SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS’ ACTIVITIES TARGETED AT THE MICRO AND SMALL ENTERPRISE SECTOR FINANCED WITHIN THE “BON NA INNOWACJE” (INNOVATION VOUCHER) PROGRAMME

The paper presents the University of Szczecin’s experiences with micro and small enterprises concerning the implementation of innovative process solutions and pre-implementation research. This form of cooperation took place in 2009-2010 and was part-financed by the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development.
The “Bon Na Innowacje” (Innovation Voucher) programme provided funds for services related to product or technology implementation and development delivered by a scientific institution selected by the entrepreneur in a beauty contest. The services could have aimed, for instance, to develop a new technology of production or service delivery, or to enhance: an existing technology offered by the enterprise, a product it manufactures or a service it delivers. Consulting services offered by scientific institutions were also considered as eligible costs.
The programme was addressed to micro and small enterprises which in the year of application and within 3 calendar years preceding the year of application for funds within the “Bon Na Innowacje” programme were not using R&D services delivered by a scientific institution. The group of eligible service providers included scientific institutions involved in research or development on a continuous basis.
The paper describes the phases of the University of Szczecin’s experience of cooperation with entrepreneurs, from a beauty contest to negotiations on the contract, delivery of the service and the final settlement. For selected case studies the continuation of the cooperation between enterprises and the scientific institution has been presented as achievement of one of the programme objectives, i.e. the establishment of cooperation between entrepreneurs and scientific institutions.