The “Monitoring of innovativeness of Polish enterprises” of the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development shows that almost 80 percent. of domestic companies conduct innovative activity, but it requires considerable financial outlays. Therefore, for 72.2 percent. of enterprises, it is financial issues that have an impact on undertaking such initiatives. The pool of funds for this purpose will soon increase significantly, because in January PARP will launch the first competitions under the new EU financial perspective. In total, until 2027, EUR 6 billion will be available for use.
– PARP will be the first institution in Poland to launch recruitment under the new financial perspective for 2021-2027. This is almost EUR 6 billion to be distributed among Polish micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises, intended, for example, for introducing innovations, purchasing machinery and equipment, building halls, greening, solar collectors, but also internationalization, i.e. entering foreign markets – says the Newseria agency Business Dariusz Budrowski, president of the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development.
In the new financial perspective for 2021-2027, PAED will be involved in the implementation of three programs in total: European Funds for Modern Economy (budget EUR 2.82 billion), European Funds for Eastern Poland (EUR 1.39 billion) and European Funds for Social Development (PLN 1.37 billion). These funds will go not only to entrepreneurs, but also to e.g. to local governments and their subordinate entities, clusters and business environment institutions.
– The first competition, with which we will start in the first quarter of 2023, is European Funds for a Modern Economy – announces Dariusz Budrowski.
The European Funds for a Modern Economy (FENG) program – approved by the European Commission on September 27 this year, with a total budget of EUR 7.9 billion – is the largest national innovation support program in the EU. Its purpose is, among others, support for research and development activities, launching new and improved products and services on the market, increasing the competitiveness of Polish companies on global markets, as well as support and development of start-ups.
The program is grouped into four priorities, and PARP will be involved in the implementation of two: Priority 1 – SMART path. Support for entrepreneurs and Priority 2 – Innovation-friendly environment.
– A novelty in the European Funds for Modern Economy program is the implementation of the entire research and development process, including the implementation of innovations. Until now, entrepreneurs had to submit separate applications for co-financing for the research and development part, for the implementation part, and separate applications for co-financing, e.g. for foreign expansion or employee training. Now they will be able to submit one application for co-financing, in which they will include the entire path of development of a given project adequate to the needs of the company – says Aneta Zielińska-Sroka, deputy director of the Communication and Marketing Department at PARP.
As he points out, the FENG creates opportunities to support enterprises at every stage, from mature companies to start-ups and individual innovators, because in the new perspective instruments addressed also to natural persons who have not run a business so far or do not plan to set up one are new. .
Financing opportunities are one of the main factors determining the development and innovativeness of Polish companies. For the vast majority of entities conducting innovative activity, it is the issues of expenditure that determine its undertaking and development. Therefore, increasing access to finance is perceived as an opportunity to increase the innovativeness of the economy, which in turn is necessary for GDP growth and competition on foreign markets.
– We live in the realities of a global market where a technological revolution is taking place. Those who will participate in this revolution have a chance to build their competitiveness. And we, of course, must also make sure that our economy is as technologically developed as possible. We already have many industries in which we can be a leader, we are able to offer a product that will be successful on the global market. That is why we want to dedicate our projects to those entrepreneurs who have a global perspective, want to develop and want to use new technologies to increase their competitiveness – says Jacek Żalek, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy.
– A very important component in terms of EU funds is also the European Funds for Eastern Poland (FEPW) programme. It is almost EUR 1.5 billion for investments in six voivodeships in the east of the country – says Dariusz Budrowski. – In addition to Warmia and Mazury, Podlasie and Lubelskie, Świętokrzyskie and Podkarpackie voivodeships, this edition includes Mazowsze without Warsaw and adjacent poviats. However, this does not mean that there will be less of these funds, on the contrary – there will be much more funds for the new financial perspective.
Under the FEPW, entrepreneurs will be able to apply for financial assistance, e.g. in the development of innovation and green transformation.
– Eastern Poland includes support for local governments when it comes to public and rail transport – these components will be very important. New issues are also related to tourist trails – says the president of the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development.
– Both in the Modern Economy and Eastern Poland programs, an important area of support will be the green transformation and digitization. Entrepreneurs will have the possibility of changing production processes and the products themselves so as to switch to a circular economy. They will be able to introduce changes, e.g. reducing the use of harmful materials in their products, or lowering the costs of energy consumption needed to run a given production process – adds Aneta Zielińska-Sroka.
In the third of the programs implemented by PARP, i.e. European Funds for Social Development, actions are planned to develop competences in the area of low- and zero-emission economy, including the circular economy. The priority here is also to ensure equal access to selected products and services, in accordance with the assumptions of the European Accessibility Act. Support for family businesses or those in periodic difficulties will also be continued.
During the Świętokrzyskie Economic Forum, which took place on December 6 this year, in Busko-Zdrój, a wide range of support for business, in the European Funds for Modern Economy, for Eastern Poland and Social Development programs, presented, among others, Polish Agency for Enterprise Development. The event brought together representatives of the government, state agencies supporting business and entrepreneurs from the region interested in the offer of investment subsidies and the subject of innovation in industry.
The main objective of the forum was to familiarize entrepreneurs from the Świętokrzyskie region with the possibilities of additional financing of their investments, which were also presented by the Industrial Development Agency and the Future Industry Platform Foundation.
– Entrepreneurs are looking for sources of financing alternative to commercial banks, because the products they offer are often significantly limited – says Konrad Trzonkowski, managing director of the Industrial Development Agency. – At the ARP, we are looking for a complementary supplement to the possibilities of financing Polish entrepreneurs, going beyond the schemes. The basic form is investment financing, which is extremely important in the context of building new production capacity, expanding production plants, looking for new opportunities to enter other markets. We can offer financing longer than the market, i.e. up to 15 years, it can also be financing with a slightly lower own contribution than on the commercial market or with a longer grace period.
