To achieve sustainable economic growth, investment in new green technologies and green innovation is important. Despite some improvements in recent years, Poland is still lagging behind the EU average when it comes to eco-innovation in companies, and especially in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). At the same time, there is a lack of available funding to support eco-innovation.
The ‘Green industry innovation’ programme funded by Norway provides €20 million to support companies in Poland who are developing environmentally friendly products, services and technologies.
The funding helps to increasing the competitiveness of the companies involved, but it also contributes to reduce CO2 emissions with almost 100 000 tonnes per year. This is roughly equivalent to the emission from 20 000 passenger vehicles during one year. Through the projects 80 green jobs, mostly in areas outside the main cities, will also be created.
"This program is beneficial both for business and for the environment. It enables Polish and Norwegian companies to cooperate closely, which will increase their competitiveness on the EU market and make best use of the immense potential of green technology sector in Europe," said the Ambassador of Norway in Poland, Karsten Klepsvik at a seminar in Warsaw 16 June where some of the projects also were presented.
Out of 83 applications, 30 projects have been selected for funding. The projects are carried out in most parts of Poland by companies mainly from the manufacturing sector and within waste management and recycling. Nine of the projects are carried out in partnership with Norwegian companies, research institutions and clusters. The programme is operated by Innovation Norway.
Read more about the programme.
See photos from a green innovation project in Wroclaw in our media library.