Project title: Grants for research and innovation
Beneficiary: Podlaska Fundacja Rozwoju Regionalnego
Project Value: PLN 12,247,745.31
EU grant: PLN 9,436,311.33
Podlaskie micro, small and medium entrepreneurs obtained grants for the purchase of research services, intellectual property rights, patents, or know-how. They could order a technological audit or get support in the patent protection procedure. Co-financing of these activities was made possible by the project "Grant for research and innovation”. Podlaska Regional Development Foundation was the operator that assessed the applications and granted research vouchers. The aim of the project was to promote innovation and popularise R & D & I activity (research and development and innovation) by micro, small and medium enterprises in Podlaskie.
Photo: Podlaska Fundacja Rozwoju Regionalnego
Grants were obtained for projects that dealt with the agri-food and metal-machine industry, boatbuilding, the medical sector and eco-innovation. These are the smart specializations of the Podlaskie region. The value of a grant could amount to PLN 100,000 and covered 70% of the eligible expenditure of a given task. Entrepreneurs could obtain grants from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2018. Especially those companies that so far have experienced barriers to conducting R & D & I activities could benefit from the attractive and transparent form of this type of support. It motivated entrepreneurs to develop their innovative solutions – their own or purchased from external entities. Examples of the research projects include the development of innovative, energy-saving regulator of valves controlling the flow of heating/cooling, development and implementation of a medical heater comprising a controller module with an LCD touch panel.
Under this grant project, there were also carried out research works involving the measurement of ionization caused by the convection of selected material particles. Next, the company CN ADRIATIC, which provides i.e. diving training and professional servicing, used the grant to extend the system of training and specialty courses, including ecologist scuba diver. Another entrepreneur purchased a research service to carry out analyzes of biological agents found in metalworking coolants. There was also a project targeted at conducting company's technology audit. Thanks to the grant, another entrepreneur bought a research service to develop an authentication model for a subcutaneous vein reader. There was a grantee that carried out industrial research and experimental development works in order to develop and construct a prototype of a device for thawing plasma and heating blood by the dry method.
From the beginning of the project PFRR received 254 grant applications. Ultimately, 110 grants, with a total value of PLN 8,435,472.96, went to entrepreneurs. Importantly, 53% of companies from among those that applied for grants had never before used EU support for increasing innovation. The majority of beneficiaries were micro and small companies. The micro entrepreneurs were effectively encouraged to reach for support for R&D.
The direct result of the projects was making 26 industrial property rights declarations to the Patent Office, of which 3 were applications of protection the industrial design, 3 – dealt with utility model, and 18 were patent applications.
Photo: Podlaska Fundacja Rozwoju Regionalnego
- “The main aim of this project was to help entrepreneurs who have idea concepts, but do not have specialist knowledge, experience or instrumentation to make them happen: develop, refine, study, or make a prototype. Financial support in the form of grants turned out to be a very effective instrument to encourage entrepreneurs to start or continue R&D.”
Ewa Kozłowska, project manager at Podlaska Regional Development Foundation
- “The investment allowed our company to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the Internet and to use Technology and Communication solutions in the field of education and ecology.”
Izabela Radecka (Cn Adriatic)
