PHARE 2002 means nearly EUR 58 million for small and medium-sized enterprises. The granted aid was divided into three types of funds, within which thematic programs are available. The Institute of Logistics and Warehousing offered its advisory services bundled with assistance in filling out grant applications.
There are three types of grant-guaranteeing programs: the Sectoral Operational Programme for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Innovation, which will offer entrepreneurs from all over Poland grants for advisory services and investments; the Health and Safety at Work in the SME Sector Programme, which also offers grants for advisory services and investments; and the Regional Support Programme for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises – Entrepreneurship in Poland, implemented in selected voivodeships. In all programs, entrepreneurs will be able to submit applications to the Regional Financing Institutions appropriate for the entrepreneur’s registered office. There is one RFI in each voivodeship, and their addresses can be found in the “Guidelines for Applicants” for each type of program and on the PARP website www.parp.gov.pl/rif.php
Five Funds
The budget of the first of the presented programs – the Sectoral Operational Programme for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Innovation – is EUR 4 million, of which EUR 3 million are Phare funds, and the remaining million is Polish public funds. Two application deadlines have been set: until July 30, 2004, and until September 13, 2004. At the same time, five Advisory Support Funds for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were established to co-finance activities carried out in connection with the development and improvement of quality, technology, and access to sources of financing in enterprises.
The first of the funds is aimed at the development and modernization of enterprises based on new technologies. The grant ranges from EUR 1,500 to EUR 10,000 and cannot
exceed 50% of the project’s eligible net costs. The remaining part of the project costs must be financed from the applicant’s own funds. All submitted applications should concern the implementation by the applicant of eligible activities for the development of enterprises through the implementation of modern technologies (acquired or based on own solutions), machines, and automation devices, in accordance with the description below. Activities cannot concern enterprise management IT systems.
Assessment and Development Plan
Among the proposed activities are, among others, a technological audit, i.e., an assessment of technologies used in the enterprise, an enterprise and technology development plan, as well as the implementation of acquired technologies and own innovative technological solutions.
The technological audit will be undertaken by SMEs at an early stage of the enterprise’s modernization process (introduction of innovations and new technologies) (processes, products, machines, and automation devices, as well as computer hardware and software updates). This activity will consist of a series of advisory services leading to the preparation of a report on the current position of the enterprise in terms of technology and innovation in relation to competitors and cooperating enterprises. The current state will be compared with the forecast of future needs. The provision of services will begin with an analysis of the enterprise’s competitive position, a comparison of the industry’s competitiveness in relation to other industries will be made, and the position of a given enterprise within the industry will be determined. As part of this activity, the Institute of Logistics and Warehousing offers such services as collecting and analyzing available data to determine the directions of technological development in the field of logistics and advisory services related to the assessment of technologies used by the entrepreneur in the area of logistics, in particular regarding the application of barcodes, automatic identification systems, and electronic data interchange.
The enterprise and technology development plan, i.e., preparation for the implementation of modern technologies and machines and automation devices, is another of the included activities. SMEs will implement the activity at the stage of changing the technological solution into a feasible business concept and its implementation. The activity may include advisory services related to the preparation and implementation of enterprise and technology development plans and technical advisory services provided in parallel with the development of own technological solutions, acquisition of external technologies, and implementation of modern technologies in enterprises. These services may lead to the development and adoption of an enterprise and technology development plan related to the implementation of new technology. This plan will enable the enterprise to make decisions in the technical (choosing the best technology) and economic (creating or developing a venture based on the chosen technology) fields. These services may also include technical assistance provided during the introduction of new solutions in order to effectively and efficiently implement the new technology in the enterprise. At the Institute of Logistics and Warehousing, you can apply for assistance in the area of preparing the enterprise for the implementation of new technologies and innovative solutions and the use of new machines and automation devices, as well as advisory services in the field of preparation for the implementation of innovative solutions and technologies in the logistics area, including the application of barcodes, automatic identification systems, and electronic data interchange.
Introduction of New Technologies
The third activity is the implementation of acquired technologies and own innovative technological solutions. Enterprises will implement the implementation of technological solutions acquired by the enterprise together with the introduction of new machines and automation devices, processes, and products more modern than those previously used. It will include a series of advisory and expert services related to the implementation of new technologies. The activity will include advisory and expert services for innovative enterprises. It may include the implementation of a new technology or an innovative technology. The services offered in this area by the Institute of Logistics and Warehousing include advisory services related to the technical, technological, and organizational adaptation of the enterprise to the requirements posed by the implemented technology, as well as advisory services related to the implementation of innovative solutions and acquired technologies in the area of logistics, in particular regarding the application of barcodes, automatic identification systems, and electronic data interchange.
to be continued.