About the project

General information on the project

“R&D μGrants for enterprises” is a regional programme for funding R&D services. Pomeranian enterprises can apply for non-refundable aid to purchase research and development services worth up to PLN 200 thousand.

The project is carried out by Excento Sp. z o.o. (special purpose vehicle of the Gdańsk University of Technology) in partnership with the Pomeranian Regional Chamber of Commerce, Centrum Innowacji Medycznych Sp. z o.o. (special purpose vehicle of the Medical University of Gdańsk) and Techtransbalt Sp. z o.o. (special purpose vehicle of the University of Gdańsk).

The project is co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund, Regional Operational Programme of the Voivodeship of Pomerania 2014-2020, Priority Axis 1. Commercialisation of knowledge, Action: 01.01. Expansion through innovations.

Project value: PLN 21,991,160.00.

EU co-financing: PLN 18,692,486.00.

The goal and results of the project:

The goal of the grant project is to improve the availability of advanced research services, which will lead to an increase in research and development activity of enterprises, also in partnership with institutions of higher education, and to improve the effectiveness of applying for national and European funds by enterprises.

The main goal will be achieved thanks to the achievement of detailed objectives, which are:

To increase the activity of Pomeranian enterprises with regard to research and development.
To popularise pro-innovation activities in a larger group of enterprises.
To create an indicative database of entities which specialise in carrying out R&D activities that meet the needs of Pomeranian enterprises.
To improve the availability of advanced research services, which will lead to an increase in research and development activity of enterprises, also in partnership with institutions of higher education, and to improve the effectiveness of applying for national and European funds by enterprises.
To devise a clear mechanism of supporting the purchase of research services by enterprises.
To provide an opportunity to verify a given company’s idea in the proof of concept phase.
To provide enterprises with adequate expert knowledge throughout the project implementation process.
To give financial support to micro, small, medium and large enterprises, which will have a chance to receive a grant for research and development.

In the next 2 years, at least 75 grants for a total amount of PLN 15,000,000 will be awarded and the range of research services provided by scientists will be extended to include at least 50 new services. Moreover, when the project is completed, Pomeranian enterprises will gain experience and knowledge that will allow them to raise more funds for R&D activities from national and European programmes. Thanks to cooperation with scientists, enterprises will be more effective and the results will translate into implementations and an improvement in the innovativeness of regional economy, especially in areas defined in Pomorskie Smart Specialisations (PSS).

The process of obtaining a grant under the project:

Submitting a grant application
o grant

Verifying the submitted application (several days)

Devising a common research agenda which will serve as a contribution to the project charter

Drawing up the project charter with the support of a knowledge expert

Investment
committee

Signing the grant agreement
grant

Selecting
a contractor

Approximately 2-4 weeks

Carrying out
R&D activities

Up to 6 months

Grant
settlement

Approximately 2 weeks

Project participants:

The recipients of support may only be enterprises which meet all of the following requirements:

They conduct business in Pomeranian Voivodeship.
They are not in difficulty as defined in Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 of 17 June 2014 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the internal market in application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty (Official Journal of the European Union of 2014 L 187/1, as amended).
They are not excluded from applying for co-financing.
They do not conduct business excluded from financing, i.e.

the decommissioning or the construction of nuclear power stations,
investment to achieve the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from activities listed in Annex 1 to Directive 2003/87/EC,
the manufacturing, processing and marketing of tobacco and tobacco products,
investment in airport infrastructure unless relating to environmental protection or accompanied by investment necessary to mitigate or reduce its negative environmental impact.

Moreover, if a product or service is planned to be implemented as a result of completing the planned R&D activities covered by the grant:

It has to be compatible with thematic areas of Pomorskie Smart Specialisations (PSS), defined in a relevant resolution of the Board of Pomeranian Voivodeship:

PSS 1 – Offshore, port and logistics technologies;
PSS 2 – Interactive technologies in an information-saturated environment;
PSS 3 – Eco-effective technologies in the generation, transmission, distribution and consumption of energy and fuels and in construction;
PSS 4 – Medical technologies in the area of civilization and aging-associated diseases.

It has to be a product or process innovation at least at the national level.
Its design/implementation has to require R&D activities (industrial research or experimental development work).

Grantee zone more

Project roles:

Operator: Excento sp. z o.o. – special purpose vehicle of the Gdańsk University of Technology.

Grantee: an enterprise that conducts business in Pomeranian Voivodeship and submitted an application for a grant under the “R&D μGrants for enterprises” project.

Knowledge Expert: a natural person with experience and knowledge in a specific field related to the thematic areas of Pomorskie Smart Specialisations, who plays an advisory and opinion-giving role in the project, advises the Grantee when the project charter is being drawn up and most importantly provides support in the description of the research agenda.

Business Expert: a natural person with experience in implementing technologies in the economy, who serves as a member of the Investment Committee that makes the decision to accept or reject the grant application.

Service Provider: research and development units specified in the Act on Higher Education and Science of 20 July 2018 (uniform text Dz. U. [Polish Official Journal of Laws] of 2020, item 85, as amended) or research and development centres as defined in Article 17 of the Act on Certain Forms of Support for Innovative Activity of 30 May 2008 (uniform text Dz. U. [Polish Official Journal of Laws] of 2014, item 226, as amended), which can carry out research and development activities on behalf of the Grantee after an entry into the list of service providers under the Project.

Contractor: The service provider selected by way of a competitive process to carry out research and development activities connected with a specific grant application.