The Innovative

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What do entrepreneurs ask about Why in measure 4.4 an innovative criterion basing on the age of the used technology has been established? It is difficult to find a solution that will satisfy everyone. Financial instruments within the OP IE are still being compiled – new, closer to final versions of the Detailed priority description appear, the Programme’s implementation system and criteria of granting means for the project realization become clearer. The best testers of the created rules are entrepreneurs themselves – they are the quickest to detect ambiguous entries and point out weaknesses. It can only help in improving detailed entries. During the last Educational Forum for SME, PARP experts answered entrepreneurs’ questions. It was the first meeting of this kind during which the Programme was discussed in such a detail. We present fragments of the discussion. Shouldn’t the institution of a public observer be introduced at the stage of project assessment? In the case of measures 1.4, 4.1 and 4.2 we do not project such a project assessment formula as in SPO-WKP, so groups of people who sit and discuss. We want to deliver applications to experts who will assess them individually. We are going to organize an open intake of such experts so that every person who will demonstrate proper experience and knowledge in specific realms is able to be included in the list of experts and take part in application assessment. We count above all on professionalism of these people and on the fact that they will be able to assess applications in technological and economic terms. They will not only be theoreticians but practitioners in specific realms. Why in measure 4.4 an innovative criterion basing on the age of the used technology has been established? Today I have such a technology but when I apply in a few months, it will be used for more than three years. Talking about something that is innovative on the basis of the period of using a particular solution is hard to be assessed objectively. But is there a better suggestion? It has not been decided yet whether innovativeness will be judged on the basis of opinions issued by science units. We would prefer to leave this system and have experts assess innovativeness. Scoring will not depend – often subjectively – on an opinion of some scientist. It is a step forward. Thanks to the fact that we leave the assessment to experts in specific technological industries, we should somewhat improve the whole process. The three years is a contractual period. Final decisions will be made by the Monitoring Committee. It is difficult to find a solution that will satisfy everyone. Could you confirm that within instrument 1.4- 4.1 of the OP IE big enterprises will be allowed to apply indeed? The Particularizing does not mention them. At first the instrument for SME will be implemented since it is a legal basis already (EC’s ordinance No. 70/2001 amended by the ordinance 364/2004 allowing research and development assistance for small and medium-sized enterprises). Therefore we find such an entry in the cards. But this will change. The Ministry of Science and Higher Education has suggested that it should be written in measure cards in advance that support for SME within measures 1.4 and 4.1 is granted from the beginning of the Programme’s launch and after the ratification of assistance for big companies we will launch support for them as well. If in the approved version of the Detailed OP IE priority description big companies are not mentioned, the card will be changed after some time and the instrument will be launched. Will there be sufficient means for big entrepreneurs? Yes, you do not have to worry since there is an indicative division of means planned between SME and big enterprises within these measures. It is more or less half by half. Even if this instrument will be first launched for SME, the budget will not run out. Money for big enterprises will be secured, 18
Educational Forum for SME My question relates to big companies planning investments supported within measure 4.4. I understand that big companies will not be able to purchase used fixed assets. Does it also relate to properties, so buildings that are not new? This rule applies to fixed assets other than buildings. Could you specify how within measure 4.4 a new product is defined since this definition of investment has changed – now there is a requirement that within implementation a new or significantly changed product should be created. For whom the product is to be new – for the market or the enterprise? With regard to the target market for the product being the result of an investment. I already have a ready project. Since when the expenses planned in it will be qualified? Can I start to realize the project and count on the support just after applying? Unfortunately you can do it only after receiving the confirmation about project qualification. The solution to the problem may be a different way of announcing a contest. If you are informed that e.g. the application round is to be announced in four months, you will have enough time to conduct analyses and gain the confirmation of project qualification. My question relates to the implementation system. It has been mentioned that project promoters would be introduced into the system. What does this situation look like today and who will have the role of a promoter and on what grounds? This conception is still being compiled. PARP has passed its suggestions and we are waiting for the decision of the Managing Authority and the Intermediate Bodies. Such promoters are projected in measure 4.2 and 4.4. There would be several dozen promoters all around the country and the system of assessment of their qualifications in specific realms would function. They should be people who would be able to assess on the basis of a project card and conversations with an entrepreneur whether a given technology is new and whether projects fit in a measure. After receiving a positive project assessment on the basis of the project card the entrepreneur would be able to bear qualified costs and realize the project. The promoter would give green light. He or she would also possibly state that a project does not fit in a given Programme as a whole or it does not meet the criteria; or it would be pointed out that after some corrections or updates the project might qualify. When will we get to know the dates of applying? Will we have enough time to search innovative technologies and confirm project qualification? We do not know that yet. Probably some measures for enterprises will be launched in the first quarter of 2008. We are already well prepared institutionally. Proper legal acts taking into account all changes of the Detailed priority description still have to appear. We understand your impatience but we would not like to give dates on spec. The minimum project value: 8 million zlotys – what does it mean? Does it apply to the stage of projecting, applying or final settlement? If I know that the assessing people are aware of the fact that I can be wrong, then I can be seriously wrong. I can write a project for 8.2 million but in reality it would be 3.5 million because I was wrong. Can I be wrong like that? An entrepreneur estimates costs at the stage of preparing the application and they should be based on a solid market analysis. If at the stage of settlement it turns out that the real costs were lower than 8 million zlotys, each such a project will be individually analyzed. If it turns out that changes of prices, rates of exchange or other factors were independent of the entrepreneur and could not be projected, we will recommend that such problems should be solved in favour of the beneficiary. If it however turns out that an entrepreneur already at the stage of projecting overestimates costs on purpose, and then spends less in reality and it could have been projected, the support may not be granted in such situations. Will you oblige the experts assessing innovative applications to justify negative decisions in writing – with at least one page long opinion? Of course. We would not like to be in such a situation when an expert will tell us that this project is no good because it is not. We will have a problem as we would not be able to justify it to you. We will expect from experts a justification of every opinion. They cannot be arbitral decisions. Noted by: KR and JG When will we get to know the dates of applying? We do not know that yet. Probably some measures for enterprises will be launched in the first quarter of 2008. 19
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The Innovative

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