Approx. 15 billion euros until 2020 to support innovation in Poland

Two-day conference "Innovative Europe. The future of cooperation between science and business" ended last Wednesday in Gdańsk.

Deputy director of the National Centre for Research and Development, Leszek Grabarczyk told PAP that in 2014-2020 approx. 15 billion euros could be spent on support for research and development (R&D) projects carried out by enterprises, universities and research institutes. "This amount includes all grants at the national and regional level" - he added. He noted that the 15 billion euros is "public money spent on research, development and innovation".

"You have to remember that every public euro will have to be Upgrade one euro out of pocket as a confirmation of the reliability of a private project. I am convinced that in Poland the implementation of innovative projects is enough money "- added Grabarczyk.

He admitted that "the greatest challenge in the coming years will to wisely invest the available funds". He explained that it would be "most likely the last period, in which such funds are available in Poland". In his opinion, the money should be spent in a way that will allow to carry out new investments, create thousands of new businesses and new jobs. "The coming years are the last period for building strong foundations for sustainable prosperity in Poland, at a level similar to Western countries" - he said.

Grabarczyk is convinced that "there is potential in Poland both at universities and in companies to ensure that the productive use of the money".

The National Centre for Research and Development Press Coordinator, Kamil Meltzer told PAP that in 2014-2020 businesses would be the main beneficiaries of the funds for research and development projects, and they would determine the main directions of research and development. "The leadership role, until now performed by universities and research institutes that offered certain undertakings to businesses, will be reversed and the entrepreneurs will have to take the initiative" said Meltzer.

Meltzer said that in 2010-2013 businesses received over 9 billion zlotys for research and development. Businesses, both SMEs and micro companies, were the majority of beneficiaries of funds for innovation support.

Władysław Halbersztadt from Investin told PAP that in the beginning of 2015 the first projects should be launched under the largest advanced technology fund in Poland. The fund has a capital of 210 million zlotys. It was formed in February by the National Centre for Research and Development, the largest Israeli venture capital fund Pitango and Investin.

"There are many projects that could be implemented, both from universities and from businesses. We have a real chance to carry out the first investments in the first half of 2015" - he added. He believes that when it comes to the number of projects that apply for financial support, "there is a lot to choose from". He pointed out that "in Poland there are many teams that want to take technological challenges".

The National Centre for Research and Development is a government agency whose main task is to manage and implement strategic research and development projects that translate into the development of innovation. The agency also acts as an intermediary in EU programs aimed at modernizing the economy.

The innovation conference in Gdańsk was attended by nearly 200 representatives of business, academia and public institutions. The National Centre for Research and Development was a partner of the conference.

The conference accompanied the European Forum for New Ideas in Sopot. One of the media partners of the conference devoted to innovation was the Polish Press Agency.

PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland

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