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Structural Funds in Service of Regional Innovation

Open Days 20069 – 12 October 2006, Brussels

Barbara KocowskaOffice for European Funds ManagementLower Silesian Voivode’s Office

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Structure of the presentation

• Structural aid in Poland in the programming period 2004 – 2006

• Region’s „business card”

• Innovation support in the framework of structural aid in Poland

• On-going pro-innovative projects in Lower Silesia

• Formal background for the new perspective 2007 – 2013

• Problems and challenges

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Structural Funds co-financed programmes in the years

2004 – 2006• Integrated Regional Operational Programme

(ERDF, ESF) – 16 components implemented by 16 regions

according to a common, centrally developed CPmixed implementation system

• 6 Sectoral Operational Programmes managed centrally by respective ministries or authorized agencies

• CI Interreg, CI Equal

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Population: 2. 89 million(7,6% of Poland’s population ) Urban population: 71.1 %Area: 19 948 km2

Administrative units: 26+3 counties, 169 communitiesCapital city: Wrocław (635 000 inhabitans)Registered enterprises: 297 705 GDP in 2001: ca. 14 billion EUR (7,8% of Poland’s GDP)GDP per capita in 2001: ca. 4500 EURSF (ERDF+ESF) allocation 2004-2006IROP 127 820 343 EURMore: www.dolnyslask.pl

Lower Silesia

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Innovation support within Operational Programmes I

Integrated Regional Operational Programme

Priority 1: Development and Modernization of Infrastructure for Enhancement of the Competitivenss of Regions

Measure 1.3: Regional Social InfrastructureSubmeasure 1.3.1: Regional Infrastructure for Education

(3 projects submitted by Wrocław academic schools in total value of more than 12 million EUR/8.6 mil. EUR co-financing)

Measure 1.5: Infrastructure for Information Society (7 projects submitted by regional and local authorities in total value of more than 6.5 mil. EUR/4.6 mil. EUR co-financing)

Priority 2: Enhancement of the Development of Human Resources in Regions

Measure 2.6: Regional Innovation Strategies and Transfer of Knowledge

(15 projects submitted by academic schools, institutes, business support institutions and networks in total value of 3.34 mil. EUR)

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Innovation support within Operational Programmes II

Priority 3: Local DevelopmentMeasure 3.2: Areas Being Subjects of Restructuring

(1 – of 19 – project of local entrepreneurship incubator in value of appr. 300 th. EUR/more than 180 th. EUR co-financing)

Measure 3.3: Degradated Town, Postindustrial and Postmilitary AreasSubmeasure 3.3.2: Revitalization of Postindustrial and Postmilitary Areas

(1 – of 3 – project promoted by a public high education institution for adaptation of a postmilitary buiding for a scientific library in value of appr. 1.7 mil. EUR/330 th. EUR co-financing)

Special Case: Measure 3.4: Microenterprises

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Innovation support within Operational Programmes III

SOP Increase of Competitiveness of Enterprises

Priority 1: Development of Enterpreneurship and Enhancement of Innovativeness through Strenghthening the Institutions of Business Environment

Measure 1.1: Strenghthening of Institutions Supporting Enterprises ActivityMeasure 1.2: Improvement of Access to External Sources of Financing

Measure 1.3: Creating Conditions for Companies’ DevelopmentMeasure 1.4: Enhancement of Cooperation between R+D and

EconomyPriority 2: Direct Support for Enterprises

Measure 2.1: Increase of SMEs’ Competitiveness through AdvisingMeasure 2.2: Supporting of Companies’ Product and Technology

Competitiveness Measure 2.3: Increase of SMEs’ Competitiveness through Investments

SOP Enhancement of Human ResourcesPriority 2: Development of Knowledge-Based Society

Measure 2.3: Development of Personnel for a Modern Economy/ Increase of Skills and Qualifications

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New Perspective 2007 – 2013Modified System

of Structural Funds Implementation

• 16 Regional Operational Programmes managed by regional governments

• 6 Operational Programmes managed by the Ministry of Regional Development, two of which are enhancing innovation:OP Human Capital and OP Innovative Economy

• European Territorial Cooperation Programmes

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Regional Innovation in ROP’s Project for Lower Silesia IPriority 1: Increase of Innovativeness of Lower Silesian Economy

** R+D projects developed by enterprises** Projects improving accessibility of R+D results as well as quality of services offered to enterpreneurs by academic and research units** Projects fostering improvement of academic entrepreneurship** Projects of financial support for R+D studies the results of which would be commercialised** Exchange of human resources between academic and business circles* * Building up and developing co-operation networks** Investing in technology parks, incubators etc.* * Projects promoting pro-innovative attitudes and behaviours

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Regional Innovation in ROP’s Project for Lower Silesia II

Innovation is also going to be enhanced by co-financing projects realised within the Priority 2 of ROP for Lower Silesia: Supporting SMEs in Lower Silesia in which pro-innovative investments in product and process innovations will be supported.

Taken into consideration that 99% of all businesses in the region belong to the category of SMEs such a priority is a must and there is no alternative for focussing on innovation in this sector.

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Big Money – Big ChallengeThe total ROP allocation for Lower Silesia amounts 1.23 billion EUR to be spend for projects arranged in 13 Priorities. However, 3268 projects of projects submitted by potential promoters already exceed this figure by approximately triple. The two innovation related priorities should consume jointly 24% of the ROP allocation. Additional 8% should be spend for projects of Information Society (Priority 3 in ROP’s Project).

But in the mentioned project bank only 5 % of projects belong to the above categories. Dominating issues are: transport (26%), environment (22%), education (13%), healthcare (12%).

More: www.rpo.dolnyslask.pl

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Challenges and problems

• Infrastructure first.• Innovation or Investment?• Innovation for all.• Elections: Innovation doesn’t like politics.• Wanted: Culture of Innovation.

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Thank you for your attention

Barbara Kocowska

b.kocowska@duw.pl