Projects
Following its mission and in the fulfilment of its tasks, the Kraków Technology Park (KTP) participates in many long-term projects that receive significant financing from European Union funds.
The basic criterion for the selection of projects is the opportunity of providing true-to-life aid to businesses at various stages of their development, together with the promotion of knowledge and entrepreneurship.
The idea behind the KTP is to provide an integrated and complex impact on the region’s economy. The technological development of the region, development of entrepreneurship, promotion of innovativeness and modern technologies, and finally the development of a positive climate around business are just some of the main activities of the KTP, whose implementation is possible thanks to the very participation in numerous specialist projects.
Current projects:
Małopolska Information Technology Park – Innovation Centre of Kraków Technology Park
The object of the Małopolska Information Technology Park – Innovation Centre of Kraków Technology Park project is the construction of Małopolska Information Technology Park (MITP) in Pychowice. Being the largest and most important investment of Kraków Technology Park, the MITP will be focused on information technologies.
The centre will become one of the most important instruments for building modern economy in Małopolska and Poland. It will be Poland’s most modern hub gathering and supporting businesses related to information and communication technologies (ICT). Moreover, the MITP will provide space for collaboration of businesses, research units, and local and regional authorities, and material seat and support for small and medium-size enterprises from the IT sector.
The centre will be delivered for use in mid-2012.
The total cost of investment amounts to PLN 108,765,952.13, of which PLN 89,465,489.00 are eligible costs of the project from the European Regional Development Fund as part of the Innovative Economy Operational Programme, Measure 5.3.
Business in Małopolska Centre
The most important goal of the project known as Business in Małopolska is the promotion of the economic potential of Małopolska Region and streamlining of the support for investors finding their way to the region. Involved in the implementation of the project, besides Kraków Technology Park (KTP) are also Małopolska Regional Development Agency (Polish acronym MARR) and the Office of the Marshal of Małopolska Region.
The Business in Małopolska Centre (CeBiM) initiated its operation in January 2010. It is a specialised investor services centre with a seat at the business centre of Kraków Technology Park in Czyżyny. Running an integrated system of investor care, CeBiM has a powerful influence on building a positive climate for business in our region. At its disposal is Małopolska’s largest database of land for investment, and also a database of the region’s exporters and foreign partners.
Innovation broker as a tool for effective development of the system of Małopolska’s modern economy
The project is conducted in partnership between the Office of the Marshal of Małopolska Region and Kraków Technology Park. Its goal is to establish a modern model of collaboration between science and business, known as the “innovation broker” model.
A testing innovative project, the Innovation Broker is conducted in two stages. The first covers the preparations aimed at diagnosing the problem and working out the initial version of the model of brokerage. It comprises three offices (Centre for the Collaboration Network (CSW), Back Office for Intermediary Links (ZOP), and the Centre for Technologic Forecasts (OPT)), which will provide support to the appropriate target group, ranging from cluster initiatives, via scientists and students, to small and medium-size enterprises operating in the region. The second stage of project implementation will cover the testing of the initial model, its dissemination and inclusion into the region’s policy. Testing envisages primarily training and advice for the SME sector, including spin-offs and spin-outs, and also for the “intermediary links” in the process of technology commercialisation, i.e. technology transfer centres, incubators, and technology parks.
The model built thanks to the implementation of the project will provide a significant contribution to the policy of innovation support and development in Małopolska. Its implementation will help to create experience- and knowledge-based economy. The broker system will also help to reinforce the Regional System of Innovation, being currently one of the key factors in development of our region.
The Innovation Broker as a tool for effective development of the system of Małopolska’s modern economy is co-financed from the European Social Fund as part of the Priority 8 of the Human Capital Operational Programme (2007–2013).
Business in Małopolska. Investment in the Future
We promote the Małopolska economy. A new project by the Małopolska Regional Development Agency, the Małopolska region and Kraków Technology Park - “Business in Małopolska. Investment in the Future” began in January 2011.
The project is aimed at increasing the popularity of the economic brand of Małopolska through promotion of the investment and export potential of the region.
For whom: the project is aimed at potential clients considering investments in Małopolska, mainly from the USA, India, China and Western Europe as well as recipients of the regional export offer.
