Meet the Experts Corner

The Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) was set up by the EU to support the European industry and boost investment in critical technologies in Europe. STEP raises and steers funding across 11 EU programmes to three target investment areas: digital technologies and deep-tech innovation; clean and resource-efficient technologies; biotechnologies. STEP also supports projects growing the skills necessary to develop those critical technologies. STEP introduces a STEP Seal – an EU label for high quality projects granting STEP projects visibility and facilitating their access to other possible sources of funding.

The InvestEU programme provides the European Union with crucial long-term funding by leveraging substantial private and public funds in support of a sustainable recovery. It also helps mobilise private investment for EU policy priorities, such as the European Green Deal and the digital transition. InvestEU brings together under one roof the multitude of EU financial instruments available to support investment in the European Union, making funding for investment projects in Europe simpler, more efficient and more flexible. The programme consists of three components: the InvestEU Fund, the InvestEU Advisory Hub and the InvestEU Portal. The InvestEU Fund is implemented through financial partners that invest in projects, leveraging on the EU budget guarantee of €26.2 billion. The entire budget guarantee will back the investment projects of the implementing partners, increasing their risk-bearing capacity and mobilising at least €372 billion in additional investment.

The European Investment Fund is part of the European Investment Bank Group. Its central mission is to support Europe’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by helping them access finance. The EIF designs and develops venture and growth capital, guarantees and microfinance instruments that specifically target this market segment. In this role, the EIF furthers key EU policy objectives such as competitiveness and growth, innovation and digitalisation, social impact, skills and human capital, climate action and environmental sustainability, and more. 

The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, the EIB finances investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, the capital markets union, and a stronger Europe in a more peaceful and prosperous world. The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security. 

The European Innovation Council is Europe’s flagship innovation programme to identify, develop and scale up breakthrough technologies and game changing innovations The EIC has been established under the EU Horizon Europe programme. It has a budget of €10.1 billion to support game changing innovations throughout the lifecycle from early stage research, to proof of concept, technology transfer, and the financing and scale up of start-ups and SMEs.

The Technical Regulations Information System (TRIS) is a public database providing information on each notification procedure, updated daily. TRIS can be accessed free of charge. It enables anyone to submit their comments on specific notified drafts, so their voices can be heard and taken into account. Stakeholders can also subscribe to receive alerts of drafts notified in a given sector and/or by a given Member State or another participating country.

The National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) is a Polish executive agency responsible for funding and supporting research and development activities. It operates under the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and plays a crucial role in fostering innovation and technological advancement in Poland. The National Contact Point (NCP) at NCBR supports the participation of Polish researchers, research units, enterprises, central and regional governments, and non-governmental organizations in the current EU Framework Program for Research and Innovation - Horizon Europe. The NCP informs about calls, organize info days, seminars, and conferences, prepare statistical analyses, and publishes articles and booklets on Horizon Europe. For more advanced beneficiaries, the NCP offers in-depth consulting services, consultation on the preparation of applications, and support at various stages of project implementation.

The Industry Contact Points (ICP) have been established in 2022 under the agreement between the Ministry of Education and Science of Poland (currently, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education) and the Łukasiewicz Research Network. The aim of the Industry Contact Points is to support entrepreneurs and scientists in applying for EU funds for research and innovation under the Horizon Europe framework programme. ICP organizes and participates in nationwide matchmaking, networking and brokerage events, which are addressed to domestic and foreign scientific and business partners. Industry Contact Points provide assistance in the selection and acquisition of international partners for European projects, organize trainings and workshops, and conduct individual consultations at the application preparation stage.

The DPP is a key innovation under the 2024 Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), representing a key tool to store and share relevant data about a product’s sustainability, durability and other environmental aspects. The DPP will be available to consumers, businesses and relevant public authorities, helping to make informed decisions and increase demand for sustainable products, promote new circular business models and boost innovation and competitiveness in the EU. More generally, the DPP, has been recognized as a tool that could allow hosting all product related information including for instance product instructions or conformity documents.

European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH) Network is the driving force behind Europe’s digitalisation. EDIHs work as one-stop shops throughout all EU regions.

With the support of the European Commission, the EDIH Network is a community of tech experts that work together to help and assist Europe’s businesses and organisations on their path towards digital transformation. EDIHs are at the heart of the European AI innovation ecosystem, playing a key role in supporting SMEs and PSOs to adopt AI.

The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) helps businesses innovate and grow on an international scale. It is the world’s largest support network for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with international ambitions. The Network is active worldwide. It brings together experts from member organisations that are renowned for their excellence in business support, covering all key economic sectors.

The Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP) is the national leader in implementing business support programmes financed by EU structural funds, the state budget, and European Commission initiatives. As one of Poland's key institutions for SME development, the agency shapes policies to boost enterprise competitiveness, innovation, and human capital adaptation to market changes. The agency's added value: "Think Small First" principle - dedicated tools for micro/small businesses; EU funds expertise (managed over €5B+ for 500K+ beneficiaries since 2004); future-oriented programmes - from digital transformation to internationalization; operational excellence (20+ years implementing 150+ national/regional programmes); ecosystem architect (connecting startups, researchers and investors through 60+ business incubators); and SME-first philosophy (dedicated advisory teams and simplified procedures for micro-enterprises). PARP coordinates the Enterprise Europe Network in Poland.

The Rzeszow Regional Development Agency (RRDA) is stock company, established in 1993. The objective of the RRDA is to support the development of the Podkarpackie Region, promote a new image of the region as a modern, innovative and economically developed place, improve the quality and standard of life of its inhabitants, and also advertise the possibilities offered by the region, including its outstanding natural landscape and tourist potential. The main activities of RRDA aim at supporting and coordinating regional development activities leading to further economic development. In its wide range of activities, the agency puts particular emphasis on sustainable growth, innovation and technology transfer, supporting SMEs and youth entrepreneurship. It also promotes business efficiency, competitiveness, as well as local natural and cultural resources, to enhance and support sustainable development in the region. The agency acts as a Enterprise Europe Network office in the region.

The European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP) is a vibrant online community helping cluster organisations across Europe and beyond to connect, communicate and collaborate. Created by the European Commission, it provides a unique one-stop shop for news, opportunities and collaboration for industrial clusters across Europe, boosting the visibility and showcasing the impact of European clusters in cutting-edge industries and expanding markets throughout the world. Being part of the ECCP community gives cluster organisations access to a vast wealth of knowledge, information and opportunities from clusters and ecosystems in a wide range of countries, sectors and industries. 

The Polish Clusters Association is a nationwide organization dedicated to supporting the development of clusters and innovation in Poland. The association fosters collaboration between businesses, academia, and public administration, creating an environment where companies can enhance their competitiveness, expand internationally, and leverage new technologies. It advocates for cluster-based cooperation as a key driver of industrial modernization and regional development. PCA has played a key role in integrating the cluster community by organizing major industry events, including 10 editions of the Polish Clusters Congress. As a founding member of the European Clusters Alliance and EUCLES, it actively contributes to strengthening cluster cooperation across Europe. 

Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs is a cross-border exchange programme which gives new or aspiring entrepreneurs the chance to learn from experienced entrepreneurs running small businesses in other Participating Countries. The exchange of experience takes place during a stay with the experienced entrepreneur, which helps the new entrepreneur acquire the skills needed to run a small firm. The host benefits from fresh perspectives on his/her business and gets the opportunities to cooperate with foreign partners or learn about new markets.

The Semper Avanti Association was founded in 2001. The organisation now cooperates with many non-governmental organizations around the world, organizing youth exchanges, trainings, conferences, professional internships and supervising international volunteering. Over 5,000 people benefit from the association's projects every year. The mission of the organization is to spread interculturalism, tolerance, openness, European and global identity. The organisation has the status of a Public Benefit Organization. The organisation is one of the local contact points in Poland for the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme.

EEN Ukraine is the national consortium of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), the EU’s largest support network for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) aiming to innovate and expand internationally. The consortium provides Ukrainian SMEs with advisory, innovation, and internationalization services, helping them connect with EU partners and benefit from EU-funded programs. The consortium is coordinated by the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCI) and includes: the Technology Transfer Department of the Institute of Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, New International Corporation Ltd (NIC), the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (TSNU), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (MFA), the State Finance Institution for Innovations (SFIN), the Association "Industrial Automation of Ukraine" (APPAU), and the Information Technology Cluster.

The Ukrainian Cluster Alliance is the union of Ukrainian clusters with the strong focus on Industrial and High tech clusters. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has brought together Ukrainian clusters and SMEs in a unique alliance, the Ukrainian Cluster Alliance. The UCA has the mission to develop cluster movement in Ukraine in line with principles of cluster policies of European Union and in collaboration with European clusters. To provide quality services to its members, the Ukrainian Cluster Alliance develops coordinated activities at the national level which cover all main Ukrainian industries, and which are strongly oriented to internationalization of Ukrainian clusters. The Ukrainian Cluster Alliance has the structure to support and promote among clusters the initiatives of smart specialization, better integration into European values chains, innovation, and the digital and green transition.