Country information Poland
- European funds
Accession to the EU made many resources available for business in Poland. It made it possible for companies to obtain support in order to realize projects on different levels – small projects in regional programmes and bigger projects in nationwide programmes. Regional Operation Programmes for each voivodship are the main tools of regional authorities’ policies in 2007-2013. These programmes support dynamic development along with social and economic integration. Each voivodship has such a programme, where goals to be achieved are divided into several priorities and individual tasks. For example in Silesia’s programme, there are 10 priorities, with health, education, science, transport, environment, tourism and economy development among others. Depending on the planned project, an entity (a company, NGO or scientific entity) may apply for support. This programme is specifically designed for small scale projects and it promotes small and medium enterprises [SMEs]. Applicants must submit detailed description of their project, both from technical and financial perspective, legal documents confirming their business activities, etc. A company wanting to realize energy-related projects could apply in this programme in several tasks and priorities, e.g. promotion of micro, small and medium entrepreneurship, or promotion of innovativeness. The programme allows for 50 or 60% support which additionally cannot exceed 750 000 PLN. These two tasks rather promote development of SMEs and innovativeness in general, without any focus on energy industry.
Innovative Economy Programme makes available around 9,7 billion EUR of EU support. This programme allows for support of bigger, nationwide projects related to research and new technologies, diffusion of innovation. Projects may be realized by enterprises within the following priorities: Priority 1 that covers research and development of new technologies and Priority 4 that allows for implementation of results obtained during research and development.These priorities require cooperation of business and science sectors, thus a company has to cooperate with a scientific entity. Here the upper support limits depend of the company’s legal status (SME or not) and type of works to be supported (industrial or development) and voivodship, and are between 30% to 70% of the project costs. Within particular tasks, specific minimum and maximum budget limits are determined.
task 4.3 – Technological Credit managed by BGK Bank. It is a form of support for SMEs which implement innovative technologies. It is granted in the form of technological bonus for paying back a portion of capital of taken technological loan from a commercial bank. The company must ensure 25% of qualified investment costs. The amount of support depends on the voivodship and for example for Silesia it is 50% for medium and 60% for small enterprises.
task 4.4 covers new investments with high innovation potential. This priority may be used for projects that use innovative technology being used around the world not longer than 3 years or being distributed around the world in a given branch up to 15%. What is important, projects that have a positive environmental effect are promoted here. Support may reach from 30% to 70% depending on the voivodship, but the whole project costs may not exceed 50 MM EUR and qualified costs must be between 8 MM PLN and 160 MM PLN. Additionally minimum support is 2,4 MM PLN, and maximum support for one company for investment– 40 MM PLN, advisory services – 1 MM PLN.
- Priority 5 – Diffusion of innovation - supports cooperation that facilitates knowledge and innovation transfer.
Infrastructure and Environment is another programme which aims at making Poland more attractive to potential investors. It supports energy, transport, environment projects among others, however this program is tailored to bigger projects with total budget exceeding 5 MM PLN. There are three priorities dedicated to business – P IV – Projects that include adaptation of company to environmental requirements, P IX – Environment-friendly energy infrastructure and efficiency, P X – Energy safety and energy sources diversification.
Priority IV - adaptation of company to environmental requirements - allows for realization of projects which result in reduction of the amount of pollution introduced into the environment, including gas introduced to the air, waste introduced to waters, reduction of the amount of produced waste and increase the amount of recycled waste, or reduction the noise levels. SMEs’ projects are promoted. The support may reach 30% or 50%, but may not exceed 20 MM PLN for a company. The priority is further divided into several tasks, specifically designed for various types of projects. Priority IX - Environment-friendly energy infrastructure and efficiency - makes it possible to obtain support for activities which increase the efficiency of energy production and/or decrease losses during the process of energy transmission and distribution. Preferred projects that lower energy-consumption of public sector and increase the level of energy production from renewable sources, including biofuels. There are 6 specific tasks within this priority (e.g. energy production in CHP systems or on the basis of renewable sources), depending on the technology or source used. The amount of support and minimum or maximum costs thresholds differ depending on the type of task. Priority X – Energy safety and energy sources diversification – allows for support to projects that include development of electricity, natural gas and crude oil transmission and distribution systems and construction and development of underground natural gas depositories, projects which consist in development of natural gas distribution within non-gasified areas and production of devices used in fuels and energy production on the basis of renewable sources. There are 3 specific tasks within this priority and the amount of support and minimum or maximum costs limits differ depending on the character of task.
