The voivodeship benefits from the activity of numerous business-related institutions, i.e. local and regional development agencies, economic and industrial chambers, and chambers of commerce, professional guilds and other business environment institutions. Business incubators, industrial and technological parks, and clusters also operate in the voivodeship. Their primary goal is raising the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises and facilitating their development.

The most important institutions operating in the region include: The Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Katowice, the Chamber of Crafts and Small and Medium-sized Entrepreneurship in Katowice, and the Górnośląski Fund. Moreover, numerous loan, guarantee and venture capital funds run their businesses here.

The region is becoming a major trade fair centre. A prominent venue for various events is the International Conference Centre in Katowice, where global events and trade fairs are held. What makes the object so attractive is the possibility of holding even a dozen or so events at the same time, and the largest conference hall can accommodate 12,000 people.

The trade fair events can also be organised in the Voivodeship Sport and Show Arena "Spodek" in Katowice, which is a popular venue for concerts, congresses, training sessions, and national and global artistic and sporting events, such as the computer games world championships Intel Extreme Masters.

Various types of trade fairs, conferences, expositions, events, seminars and training courses are also organised in the Fair and Conference Centre "Expo Silesia" in Katowice.

The most important economic event in the region is the European Economic Congress, which has been held there for several years. It is a series of meetings and discussions focusing on matters that are most important from the perspective of economic and social development of Europe. Every year, it is attended by several thousand people from all over the world. The guests of the Congress include EU Commissioners, prime ministers of European states, and representatives of the Polish government. Another important event is the European Congress of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, providing opportunity for the discussion of issues regarding development possibilities and challenges faced by entrepreneurs.

The Silesian Voivodeship has an enormous research and development potential, being Poland's second centre in this regard. The source of this potential are scientific units, research and development centres, and higher education institutions. Their activity is oriented primarily towards environmental protection, energy industry, automation and electronic engineering, and the construction industry.

The Silesian Voivodeship is one of the leaders in terms of the number of economic entities operating in high-technology industries. The region features many micro-enterprises (employing fewer than 10 people), producing medical and surgical equipment, orthopaedic equipment, television and radio transmitters, telephony and wireless telegraphy devices, as well measurement, control, testing, and navigation instruments and appliances, among other things.