Do you want to develop your company, guide it towards innovation, test your chances in foreign markets, cooperate with an academic institution or buy and implement research results? Are you considering various options for funding of a new, innovative project, but don't know where or how to search? Are you considering what to do to receive co-financing from the European funds? We have a proposal for you.
The Innopoint, STEP and Innovation Coach services are a reponse.
Innopoint is a service for entrepreneurs interested in benefiting from the European Funds for Smart Economy programme. STEP is the proposal for individuals who have an idea for a project. On the other hand, for those who do not have an idea yet and are just thinking about introducing innovation in their enterprise, we have the Innovation Coach.
- Available immediately - for entrepreneurs from all over Poland, regardless of the city or region where they operate,
- Free of charge - developed by the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy,
- Available at a click of a button - just fill in the online form and get the support of an expert or an innovation coach.
Innopoint
Innopoint is an information service system targeted at those Entrepreneurs who are interested in benefiting from the European Funds for Smart Economy Programme. This service is provided with the participation of the Main Information Points of the European Funds located in each voivodship and the Central Information Point of the European Funds. Experienced consultants for European funds will provide detailed information on the forms of support available from the European Funds For Smart Economy Programme.
Innopoint consists of:
- Entrepreneur’s needs survey - as a result of filling in the questionnaire, you will receive information on European Funds for Smart Economy Programme instruments tailored to your needs. This information will be displayed to you after you have answered the questions contained in the survey and sent to the email address you indicate in the survey. If you have additional questions after filling in the questionnaire, you will be able to arrange an appointment with a consultant at the Information Point of the European Funds indicated by you using the Consultation Booking Form;
- Hotline (22 262 99 95) - will provide basic information on the comprehensive European Funds for Smart Economy Programme offer. As a programme promoting innovation, it will make use of cutting-edge technology powered by artificial intelligence. Virtual assistants will appear alongside experienced consultants.A chatbot will be able to answer you in written form, and a voicebot in voice form.
Don't hesitate. Take advantage now! Your personal data will be processed in accordance with the information clause.
STEP
Do you have an idea for a project, looking for something more than just financial support? You are not sure how to take the first step towards the European Funds? Do you know what innovation is, maybe you have even pursued such ideas before, but don't know how to turn an idea into a project and a competition proposal? Would you like to introduce your product or service to international markets? Have you purchased R&D results from researchers but you need money for implementation?We have a solution for you. This is STEP: Preliminary Verification of the Project Idea. A free and accessible tool at your fingertips that will allow you to prepare quickly and effectively to apply for the support from the European Funds.
For whom
Entrepreneurs interested in conducting research and development work, investing in new products, technologies or solutions, looking for new places for expansion of their products and services who have not yet benefited from the European Funds.
What do you need to have?
First and foremost, an idea - what you want to do, what actions you want to take, what types of expenditure you anticipate. At the same time, remember that an idea is not a competition application, you do not need to know all the details, describe what you want to do in the simplest way possible.
How does STEP work?
Participation in the STEP instrument is very simple. Go to www.step.gov.pl, fill in and submit the form.
What happens next?
- Wait 7 days - we will check if your idea fits into the European Funds for Smart Economy. Check your email and pick up the phone.
- No - the idea does not fit into the European Funds for Smart Economy, but there may be other sources of co-financing. Don't give up if the consultant fails to indicate them to you, ask!
- Yes - you will be contacted by an expert designated by the Ministry. You will jointly agree on a way to cooperate and exchange information.
- Decide - you will receive a tailor-made analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of your idea.The analysis will take into account the specific nature of the competition for which your project idea has been shortlisted. Subsequently, there is nothing left for you to do but decide to apply to the competition.
What do you gain?
A personalised analysis of your idea, tailored to you and prepared in collaboration with you, with a view to a possibility of obtaining this programme funding. In collaboration with you, they will prepare an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of your idea, indicating those elements which are worth strengthening when applying for funds from the European Funds for Smart Economy Programme.
The expert: identifies sources of funding from the European Funds and, above all, from the European Funds for Smart Economy, indicates this programme competition for which your idea is eligible and the institution to which your application should be submitted, helps to clearly and precisely define the project objectives and main assumptions, provides key information about the competition necessary at the application preparation stage, identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the idea in the context of the recommended FENG competition, provides practical and specific recommendations, the implementation of which will increase the entrepreneur's chances of obtaining funding for the implementation of the idea.
Who will evaluate your project?
Your idea will be carefully analysed by industry or financial experts who not only have a great knowledge, but also experience in assessing competition applications submitted to the European Funds for Smart Economy Programme.
For more: www.step.gov.pl
Innovation Coach
You have heard of innovation, research and development, but you associate it with finding a cure for cancer or building a rover for Mars? This is not quite the case. Take advantage of the Innovation Coach instrument and join a group of entrepreneurs-innovators. We will help you explore the innovation capacity of your enterprise, analyse the industry you operate in, examine your former activities, staff resources, culture of innovation. Finally, we will prepare a concept especially for you for the implementation of innovation in your company.
For whom
For those entrepreneurs who wish to perform research and development activities, invest in research and development centres, implement research results obtained from scientific entities, launch their products and services on foreign markets, but have little or no experience in these areas. At the same time, they have limited or no experience in raising European funding, in particular from the European Funds for Smart Economy Programme.
What do you need to have?
Basically nothing. Perhaps besides a willingness to change and a readiness to seek new solutions.
How?
Go to www.innovationcoach.pl and register your business. What happens next? You will receive a call from a consultant who will initially analyse the experience of your enterprise in terms of innovation and raising European funds.
Notice! In this case, the less experience you have, the better. Once you have passed the verification, you will be assigned an innovation coach who will first look at the industry, the environment and then, in the course of working directly with you, examine the previous experience of your enterprise, its potential and its R&D&I capabilities and resources - financial position, human resources, infrastructure, innovation culture.
What do you gain?
Owing to Innovation Coach, you will learn what to do to start research and development work in your enterprise, to introduce new solutions, as well as to raise funding for them from the European Union. We will provide you with an analysis of innovation potential of your enterprise, tailored to you and prepared in collaboration with you, in the form of an accessible and transparent report
The report includes:
- Information on directions and methods to implement innovation in your enterprise,
- Identification of potential sources of funding for your innovation from the European Funds, in particular the European Funds for Smart Economy Programme and the European Commission Programmes,
- SWOT analysis of your enterprise in the context of the opportunities and possibilities associated with launching an innovation activity,
- Analysis of the potential of your enterprise,
- Opportunity to talk to an experienced expert,
- Innovative know-how based on years of experience and expertise.
Who will be your innovation coach?
The coach is an industry expert - a scientist, a practitioner, with knowledge of current trends and industry news on the one hand, and experience and competence in the area of business capacity analysis on the other. All our coaches also have practical experience in evaluating applications submitted to competitions under the Innovative Economy and Smart Growth programmes. We will select a coach in the context of the industry of your operations.
For more: www.innovationcoach.pl