The main focus of the Congress that opens on 7 December is the role and place of engineers in the development of Poland. The issues for discussion will include: transformation of the political system, integration with the European Union, development of the information society, ethical aspects of knowledge and technology utilisation, participation of non-governmental organisations in developing a law-abiding, non-aggressive and safe democracy. Edward Garścia talks with Prof. Bogdan Ney, President of the Academy of Engineering about the role of engineers and the necessity of their participation in the mainstream of the Polish economy. Prof. Ryszard Tadeusiewicz, Rector of the Academy of the Steel and Mining Industry, writes about education for engineers and the Humanists talk about what they expect from technology and from engineers.