1. Support of Regional Innovation System in Lubelskie Region Department for Economy and Innovations

2.  The European Single Market is a home to around 12 million companies, among them the 99% by number are SMEs. So making services easy and useful, for this community, is of great importance.  In Lubelskie Region we have around 120.000 SMEs  Providing services and support for this group is one of the most important ] objectives for the regional authorities.  According to studies not all business services reach high sophistication level and not all government actors perform equally well.  Performance is weak across the board, with sophistication rates lingering between 22% and 54%.  The World Bank’s Doing Business Report ranks countries across the globe according to the ease of starting a business. New Zealand, Canada, Australia and Singapore lead this ranking. Needs of the local economy

3. Lubelskie Region Forms of expected support (by SMEs on the basis of questionnaire responses 2006) 47,2 40,9 27,7 13,7 20,5 27,5 52,8 24,0 31,1 33,3 8,9 15,6 57,8 22,2 0,0 10,0 20,0 30,0 40,0 50,0 60,0 70,0 Investments in new technologies Investments to increase production capacity Expansion to foreign markets Investments in environment protection facilites Advisory services Training and HRD Cheap loans for innovative initiatives Credits guaranteed by credit guarantee fund PolandLubelskie

4. Recognizing the weakness of local economy Ailing system of financing R+D in Poland The long tradition of academic research being involved only in basic research work, with almost no reference to practical applications of the scientific results in industry. Lack of partnership between business and academia Poor information network and access to supply of innovations Need of effective tools for transferring information to the target groups Innovation offer inadequate to business’ demands Low patent activity Poor supply of locally selected and up-to-date business information Low competitiveness of regional business Limited access to low cost credit Poor investment and promotion activities

5. Main strategic objective for several projects undertaken by The Department for Economy and Innovations of Marshall’s Office of Lubelskie Region is to enhance an innovation process and capacity building of the Lubelskie Region in the field of planning and implementation of the regional innovation policies. All projects are fully compliant with the objectives and measures laid down in RIS-Lubelskie and are aimed to answer the needs of: Entrepreneurs Universities Research institutions Students Business support institutions Regional government and The public in general Department for Economy and Innovation In service to local community Ultimately this endeavor should help strengthen the economic and social cohesion of the region as well as to improve its competitive edge within European Community

6. Projects - consecutives phases of development Previous studies Strategic Reflection Implementation plan 1. Analyzing the RIS projects completed in the period of 2004-2006 2. The need to take advantage of the self-potential, the available resources and the internal capabilities. 3. To stimulate efforts of the private sector towards the common objective of increasing the Regional Competitiveness. 4. This approach was based on the fact that the enterprises, the universities and other innovation agents are the target groups for the whole initiative.

7. Regional Economy Portal Free of charge access Active participation in regional economy Better promotion of local business Synergy effect of active participation between portal users groups Better cooperation between regional partner institutions Increased competitiveness Integration of key partners for specific purposes Reorientation of research activities towards market needs Easier cooperation opportunities Access to regional investment and technology offers www.gospodarka.lubelskie.pl

8. Regional Economy Portal The creation of functional network between science and business environment by strengthening and stimulating business- oriented innovation process – transfer of knowledge. Adapting scientific offer of the universities to needs of regional business and helping to improve contacts between the two. Consultations on line - researchers, specialists in specific areas, universities, research Entrepreneurs and the general public Reports of problems to be solved by researchers and scientific community in general (a field of research for scientists. Scientists gather research material for use in scientific papers)

9. Regional Economy Portal Flexibility Up-to-date information Quality Precision and concrete Appropriate selection Systematical approach Punctuality Reliability Responsibility Increase of innovation queries Increase of application for EU funds Increase of links between business and academia Better awareness of businessmen and innovators on common demands Better use of ICT tools i.e. quicker information exchange Increase of local administration involvement into economy More precise use of regional intellectual capital Identification and development of specific economy branches typical for the region Increasing investments into regional economy

10. Regional Economy Portal - content Information for start-ups –Rules, Law, Forms –Directions to target institutions Regional events register –Fairs –Meetings B to B, B to R+D, R+D to B List of EU, national and regional programmes for financial support (links) –Deadlines –Support limits –Areas of preference Tender register Cooperation offers Financial opportunities for business Innovation and technology offers Investment offers Personnel recruitment institutions Newsletter Free business consultations Public participation in all aspects of Portal’s activities Public in constant dialog with local authorities www.gospodarka.lubelskie.pl

11. Technology Audits and Technology Matching The main goal of the project is to help SME’s to solve a technological problem, help to develop a product, or support research and related activities with a professional help paid for from the project funds. Declaration of Participation (SMEs with technological problem to be solved) – 87 Enterprise solutions (scientific research and resolving the problem– 65 Cost of all research project 910 000 PLN The outcome of the project: Stimulating Business Innovation Increasing the competitiveness of SMEs through business innovation Expert know-how to ensure the future development of selected SME Stimulated process of innovation transfer between universities and SME’s Better cooperation between local authorities, universities and business

12. Technology Audits and Technology Matching The outcome of the project:  Introduction of products and services that are new or significantly improved - in some cases their characteristics and use were improved in terms of technical specifications, user friendliness or other functional characteristics.  Iimplementation of new or improved production methods (some changes in technology and equipment )  Implementation a new organizational method adopted by rules of engagement in the workplace and in relations with the environment

13. Scholarships for PhD students Department for Economy and Innovation Currently Department for Economy and Innovation is planning to continue Scholarships for PhD students Project. The project will address the practical applications of results of doctoral dissertations for business requests and demands. The scholarship will apply to both, those who are participants of doctoral studies as well as those working at universities or scientific institutes located in the area of Lubelskie Region

14. Scholarships for PhD students Department for Economy and Innovation The first stage of the project started in 2008 and will end in the year 2010. So far 114 doctoral students were recognized as potential important contributors to progress and growth, the people who will help strengthening the competitiveness and economic development of Lubelskie Region. The second stage will start in 2011 with approximately 170 participants and will end in year 2013. The project is a very good example of close cooperation of Local Authorities, Universities and business interested in the outcome of research and scientific work of young Scientist

15. Regional Foresight Growth of economy of the region in view of globalization processes Identifying key regional products for the future expansion Feasible scale of high and new – tech industry development in the region

16. Thank You Marshall’s Office of Lubelskie Voivodeship Department for Economy and Innovation ul. Graniczna 4 20-010 Lublin dpi@lubelskie.pl Tel: +48 81 5371651 Fax: +48 81 5371637 Mariusz Majkutewicz