"Business Development and Innovation": new call for proposals in Blue Growth scheme starting in January, additional funding for environmentally friendly projects from the reserve list

The Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP) informs that thanks to the increase of budget for the "Business Development and Innovation" programme, projects from the reserve list, under the "Green Industry Innovation" scheme, have been recommended for support. Additional funds will also be used to finance a new edition of call for proposals in Blue Growth".

Additional funding under "Green Industry Innovation"

In December, PARP finalised the process of updating legal documents and programme agreements enabling support to be granted to projects that were positively assessed in the "Green Industry Innovation" scheme, but due to lack of funds were placed on a reserve list. The new budget will allow signing project’s contracts with 37 entrepreneurs. The list of projects recommended for funding has been published in the announcements on the website of the "Green Industry Innovation" scheme

Funding will be provided for projects which, through new processes, products, solutions or services, contribute to better waste management, increased energy efficiency, reduced emissions and more efficient materials management.

New competition for Blue Growth - to be announced as early as January 2022

“Blue Growth" is part of the "Business Development and Innovation" programme. Initiatives submitted to the call of proposals should relate to 'blue growth', i.e. aiming to ensure the most efficient and sustainable use of water and coastal resources. According to the rules, applicants must operate in the maritime or inland waterways sector. PARP plans to announce the call od proposals in January 2022. It will be possible to submit applications for two months - from February to March 2022.

The terms of the call of proposals will not change and you can already see the 2019 documentation, which will only be updated in terms of the available budget and application deadlines. All important information can be found at: https://www.parp.gov.pl/component/site/site/blue-growth

Grants are dedicated to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises which have closed at least 1 financial year and at least in one closed financial year, within the last 3 years, their revenues from sales of goods and services were not lower than EUR 20 thousand.

Expenditures covered by support are mainly purchase of new fixed assets (including machinery and equipment), costs of works and construction materials (e.g. in the scope of expansion, construction or modernisation of ports), but also investments in legal and intangible assets (e.g. software), consultancy services or development works.

Additional points will be awarded to projects implemented with a Norwegian partner. PARP encourages to establish contacts with potential partners during the Polish-Norwegian seminar accompanying the Nor-Shipping trade fair, which will take place on April 5 in Lillestrom, Norway. Details and application form can be found here

The "Business Development and Innovation" programme offers support for modern solutions in Polish companies in three areas: green industry innovations, welfare technologies and blue growth - i.e. the development of companies from the area of the sea and inland waters. The programme is implemented through the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2021 and the European Economic Area (EEA) Financial Mechanism 2014-2021. The Norwegian Financial Mechanism and the EEA Financial Mechanism are a form of non-refundable foreign aid granted to several Central and Southern European and Baltic States. The Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the Norwegian and EEA Funds in Poland - as the National Contact Point. It cooperates with the Financial Mechanisms Office in Brussels. Individual programmes of the 3rd edition of the Funds are implemented by Polish public institutions as Programme Operators (e.g. PARP).