The Wielkopolska Region is one of the largest regions in Poland. In the terms of area (29,825 sq. km) it is the second largest in the country, and the third most densely populated (3,355 thousand). Its area is comparable to an average sized European state (for example, Belgium), or a European region (for example, Brandenburg in Germany). Its population is bigger than that of Latvia and is not much smaller than the population of Ireland or Lithuania. Almost 58% of the Province's inhabitants live in cities and towns. Poznań, including its suburbs has a population of almost 600 thousand. The second largest urban area of Kalisz and Ostrów is located in the southern part of the region and has a population of nearly 200 thousand. Other major cities of the region include the following: Kalisz, Konin, Piła, Ostrów Wielopkolski, Gniezno, Leszno.
The Wielkopolska Region is conveniently situated at the junction of major European communication routes. It is at the crossroads of a major route from Berlin through Poznań, to Konin and Warsaw and on to Moscow, and from Prague through Leszno and Poznań to the Baltic Sea. Poznań Ławica airport operates both domestic and international flights. There are regular connections to London, Brussels in Belgium, Vienna in Austria, Cologne, Munich, Frankfurt/Main in Germany and Copenhagen in Denmark.
Diversified industry, efficient agriculture, well-developed services and a constantly extended infrastructure provide good conditions for growth in Wielkopolska.

The economy of Wielkopolska is structurally balanced, well developed in terms of branch diversity, heading the country's rankings in many fields of economic activity. 9.3% of all businesses operating in Poland are to be found in the Wielkopolska Province. The basis of the Province's economy is the variety of industries, efficient agriculture and well-developed services, particularly in the commercial and financial sectors. This diversified economy undoubtedly contributed towards lessening the effects of the transformation process, and created favourable conditions for a market economy. After 1989, unrestrained societal activity resulted in a fast increase in the number of businesses, which currently amounts to approximately 333 thousand units, thus placing the Province third in the country. In the 500 largest companies in Poland, approximately 40 are from Wielkopolska. An important factor in attracting business partners is the well-developed co-operation of Wielkopolska with European regions. The priorities of co-operation and partner regions were identified by the local authorities of the Wielkopolska Province. Till now Wielkopolska Province officially cooperates with seven european regions and one in Asia. The main objectives include co-operation in economy, activation of the local labour market, restructuring of country areas, communication infrastructure, environmental protection, water management, science and education, culture, tourism and sports and youth exchange. Apart from international co-operation on a regional level, direct contacts with partner units are established by the many communities of the Wielkopolska Province. Co-operation facilitates, among other things, the operation of local governments, business contact revival, and promotion of regional folklore.

The scientific potential of Wielkopolska is strong and significant in the country, and is mainly concentrated around Poznań. In the Wielkopolska Province there are 28 universities and schools of higher education (excluding 6 religious schools), and 19 are located in Poznań. It is also the seat of the Polish Academy of Sciences, with its 24 centres, 27 branch institutes and research institutes. Their work is mostly focused on agriculture and forestry environment, wood technology, natural fibres, metal working, applied chemistry and installation technologies. In Wielkopolska there are approximately 155 thousand students, which is almost double the number of students at the beginning of the 1990s. There are over 6,7 thousand academic teachers and 1.5 thousand employees of research centres. Poznań's academic centre is third in the country, after Warsaw and Cracow. Poznań's schools apply flexible methods of instruction. They introduce new faculties and specialisations, thus preparing their students for participation in economic transformation. They co-operate and share their scientific experience with acknowledged universities and schools in Europe and world-wide. The increasing interest of young people in higher education, particularly in economics, has been an incentive for the establishment in new private schools operating alongside the well -established state universities. Scientific achievements of Poznanian scholars in many fields represent the highest international standards and their achievements are widely recognised, not only in Poland. There is well-developed co-operation with numerous centres around the world, and many scholars from Poznań give lectures and carry out research work abroad. Many have been awarded honorary doctoral degrees from foreign universities. They are also members of Academies of Science in other countries. Evidence of the acknowledgement of the high academic standard of Adam Mickiewicz University and of individual scholars is the high evaluation given by the Scientific Research Committee and the prestigious prizes awarded by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland. The Academy of Economics played an important role during the process of economic transformation. Additional funds for its work are allocated by the European Integration Committee. This confirms that its research topics are considered to be on the right track. There are several independent bodies established within the Academy of Economics: Regional Economy Research Centre, Regional Statistics Centre, Family Studies Centre, Centre for Expertise and Science of Commodities. Poznań University of Technology is the first technical university in Poland, and one of three in Central and Eastern Europe to be invited as a member of the Conference of European Schools of Advanced Education and Research (CESAER). The research work of the Academy of Agriculture is particularly useful for the region's economy. Its scientists are involved in all initiatives for the modernisation and increased efficacy of Wielkopolska agriculture, as well as introducing new technologies to food processing. In this field there is a well-developed co-operation with foreign centres and the Polish Scientific Research Committee.

Wielkopolska is a significant research centre in Poland. There are many high qualified researchers in the region concerning many different science domains. The main research related to genomics and biotechnology are conducted at:
Institute of Plant Genetics - Polish Academy of Sciences (IPG PAS) which is an important centre of agrobiology and molecular genetics and one of the best institutes in Poland in agricultural sciences.The IPG PAS, apart from agricultural universities, is the only research institute focusing on plant genetics and connected areas in Poland. The main specialities are as follows: genomics, cytogenetics, biotechnology, in vitro cultures, plant resistance and biometry.
Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry whose major scientific interests are devoted to bioorganic chemistry, stereochemistry, molecular biology of nucleic acids, their gene organization and function, genetics of higher plants, human molecular genetics, X-ray analysis of proteins and nucleic acids, bioinformatics and phytochemistry.
Institute of Human Genetics PAS who conducts research in the field of medical sciences, medical biology, especially in genetically related diseases (including tumours and infertility).
Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan and its Faculty of Biology with the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology interested mainly in plants genetics, molecular HRV characteristics and its relation to tumours.
August Cieszkowski Agricultural University in Poznan and its Faculty of Agronomy with the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology is specialized in biochemistry, molecular biology and genetical engineering.
Poznan University of Medical Sciences which is a leading Polish medical centre with over 80 years of academic experience and with great potential for development.
LfC Ltd Company from Zielona Gora nominated to President's Economy Prize for the "Innovative bioengineering in backbone surgery".