Expected Results: maintaining the image of Małopolska as a modern region that is open for investments. Owing to the implementation of the promotional campaign and presentation of the regional offer at the most important economic conferences and fairs in the world, the number of foreign investments in Małopolska will increase.
CeBiM’s comprehensive information policy will raise the quality of services for investors and exporters. Project activities:
- Presentation of the investment offer during international fairs and conferences in the USA, India, China and Western Europe;
- Organization of events promoting the investment and export potential of the region;
- Updating the offer for investors and exporters.
Implementation term: 1st January 2011 – 31st December 2012
Project value: above 2.5 million zloty
Source of financing: European Union funds within the Małopolska Regional Development Programme 2007-2013, Measure 8.1.
Completed projects:
2011
KTP Investor Network as a platform for supporting investments in SMEs
The investor network of the Kraków Technology Park is a project of national reach. It answers the capital needs of innovative entrepreneurs and provides a particular matching platform for people and innovative ideas, and institutions and businesspeople aware of their financial capacity.
The KTP investor network focuses especially on the sectors related to information sciences and technologies, telecommunications, automation, and communication technologies.
The following have been carried out so far in the project:
- an international conference inaugurating the project and promoting the seed capital / venture capital investments market in Poland and the potential that it offers
- three start-up fairs that allow innovative entrepreneurs to present themselves to the group of potential investors
- three investment forums that allow presentation of the potential of Seed Capital/VC/PE and private investors' services to the group of innovative entrepreneurs
- three two-day training sessions in acquisition of external capital for entrepreneurs.
2010
Technology Perspective Kraków–Małopolska 2020
Aiming at building modern knowledge- and experience-based economy, Kraków Technology Park was the initiator of Technology Perspective Kraków–Małopolska 2020 research programme. Invited to cooperate were also the authorities of Małopolska Region, business and commercial chambers, and an array of Kraków universities: the Jagiellonian University, the AGH University of Science and Technology, and Kraków University of Technology (PK). The project was conducted from October 2008 to January 2011.
Following the study conducted according to the globally popular foresight method, a list of 10 technologies most significant for the development of Małopolska was generated together with scenarios necessary for their implementation. Moreover, the programme showed also the directions that scientific studies in Małopolska universities and research institutions should follow.
Invest in Małopolska
Invest in Małopolska is a project conducted by Kraków Technology Park, Małopolska Regional Development Agency (MARR) and Małopolska Region as part of the Business in Małopolska joint initiative.
The goal of the project was to create a powerful economic position of Małopolska on international stage by presenting its investment and business potential. Partners in the project presented to potential investors the economic opportunities in Małopolska during the missions to the United States, Japan, China, Korea, Israel, and India.
During the campaign encompassing the production and presentation of an advertising film, information, materials, and organisation of events in Poland and abroad, the project partners focused primarily on the modern. Presented for the first time during the Economic Forum in Krynica in 2009, the multimedia sculpture Małopolska Tree of Innovation and Investment designed by Aleksander Janicki became the symbol of the economy of our region.
My 2 minutes
The project under the name My 2 minutes was addressed primarily to young creative people with interesting ideas for activity and future careers. The participants of the project were to make a presentation of their business idea, so as to intrigue the recipients in a period shorter than 2 minutes mentioned in the title. The project was inspired by American mini-presentations known under the name of Elevator Pitch.
The project was conducted in partnership with the National Bank of Poland (NBP) and the Office of the Education Supervisor in Kraków, and co-financed from the funds of the National Bank of Poland.
2009
System of Małopolska’s modern economy
The project was conducted in collaboration between Kraków Technology Park and Małopolska Region – the leader of the project, as part of the Integrated Regional Development Operational Programme, Measure 2.6. The project made it possible to tighten the cooperation links between the worlds of science and business, and also to construct a communication platform for projects supporting development of innovation. The main recipients of the projects were the Małopolska SME circles, businesses involved in the creation and development of clustering initiatives and R&D, and academic milieus.
