, such as Mielec County Governor Andrzej Chrab\u0105szcz and Mielec Mayor Janusz Chodorowski. Members of Parliament Krystyna Skowro\u0144ska and Jan Bury, as well as representatives of companies, institutions, schools, their directors, teachers, and students, were also among the attendees.\nMany companies from Mielec participated in the event, some of them presenting their activities at dedicated exhibition stands. One of the hosts was Zdzis\u0142aw Nowakowski, Director of the Regional Center and member of the Podkarpackie Regional Council.\nThe festival began with a keynote speech by a representative of HAAS, followed by the awarding of state honors. Bogdan Ostrowski, Technical Director at PZL Mielec, received the Silver Cross of Merit, and Stanis\u0142aw Siciarz, Director of Operational Finance, was awarded the Silver Medal for Long Service. The awards were presented by Janusz Piechoci\u0144ski and Alicja Wosik.\nThe highlight of the festival was the grand opening of the HAAS Technical Education Center, followed by impromptu speeches. Throughout the day, both students and adult visitors enjoyed a true celebration of science. Attractions included robot battles controlled by young participants, hands-on robot building, and flight training simulations using aircraft produced by PZL Mielec\u2014such as the Black Hawk helicopter under the guidance of pilot Leszek Pawu\u0142a, and the M28 aircraft.\nOne of the main attractions was a Mars rover presented by students from Rzesz\u00f3w University of Technology, which placed ninth in a U.S. competition. The booths of the Mielec Aero Club and Tarapata Company also drew considerable interest. Tarapata showcased a variety of products manufactured for both domestic and international clients.\nThe Mielec Festival of Science highlights the strong interest in such initiatives from both youth and adults. Future editions could benefit from broader promotion and an expanded lineup of exhibitors and presentations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n