Competing in the Single Market - SMEs and ... - Erhvervsstyrelsen

POLANDProgramme/Policy DocumentIncreasing the Innovativeness of thePolish Economy until the year 2006National Programme of Preparation forEU MembershipGovernment Policy Guidelines for Smalland Medium-sized Enterprises in theyears 2003-2006Grants for entrepreneurship developmentAreas of Focus/Policy Instruments- approved in 2000- outlines priority tasks both for central institutions andregional units/entrepreneurs- includes initiatives such as: creation of “Innocentrum”to promote and support the creation of new, innovativefirms; design promotion (including financing supportfor advisory services for SMEs in the field of industrialdesign); creation of technology and industrial parks;stimulating innovative attitudes; and promotion of SMEresearch networks- increase the innovativeness of SMEs by increasingcompetitiveness and creating conditions for growth ofinvestment expenditures and exports in SME sector- develop institutions which support SMEs- approved by the government in February 2003- established that policy will be based on the followingassumptions:o activities will be of horizontal character and will beaddressed to all SMEs regardless of place of businessactivity, legal form, and type of businesso activities will aim to promote entrepreneurship,especially among the young, women, the handicappedand unemployedo support will be addressed to business environmentinstitutions that fulfill specific requirementso activities will be financed by the state budget, aid funds,Structural Funds, private funds of SMEs and internationalbank creditso activities will be realized based on directives from theEuropean Charter for SMEso beyond these guidelines, regional activities will berealized as well- intended as support to SMEs- administered by PAED and financed from both statebudget and EU funds- entrepreneurs who receive grants are also eligible forother forms of support (e.g. tax relief)- grants are designed to co-finance both entrepreneurialinvestments and consulting & advisory servicesSources: European Commission (2001c, 2001d, 2003d, 2003e, 2003m,n,o,p); UNECE (2003); national agencies’ internet sitesThe national programmes are followed up within the framework of the EU’s Multiannual Programmefor enterprise and entrepreneurship. Thus, each year, countries’ progress towards fulfilling the objectivesin the 10 areas of the European Charter for SMEs is followed up in an annual survey. According to thelatest surveys (see Table 19 below), SME needs in the B4 are primarily in the areas of legislation andregulation, taxation and financial matters. The areas with highest impact are taxation and financialmatters, availability of skills, and strengthening the technological capability of small enterprises. TheB4 countries report that SME policies are most developed in the areas of education and training forentrepreneurship, cheaper and faster start-up, availability of skills, and taxation and financial matters.The areas where the B4 foresee most policy action in the coming 12 months include: cheaper andfaster start-up, availability of skills, more out of the single market, and strengthening the technologicalcapability of small enterprises.72