The following were completed as part of the project:
- image campaign of the regional system of modern economy, which included a TV spot, a supplement to Dziennik Polski regional daily, press ads, and a press release on the project
- workshop and training that provided specialist knowledge on the functioning and organisation of innovation centres, and the manner of collaboration between these centres
- information database on modern economy available from the Wrota Małopolski website, and community information exchange mechanisms implemented with it.
2008
Construction and furnishing of technology incubator in Kraków Technology Park
Carried out as part of the Measure 1.3 of the SPO-WKP 2004-2006, the project made it possible to build and furnish a building with nearly 4000sq.m (43,000sq.ft of space), whose premises include 16 furnished offices for business start-ups, two seminar halls and one conference hall with complete multimedia facilities. Situated on the premises of the special economic zone, the building was designed for the SMEs that have founded their operation on state-of-the-art technologies. The budget of the whole project amounted to approximately PLN 20,000,000.
Expanding the range of competence, streamlining the operation, and promotion of Kraków Technology Park
A project complementing the investment – Expanding the range of competence, streamlining the operation, and promotion of Kraków Technology Park (also financed from the Measure 1.3 of the SPO-WKP 2004-2006) – dealt with promotion and consulting. It concerned the preparation of promotional and training actions related to the KTP Technology Incubator being developed, and allowed preparing the database and information management system, and building the incubator’s website at http://www.technoinkubator.com/ together with its visual identification. Initiated as part of the project was also the KTP Technology Incubator Council, i.e. a group of experts supporting the process of application to the incubator
Network of collaboration for the development of academic entrepreneurship in new technologies
Another project closely related to the idea of the development of the KTP technology incubator in Kraków Technology Park was the project under the name Network of collaboration for the development of academic entrepreneurship in new technologies financed from the Measure 2.6 of the Integrated Regional Development Operational Programme 2004-2006. The main goal of the initiative was to train the applicants and select the best ideas, for which specialist analysis and business plans were prepared. Moreover, authors of the best business concepts received also the right to use the offices and infrastructure of the incubator free of charge for six months. The two rounds of the project provided training in founding businesses, sources of financing, preparation of initial business plans, and marketing of the innovative product for nearly 200 participants. Each workshop was a two-day-long meeting conducted at institutions of higher education being partners of the project: AGH University of Science and Technology and Kraków University of Technology (PK). Besides the workshops, the participants had also an opportunity to participate in individual consultations.
The project involved a publication promoting the firms established thanks to the initiative. An additional form of promotion was the conference held to recapitulate of the project.
InnoRegioMalopolska – enhancing Regional Innovation Strategy in Małopolska
Besides projects related to the idea of integration within the special economic zone, the KTP conducted also projects related to the development of the Regional Innovation Strategy (RIS), financed from the 6th Framework Programme – InnoRegioMalopolska and Cognac. In both projects, the KTP played the role of partner in international consortia. InnoRegioMalopolska – enhancing Regional Innovation Strategy in Małopolska concerned the reinforcement of the region’s innovation strategy, and was conducted with partners from Poland, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Germany. The KTP conducted an insightful research of Małopolska SME sector for the needs and knowledge of the institutional potential of the region. The data gathered in this way was used for the drafting of the “report on demand for innovation in Małopolska Region”. The project made it possible to conduct study visits in partner organisations in Italy and the United Kingdom, which played the role of advisers. Conducted in the final stage of the project were two pilot programmes: Design Centre in Małopolska, and Specialist Meetings for scientists and practitioners in individual fields.
Coordination of strategies in research, development and innovation (RDI) and their cohesion with other strategies of new accession countries
The Cognac project – Coordination of strategies in research, development, and innovation (RDI) and their cohesion with other strategies of new accession countries involved carrying out research and comparative analysis in Central and Eastern European states in collaboration with Spanish and Austrian partners. Participating in the project were institutions from Poland, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, and Spain. The project designed recommendations concerning coherent and efficient directions of operation in the research sector in member regions, implementation of the research, development, and innovation policy, and the process of joint learning. The project created materials on collaboration between research and innovation activity, and entrepreneurship, and the significance of the SMEs sector in individual regions. Besides the above, also materials and documents presenting the development of innovation strategy and the methodology of comparative analyses were created.
