This is a solution thanks to which an entrepreneur can develop his company by directing it, among others, to: on the path of innovation. If a company owner has an idea for a project and is looking for financial support, but does not know how to take the first step towards obtaining European Funds, then STEP instrument may be the perfect solution for him. What is it about?
STEP instrument. How does it work?
STEP is also an instrument for those entrepreneurs who would like to introduce their product to international markets or have purchased it results research and development work from scientists, but they need money for implementation. In the case of the STEP Instrument, the entrepreneur must already have an idea of what he intends to do and what types of expenses he anticipates. This is the first and necessary step. What's next?
Participating in the STEP Facility is simple. Just go to the website www.step.gov.plcomplete and submit the form. However, it must be remembered that an idea alone is not enough application competitive. An entrepreneur does not have to know all the details, he should describe what he intends to do in the simplest way possible. Currently the STEP Instrument operates under the European Funds for a Modern Economy (FENG) program, which replaced the Intelligent Development Program (POIR).
You have submitted your application, what next?
What will happen after the entrepreneur submits the application? He must wait 7 days. Including time experts will check whether the idea fits into the European Funds for a Modern Economy. “Check your e-mail and answer the phone,” experts advise. If the idea does not fit FENG, other sources of financing may be available. A consultant will help you identify them. If the entrepreneur's plan is consistent with FENG, he or she will be contacted by an expert with whom it will be possible to determine the method of cooperation and exchange of information. Expert:
- will indicate sources of financing from the European Funds, and above all from the European Funds for a Modern Economy,
- indicate the FENG competition for which your idea qualifies and the institution to which the application should be submitted,
- will help you clearly and precisely define the project's goals and its main assumptions,
- will provide key information about the competition necessary at the application development stage,
- determine the strengths and weaknesses of the idea in the context of the recommended FENG competition,
- will present practical and specific recommendations, the implementation of which will increase the entrepreneur's chances of obtaining funding for the implementation of the idea.
Final stage: submitting an application in the competition
To sum up: The entrepreneur will receive an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the idea, prepared especially for him. The analysis will take into account the specificity of the competition to which the project idea was qualified. Then, there was nothing left to do except the entrepreneur's decision to submit an application in the competition. Let us remind you that the European Funds for a Modern Economy Program supports, among others:
- tests,
- introducing innovations;
- use of advanced technologies,
- increasing the competitiveness of Polish SMEs,
- green and digital transformation of enterprises.
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The article is part of the project “Unia Stories – 20 years of Poland in the European Union. People, opportunities, prospects” co-financed by the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy from the Regional Development Fund.