Voucher for Innovation
Published on 06 February 2018
Poland
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
The number of cooperative projects on the science-business level was very low in Poland, particularly in the case of SMEs.
The aim of the voucher was to stimulate cooperation between business and science and to fund considerable part of costs related to R&D activity conducted by the science sector for business. The R&D that SMEs could finance was dealing with developing new or significantly improved products, services, production technologies or new design projects. Each project received maximum 15000 PLN (3500 Euro) grant to finance R&D service, 100% of eligible costs funded.
For the Voucher for Innovation the applicant has to be a small or micro-sized company. Later versions of the voucher also included the medium-sized companies.
The process of implementation is as follows: 1. The enterprise selects its contractor (research institution) able to perform the service it requires, 2. The enterprise applies to PARP during the call for projects, 3. After selection, PARP and the applicant sign an agreement, 4. The contracted research unit performs the service and prepares a report, provides the enterprise with an invoice. According to the agreement, the eligible costs are paid by PARP and the non-eligible (VAT) are paid by the enterprise.
Stakeholders: Ministry of Investment and Development, Polish Agency for Enterprise Development, SMEs, universities, research institutes, technology transfer centres.
The aim of the voucher was to stimulate cooperation between business and science and to fund considerable part of costs related to R&D activity conducted by the science sector for business. The R&D that SMEs could finance was dealing with developing new or significantly improved products, services, production technologies or new design projects. Each project received maximum 15000 PLN (3500 Euro) grant to finance R&D service, 100% of eligible costs funded.
For the Voucher for Innovation the applicant has to be a small or micro-sized company. Later versions of the voucher also included the medium-sized companies.
The process of implementation is as follows: 1. The enterprise selects its contractor (research institution) able to perform the service it requires, 2. The enterprise applies to PARP during the call for projects, 3. After selection, PARP and the applicant sign an agreement, 4. The contracted research unit performs the service and prepares a report, provides the enterprise with an invoice. According to the agreement, the eligible costs are paid by PARP and the non-eligible (VAT) are paid by the enterprise.
Stakeholders: Ministry of Investment and Development, Polish Agency for Enterprise Development, SMEs, universities, research institutes, technology transfer centres.
Resources needed
About 8,2m Euro in editions I-IV (2008-2011) and 4,1m Euro in editions V-VII (2012-2014) spent from the national budget (Ministry of Economy).
Evidence of success
There were 2778 projects in all Polish regions in total in seven editions (only one time participation possible for a company).
12,3m Euro spent on R&D services for business (national funding).
Many micro-sized companies encouraged to apply (about 70% of applicants).
Inspired two new programmes extending its scope – Support for a Big Voucher (national funding), Voucher for Innovation for SMEs (ERDF).
12,3m Euro spent on R&D services for business (national funding).
Many micro-sized companies encouraged to apply (about 70% of applicants).
Inspired two new programmes extending its scope – Support for a Big Voucher (national funding), Voucher for Innovation for SMEs (ERDF).
Potential for learning or transfer
1) Relevance to regional economies - encouraging research and investment in new product /service /technology generation or their major improvement is relevant for economy’s innovativeness.
2) Knowledge resources required - support for applicants in formulating the application form.
3) Economic resources required - high national budget contribution required, no private contribution.
4 )Institutional commitment - national level institution required to implement the GP.
5 )Readiness to transfer - directly transferable to any economy if national budget available.
2) Knowledge resources required - support for applicants in formulating the application form.
3) Economic resources required - high national budget contribution required, no private contribution.
4 )Institutional commitment - national level institution required to implement the GP.
5 )Readiness to transfer - directly transferable to any economy if national budget available.