The Polish Agency for Enterprise Development announced the recruitment of: "Investments for enterprises in products, services and competences of employees and staff related to business diversification" under the National Reconstruction and Resilience Plan (KPO).

Recruitment deadline: start: May 6, 2024, end: June 5, 2024

The purpose of the Investment is to support SME ventures aimed at expanding or changing the profile of existing operations in the hotel, catering (HoReCa), tourism or culture sectors, i.e. in the sectors most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland.

Who can receive support?

Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises from the HoReCa, tourism or culture sectors that in 2020 or 2021 recorded a year-on-year decline in turnover of at least 30% may apply for support for the implementation of SME projects. As of the date of submitting the application, the applicant must run a business in the HoReCa, tourism or culture sector and confirm that as of December 31, 2019 or from March 20, 2020 at the latest, he or she was running a business in this sector.

Financial assistance for the implementation of the entire project under the Investment constitutes support to cover the costs of:

1. investment in the design and production of its goods and services, such as:

•      purchase of machines and equipment necessary to introduce new products/services to the market,
•      construction works, including construction of new production lines,
•      investments related to the green transition, in particular encouraging waste prevention, recycling/reuse of waste and the implementation of renewable energy solutions,
•      activities related to the use of digital technologies due to the need to change processes, the way the company operates or to strengthen resilience in the event of subsequent crises in the sector in which the business is conducted, and

2. improving employee qualifications, including e.g. training related to acquiring new skills or retraining employees, or

3. development services for supported SMEs, including e.g. development of a feasibility study, business model, development of technical procedures.

The maximum intensity of support for an SME project cannot exceed 90% of eligible costs.

More information about the recruitment and documents to download on the website of the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development.