We all know today that if Poland is to continue to develop and maintain the level of development we have achieved through great effort over the past decades, our development model must be based on Polish technologies and on innovation developed and implemented in Poland,

- Minister Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz said.

According to the Minister, the new economic model requires closer cooperation between the scientific and business sectors. The key solution is based on providing targeted funding for research and offering focused support to those sectors of the economy that develop and implement modern technologies.

The head of the MDFRP has added that the new development model can no longer be based on cheap labour and a high-emission, coal-based energy sector.

We live in a world of strong technological competition, therefore Poland must develop mechanisms that will enable our scientific community and innovation sector to engage in genuine cooperation. This is the only way we can create a viable development model in Poland based on innovation and new technology,

- the minister emphasised.

Billions for Polish innovation

Among the measures to promote innovation, Minister K. Pełczyńska-Nałęcz mentioned the Critical Technology Support Fund, launched in 2025. We have allocated nearly 3.8 billion zlotys into investment in biotechnology, digital technologies and clean, resource-efficient solutions.

We have already seen tangible results in the form of 27 agreements worth over 465 million from EU funds.

We support specific, clearly defined areas of technology. It is not a question of spreading resources and investing a little in everything, but of channelling capital into strategic sectors of key importance to Poland. These include, amongst others, areas such as: artificial intelligence, digitalisation, biotechnology and energy-efficient technologies. Given the current geopolitical situation, we are extending this support to dual-use solutions that are relevant to our security,

- the Minister emphasised.

Owing to the Fund, we will not only secure our own supply and production chains in the most vulnerable areas, but Polish companies will also be the owner of the technology underlying this production. In the contemporary world, this is a vital resource. 

Starting from this autumn, groundbreaking solutions and investment in defence will also be funded through the Critical Technology Support Fund.

Also from this autumn, preferential loans will also be available to businesses for digitalisation, robotisation, AI, the Internet of Things and the green transition. Entrepreneurs will be able to obtain loans between 2.5 and 15 million zlotys, with a repayment period of up to 15 years. The planned budget for companies amounts to approximately 800 million zlotys.

Supporting start-ups – the most innovative Polish companies – is the future of our economy; therefore, with this in mind, we are already supporting companies with significant growth potential and mobilising private capital – we have allocated a record amount of money from FENG to venture capital: PLN 1.8 billion; by way of comparison, the figure for 2007–2013 was PLN 320 million, and for 2014–2020: PLN 1.2 million.

To date, under the European Funds for a Modern Economy programme, we have invested nearly 20 billion zlotys, which translates into over 2,330 agreements signed with companies, research organisations and institutions across Poland. These funds are already used in the Polish economy.

More about the “Inno Regio Lab” project

The aim of the project is to strengthen the cooperation between the central and regional government. The project will also enhance civil servants’ competence in the areas of innovation, research and development, as well as the green and digital transformation of the economy.

The beneficiaries of these measures will include, amongst others, employees of the central government and regional-level local government – in particular, the managing authorities for regional programmes and the bodies responsible for innovation policy, as well as for the green and digital transitions.

The initiative will facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experience between the national and regional levels. It will also provide the necessary knowledge base for developing effective public policy solutions in the future. The initiative forms part of the preparations for the new EU financial framework after 2027, including the work on the Partnership Agreement for 2028–2034.

The project activities will be practical in nature and will focus on networking. They will comprise, among others, training courses, conferences, study tours, as well as research and analysis. Participation in the project may provide the institutions involved with additional support in identifying needs, strengthening institutional capacity and better targeting of public intervention.