PAED activities supporting entrepreneurship development

1. Anna Tarnawa Chief Expert, Research and Analysis Unit, Enterprise Support Department PAED activities supporting entrepreneurship development Thessaloniki, 14th May 2010

2. Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PAED) established by the Act of 9 November 2000, a governmental agency subordinate to the Minister of Economy

3. PAED activities supporting entrepreneurship development Support for development of cooperation linkages, Training, counselling for entrepreneurs and employees, Support for R+D development, Grants for innovative investments, Internationalisation, Promotion of best practices, Dialogue with enterprises, System of business support institutions supported by PAED.

4. Support for development of cooperation linkages Soft support training-counselling projects building knowledge in the area of cooperation linkages, addressed to entrepreneurs and business support institutions, International cooperation in the area of RDI aim – support for clusters international cooperation in the area of research, development or innovation, 7 projects incl. participation of foreign partner realised by clusters in the framework of the Innovation Express, 4 clusters invited to the PRIT - international exposition of clusters; Counselling for clusters coordinators and managers of technology parks reports dedicated to each cluster participating in the clusters benchmarking project, counselling for clusters coordinators offered by project contractor, counselling for managers, owners and employees of technology parks in the area of modern management and strategic planning; Clusters and technology parks benchmarking aim – support for the development of clusters and technology parks through analysis of their condition, strengths and weaknesses, best practices, support for investment projects realised by over-regional clusters.

5. Training, counselling for entrepreneurs and employees Training for enterprises related to specific needs of entrepreneurs and their employees, Training organised by PAED in the horizontal areas – e.g. public procurement, environmental law, dedicated to specific groups- e.g. development of small companies in Eastern Poland training program, family business, clusters; Enterprise Europe Network seminars seminars for SMEs in the framework of the project ”European Enterprise” (e.g. EU law and policies, financial instruments in business activity of SMEs, environment preservation); Academy of PAED educational portal for SMEs offering free of charge e-learning courses, counselling, tutors, participants: SMEs’ employees, persons planning to start business, Innovation projects referees prior analysis of project and applicant qualification to the given support program.

6. Support for R+D development Innovation vouchers grants for micro and small enterprises, aim – initiation of cooperation between enerprises and R+D units; R+D development support for entrepreneurs (industrial research, development works), grants for implementation of the results of R+D projects; Development of R+D infrastructure for enterprises support for R+D development, specifically for the development of an enterprise into a R+D centre; Industrial property rights protection grants for projects regarding acquiring or protection of industrial property rights (patents, industrial design, patent design); Participation in international research and innovation programs finding partners, preparing the application and submitting it to the proper international program; An exploratory awords scheme support for SMEs in applying for funds within international research projects.

7. Grants for innovative investments Investment grants grants for investment projects (purchase or implementation of new innovative technologies), leading to new or significantly improved products or services; Industrial design grants for projects regarding industrial design and its implementation into production process; E-business grants for e-business projects, incl. creation of digital products, grants for technical (IT) and organisational projects, leading to e-business between at least two entrepreneurs; Innovation loan support for innovation projects.

8. Internationalisation Passport to export for SMEs construction of an export plan for a company, counselling services regarding analysis of the export potential of an entrepreneur and his/her qualification to the program, search and selection of business partners on the chosen foreign market, participation in a cooperation fair as an exhibitor, participation in organised trade missions abroad, documents necessary to launch products or services on a foreign market; Trade missions, cooperation fairs, match-making events; Publications (guides on foreign markets, Euro Info Newsletter); Enterprise Europe Network information and counselling services (Polish and EU law, regulations regarding running business on a foreign market, sources of financing for SMEs, information sources on the EU), business cooperation (match-making events, e-fairs for SMEs, business cooperation database).

9. Promotion of best practices - PPP Polish Product of the Future Contest addressed to innovative entrepreneurs, R+D units, science institutes, experimental institutes, also individual inventors from EU countries, over 400 applications including proposals of innovative solutions submitted to the PPP Contest, promotion of the winners in Poland and abroad.

10. Dialogue with entrepreneurs Training, conferences, seminars Educational Forum for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises, Evaluation Conference, c. 50 seminars in 2009 for entrepreneurs on measures implemented by PAED in the framework of OPs (OP IE, OP HC, OP DEP); Innovative Enterprises Club discussion forum for entrepreneurs, aim – development of pro-innovative environment for SMEs; Publications research and analysis regarding entrepreneurship and innovation, evaluation of programs implemented by PAED, brochures on programs implemented by PAED, available in PAED Library and on-line www.parp.gov.pl.

11. System of business support institutions supported by PAED • National SME Services Network (KSU) • Network of independent organisations, specialised in various services for SMEs and persons planning to start business, • 212 organisations registered in KSU, • Supported by PAED (organisational issues and on the merits), • Offers wide spectrum of services for SMEs, e.g: • information – via Consulting Points, • pro-innovative consulting services (incl. technology transfer) – National Innovation Network (KSI), • financial services – Loan- and Guarantee funds.

12. Consulting Points • 111 localisations of CP in Poland; • over 300 consultants; • free of charge information for entrepreneurs and persons planning to start business activity: • basic information regarding business activity, inc. legal aspects, • financial instruments (incl. programs cofinanced with EU funds) for SMEs, also rules of public support, • information on trainings, technology transfer services, availability of loans and loan-guarantees within the system, • databases of business support institutions, branch associations, etc.

13. National Innovation Network (KSI) • National Innovation Network (KSI) - business support institutions offering pro-innovative information and counseling. • KSI offer includes: • technology audit, • technology transfer services. • 23 KSI centers all over Poland.

14. Loan and Guarantee Funds • offer financial services – provide loans and loan-guarantees; • finance investment projects, working capital and early-stage SMEs - provide loan-, credit- guarantees and public tender guarantees; • operate locally; • clients: • SMEs who cannot use traditional financial instruments available at the bank or experience difficulties to obtain such financing (loans), • SMEs applying for a credit/loan or taking part in a public tender and do not have satisfactory guarantee for future payments (guarantees); • loan value – up to 120 thous. PLN, • loan-guarantee value – up to 80% of the credit or loan value.

15. Regional Financial Institutions (RIF) • RIF – PAED’ regional partners; • Cooperate on the implementation of programs addressed to entrepreneurs; • Main areas of RIFs activities: • information on available programs, grants and entrance conditions, • service for applicants and beneficiaries, • cooperation with PAED on implementation process and financial monitoring of co-financed projects.

16. Thank you for your attention • Polish Agency for Enterprise Development • 81/83 Pańska Street, 00-834 Warsaw, Poland • Tel + 48 (22) 432 80 80 • Fax + 48 (22) 432 86 20, + 48 (22) 432 84 04 • Infoline: + 48 (22) 432 89 91/92/93 • www.parp.gov.pl,www.pi.gov.pl, www.web.gov.pl • anna_tarnawa@parp.gov.pl