POLAND: EEA Grants trigger Interest in Norwegian Know-How
WARSAW: On January 2nd 2007, the Second Call for Proposals for the EEA Grants was announced in Poland. The Second Call will make available one more lot of EUR 176 million. Many Polish organizations are now working hard on preparing their applications. The deadline for sending in applications is April, 16th 2007. - The first call for proposals has awakened a strong interest in Poland concerning Norwegian know-how, technology and business in general, Innovation Norway’s office in Warsaw writes.
The EEA Grants are funds offered to new member states in EU, and also in the EEA, by Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. The aim of the programme is to reduce social and economic disparities between the new member states and the rest of EEA. Poland is the largest beneficiary of the programme, which will last to 2009, and will bring Poland a total of EUR 533.51 million.
Priority sectors
The EEA Grants consist of two financial mechanisms, the EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism. The funds will be used for supporting projects implemented within strictly defined priority sectors, such as protection of the environment, sustainable development, European cultural heritage, human resources, health and childcare, and scientific research.
Many applications for first Open Call
The first Open Call took place in November 2005 and its value was EUR 176 million. The Polish co-ordinating authority received altogether 1 378 applications from Polish organizations for a total value of EUR 1.6 billion. From these 147 applications were selected for further processing.
Change of Priority in 3rd Call
The last Third Call, will be announced at the end of this year or in the beginning of 2008. However, this call will offer less money, only the remaining EUR 73 million. Some of the priorities, e.g. environment protection and culture, will no longer be on the list.
Even more applications expected
Thanks to the good publicity, the Norwegian funds are well known to the public in Poland, and this time even more applications than in 2005 are expected. Generally, all public or private sector bodies and NGOs constituted as legal entities and operating in the public interest may apply for the money. The grants rate up to 60% and 85% of the total cost of the investment.
Partnerships are rewarded
In the present call for proposals it is very advisable for the Polish entities to apply for funding for projects, in which they have a co-operation with a partner from one of the donor states. It is enough if the Polish entity has an intention letter signed with an entity in Norway. It can be a Norwegian company, a municipality, a NGO or any other legal person. Applications concerning projects planned to be carried out with such partners will be awarded additional 10% of the points which can be scored by an applicant.
Norwegian partners sought-after
This message has reached the Polish applicants and the interest among the Polish players to find a partner in Norway has recently increased very strongly. It is somewhat early to say that the EEA Grants have been a great success, as no projects have been completed with assistance of these funds so far. Nevertheless, we can clearly see that one of the goals has already been reached: a strong interest concerning Norwegian know-how, technology and business in general has been awakened in Poland.
The right time to enter
This is a large opportunity for companies in Norway operating in the priority sectors listed above. For those, who have been thinking about expanding their activity onto the Polish market, this is the right moment to act. There are many good opportunities to sell both products and services, especially in the sector of environment protection and infrastructure, healthcare, childcare, culture and others. Check for details on www.eeagrants.org or www.odin.dep.no/europaportalen, and do not hesitate; take your chance!
Red.anm.:
Les mer om fordelingen av midler i 2. runde i Eksportaktuelts utgave nr 19 for 2006, lenke her
http://eksportaktuelt.never.no/servlet/dokumenter/
2450feltnummer8.pdf/EA%2019_14.pdf