"Technologieparken bieden juiste stimulans voor creativiteit en innovatie" (en)
Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner will be in Wroclaw in Lower Silesia (South-West Poland) on 8 May for the inauguration of the Technology Park which is taking place during the first European SME Week. The Technology Park, supported by Europe's Cohesion Policy, will be a focal point for the region’s investors. The Commissioner will take the opportunity to underline the importance of thriving and innovative small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in today’s global economy (IP/09/717).
Ahead of her visit, Commissioner Hübner stated: “Securing healthy and dynamic businesses, especially SMEs, is a key to tackling the economic crisis. Science and technology parks are a priority for Cohesion Policy investment: by bringing together businesses, universities and public authorities, these hubs create the right conditions for stimulating innovation. They can transform the profile of regions so that they attract new talent and businesses."
The “T-Park”: the ideal development environment for SMEs
In the city of Szczawno Zdrój, Commissioner Hübner, Marshal Marek Lapiñski and the Rector of the Wroclaw University of Technology, Tadeusz Wieckowski, will inaugurate the Lower-Silesian (Dolnoslàskie) Technology Park. It provides a favourable environment for the creation and development of enterprises focused on the commercialisation of scientific research and implementation of new technologies, as well as for attracting venture capital. The project, launched three years ago in a former mining district hit by the collapse of the heavy industry, is managed by the Dolnoslakie Regional Development Agency (DARR) and has benefited from €7.5 million in funding from the European Cohesion Policy.
The park comprises five investment lots of 21 hectares, a research and development (R&D) centre with 1000 m² of commercial office space, 200 m² laboratories, 5 conference halls and 400 m² of warehouses. Companies based in the T-Park will have access to lending funds, banks, law and accountancy offices, translation agencies and an “Enterprise Europe Network” centre.
In her speech, Commissioner Hübner will make reference to similar successful technology and business parks in Europe which have benefited from Cohesion Policy support: Cambridge Science Park in the UK, Barcelona Science Park, Technology Parks in Piedmont (Italy), Aldershof Park in Berlin, and the Lahti Science and Business Park in Finland. She will also highlight ENCOURAGE, a project supported by the Commission's INTERREG initiative, which links several regions including Paris (Ile-de-France), Southeast Wales and Hertfordshire (UK) and South Netherlands. It aims to promote environmental management in business parks and neighbouring cities by developing eco-buildings, management of waste and recycling. (EU contribution: €5.05 million).
Cohesion Policy programme for 2007-2013
During her visit, Commissioner Hübner will hold talks with representatives of the regional authorities on the state-of-play of Cohesion Policy investment in Lower-Silesia. The regional programme has been allocated €1.2 billion from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and €413 million from the European Social Fund (ESF) in 2007-2013, with a strong emphasis on the development of SMEs, modernisation of transport infrastructure, improvement of the environment and flood prevention, support to health, cultural and social services, and promotion of tourism (see MEMO/08/119).
The impact of the recession will also be at the heart of the discussions. Commissioner Hübner will explain the range of measures taken by the European Commission to boost regional economies in Europe. In particular, Lower-Silesia has just received an additional advance payment of €25 million from the Structural Funds, on top of the €113 million already received since 2007. These front-loaded investments will allow the region to implement EU funded projects more quickly.
For more information on the Cohesion Policy in Poland, please refer to: