BŁAŻEJ MODER PRESIDENT LODZ REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY LODZ, OCTOBER 8, 2008

1. THE EU SUPPORT FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT BŁAŻEJ MODER PRESIDENT LODZ REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY LODZ, OCTOBER 8, 2008

2. CONTENT LORIS PLUS VISION CHALLENGES ACTION PLAN ROLE OF LODZ RDA TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCES TRAININGS

3. REGIONAL INNOVATION STRATEGYLORIS PLUS 1/2 VISION: Transformation of Lodzkie Voivodship into one of the leading regions in the field of knowledge and information The general goal of the project is to elaborate a strategic framework that allows for increasing the innovativeness and competitiveness of enterprisesin the Łódź region through the optimisation of infrastructures and regional innovation policy.

4. REGIONAL INNOVATION STRATEGYLORIS PLUS 2/2 • Loris Plus is aimed mainly at businessmen, scientist, representatives of local authorities and business environment organizations. Its idea is to foster the development and ability to create a new image of the citywith friendly attitude to science and business. • The project is directly connected to the priorities of the Lisbon strategy, which points at innovation and entrepreneurship as a crucial element in achieving its political objectives.

5. CHALLENGES • To develop a regional innovation policy using the RIS approach, • To develop strong regional collaboration and consensus that would provide viability to the key actions, • To promoteinnovative development and provide opportunities for enhanced economic growth at a regional level by sharing knowledge, • To develop collaboration with EU innovating regions in order to identify best practice policies in institutional practice and governance with respect to innovation and entrepreneurship development.

6. ACTIONPLAN • Action plan was prepared in order to select the most vital and urgent actions that must be taken in order to launch the process of regional transformation. • It covers 5 fields that are crucial to foster regional development.

7. OBJECTIVES & TOOLS 1/2 • Human resources development as a condition of prosperous region (competences, abilities). • grants for education and personal development • Development of innovation and R&D resources of regional companies. • development of R&D infrastructure • development of IT solutions concerning new tech • sectoral benchmarking • Establishing fields for cooperation and enhancing of regional clusters / R&D networks development. • enhancing R&D enterprises realised in a partnership • creation and development of clusters networks

8. OBJECTIVES & TOOLS 2/2 • Development of innovative, comprehensive services supporting activities of the companies. • development of IT applications • creation of services platforms for the companies • Transformation management throught development of efective institutions as well as regional administration abilities and competences. • launching of sectoral researches • administrational and institutional development

9. ROLE OF LODZ RDA LODZ REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY • Special public entity dealing with entrepreneurship development that implements strategic decisions concerning SMEs’, important from the point of view of the Lodz region • Active institution providing comprehensive services such asconsultingandaccess to financialtools • Implementation of investment projects based on EU funds • 16 years of experience in providing SMEs’ with services

10. TRANSFER OF TECH FINANCES LODZ RDA CONSULTANCY INNOVATION TRAININGS INFRASTRUCTURE ENTERPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT LODZ RDA SERVICES

11. TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY 1/3 Construction of regional platform for transfer of technology • Platform for cooperation between academic centres, R&D institutions and innovative companies; • Framework for commercialization and development of technologies responding to market demand. Lodz RDA assistance: • Capital acquisition • Partners for setting up of new joint ventures • Partnership with banks offering loans devoted to innovative investment projects

12. TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY 2/3 CALL LRDA TECH • COMPANY’S • CALL FOR NEW • INNOVATIVE • TECHNOLOGY • ACCESS TO • SCIENTISTS • ACCESS TO INFRASTRUCTURE • LEGAL ASPECTS • CREATION OF • TECHNOLOGY • (R&D CENTER) • PURCHASE OF • TECHNOLOGY • (COMPANY) SCHEME 1

13. TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY 3/3 TECH LRDA MARKET • ANALYSIS • FINANCIAL • RESOURCES • PROMOTION AND • MARKETING • COMMERCIALIZATION • INTRODUCTION • TO THE MARKET • IDEA • INVENTION • PROJECT • DEVELOPMENT SCHEME 2

14. INNOVATION IMPLEMENTATION OF OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME INNOVATIVE ECONOMY COMPONENTS • Development of R&D activity • Development of companies based on e-Business and e-Services • Reinforcement of B2B cooperation among SMEs’ based on ICT development

15. INFRASTRUCTURE 1/2 LODZ TELE-INFORMATIC BROADBAND NETWORK • element of a wide ICT development programme realised by Marshal’s Office of Lodzkie Region • introduction ofe-Governmentpublic services (Gate of the Region), regional TV • information societydevelopment by bridging the digital gap Timing: 2007-2013; Budget: 50 mln Euro

16. INFRASTRUCTURE 2/2 • Administration – framework for communication network linking territorial authority entities (E-government) • Education – implementation of regional education network (E-learning) • Healthcare system – infrastructure for tele-medical system (E-health) • Incentive for entrepreneurs – basis for new type of economic activities and business applications

17. FINANCES 1/2 LOAN FUND & GUARANTEE FUND Regional Loan Fund: • devoted to companies searching for financial support for investments that will result in creation of new workplaces • 1996 – 2007 the fund granted 330 loans on the sum of 15 mln Euro Guarantee Fund: • devoted to companies searching for financialguarantee required why applying for loans • guarantee up to 80% of the loan value

18. FINANCES 2/2 INTERREGIONAL PLATFORM OF BUSINESS ANGELS • Virtual platform for cooperation between private investors (business angels) and innovative companies; • Creation of new interregional business angels network; • Launch of advertising campaign (media coverage, seminars, conferences, workshops) aiming at promotion of business angels as a brand new financial tool available for SMEs’ • Cooperation with experienced partners: Business Angel Seedfund (central Poland), Gdansk Foundation for Entrepreneurship (northern Poland), SilBAN (southern Poland)

19. CONSULTANCY NATIONAL SYSTEM OF SERVICES • Leader of the system in Lodz region • Specialized consulting points for SMEs’ (11 in a region) • Free of charge access to information & consultancy concerning European funds directed towards small and medium size companies • Professional, comprehensive consulting services on: • innovation • legal aspects of running private business • marketing, management • financial sources of investment projects

20. TRAININGS TYPES OF TRAININGS: 1) General trainings realized within a framework of National System of Services available for all companies running economic activity in the region 2) Specialist trainings for companies that want to educate and develop theoretical and practical skills of its employees Case study: Indesit Company Poland • Trainings devoted to top management as well as employees working in commercial and service departments; • 100 employees / 18 months / 1,2 mln PLN • Innovative partnership between Lodz RDA, Indesit Co. and University of Lodz.

21. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION !!! LODZ REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY WWW.LARR.LODZ.PL TEL:+ 48 42664 3752 FAX: +48 42 37 50 E-MAIL: LARR@LODZ.PL