Financial aspects
The financial aspects differ between the participating countries.
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.
