History of the Institute

As the Research and Development Centre for Compact Vehicles (OBR), we actively appeared on the Polish automotive market in 1972, starting our activity as a design and R&D base for FSM (Small Car Factory) in Bielsko-Biała. However, our history began a year earlier. The turning point was the decision to transfer the manufacture of the Syrena from FSO in Warsaw to the Mechanical Equipment Factory in Bielsko-Biała, therefore there was a need to organise on-site design and research facilities. On the basis of the decision of the Minister of Machine Industry of February 27, 1971, a Branch Office of the Central Construction and Research Centre of the Automotive Industry in Warsaw was established in Bielsko-Biała, which began operating on April 1 of the same year. Several rooms at the Mechanical Equipment Factory at 44 Partyzantów Street became the place of work of a small crew of less than thirty people at that time. BOSMAL was created as a result of the merger of the branch of the Central Construction and Research Centre of the Automotive Industry and the prototype and research department separated from the Mechanical Equipment Factory. The Centre, although formally registered separately, was an addition to the organisational structure established in January 1972 of the Compact Car Factory (FSM). The main tasks of the Centre included development works, ongoing design support for the manufacturing operations as well as all research related to materials, parts and assemblies as well as complete cars. In the initial period, the Centre’s tasks concerned mainly the launch of the transferred manufactre of Syrena (especially the 105 L and BOSTO models), and later the implementation of a Polish FIAT 126p license car.

The beginning of the eighties was, however, a difficult period for the Polish economy, which also influenced the condition of the Centre. Despite developing a comprehensive design of a completely new compact car called Beskid, which could replace The Polish Fiat 126p in the future, employment dropped to 550 people. The hard economic situation of the country and FSM meant that the Beskid project was shut down at the prototype series stage, and FSM in September 1987 signed a license agreement with FIAT for the manufacture of a new compact car – Cinquecento. OBR joined the course of intense work related to launching its manufacture, using the experience from the Beskid project. A concept for the entire family of modified vehicles was developed along with utility versions. The Centre’s equipment was being systematically supplemented, among others, a computer-aided design system was implemented.

In 2000, Antoni Świątek became the CEO of BOSMAL, and at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries was marked by the systematic expansion of our offer and establishing cooperation with new clients, practically from every part of the world. Also, activities related to ownership transformations of the Centre were started, the important stage of which was the creation in 2004 of an employee-owned company – Instytut Badań i Rozwoju Motoryzacji Sp. z o.o. The last important event in the Centre’s history was the signing of the direct privatisation agreement on May 1, 2010. „Ośrodek Badawczo-Rozwojowy Samochodów Małolitrażowych BOSMAL” was leased to the employee-owned company, taking the name: “Instytut Badań i Rozwoju Motoryzacji BOSMAL Sp. z o.o.”, who took over all the rights and obligations of the Centre. Antoni Świątek remained the President of the Board and the CEO. BOSMAL’s development policy is also being continued, including maintaining and periodically evaluating its own scientific activities, applying principles used in state-owned research institutes.

Together with the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Sosnowiec, the University of Silesia in Katowice, the Institute of Rural Medicine in Lublin and the Centre of Oncology in Gliwice, BOSMAL co-creates the Scientific Network “Environmental Hygiene and Health”. In addition, BOSMAL has scientific cooperation agreements with the Poznań University of Technology, the wTadeusz Kościuszko University of Technology, the Bielsko-Biała University, the University of Leeds, the University of Birmingham and the Polish Academy of Sciences – Institute of Environmental Engineering.

For many years, the Institute has been actively involved in educating future engineers. For us, the recruitment of new staff starts at universities. In the last three years, we have accepted 80 students from Polish and foreign universities for apprenticeships. We work with the Silesian University of Technology in the Vocational Studies project. The programme combines theory with practical vocational training – 6 months of study, 6 months of practical classes at BOSMAL. A project of similar nature is also being prepared with the Bielsko-Biała University. It is worth noting that apprentices or trainees who show commitment and knowledge continue cooperation with us, often finding permanent employment. And working at BOSMAL enables professional development, acquiring specialised competences and new experiences in the field of R&D. We are continuously working on innovative projects that have an impact on the development of the automotive industry. Employment is also systematically growing, and currently is at 380 people (including over 270 with college degrees), but only a few of these employees remember the very beginnings of OBR.

In 2015, with no changes in the composition of the Management Board, Arkadiusz Stojecki was appointed as CEO, and so the Management Board’s policy is being continued. BOSMAL is still undergoing modernisations, and a stable revenue enables the implementation of significant investments in infrastructure and key areas.