The financing of target projects introduced in 1991 has proved to be the most effective form of funding research projects. A target project is a research undertaking to be implemented at a set time (within three and exceptionally five years) under clearly specified terms and carried out by an enterprise or another entity capable of applying the projects results in practice. More than 4,000 research projects were financed in that form between 1991 and 2005.
Funds for carrying out target projects come from the national budget and since 2004 also from the European Union’s Enhancing Business Competitiveness” Operational Programme (EBC OP) and from the EU Innovative Economy Operational Programme (IE OP) as of 2007. The funds are at the disposal of the Minister of Science and Higher Education, and those set aside for the SMEs are entrusted by the Minister to the Federation of Scientific and Technical Associations of the Main Technical Organization. The means for target projects are allocated by public competition. So far, these projects have been financed to the tune of several thousand to more than 20 million zlotys.
In recent years growing interest has been observed among companies to take part in target projects. Entrepreneurs are becoming increasingly aware that the time of labour cost competitiveness is over and that the only way to stay afloat and enhance market position is by investing in research and development and raising product quality.
The ever growing number of companies taking advantage of target project funding is also accounted for by the opportunity of cooperating with scientific units. This is of particular importance for small and medium sized companies as they can commission the research they need to scientific entities. That opportunity is also taken advantage of by big companies running their own R&D centres and laboratories.
Under the target project scheme, about 95% of the ventures have been implemented as planned. Experts attribute this high effectiveness rate to the flexibility of the scheme and in particular to financial incentives: companies concluding contracts under the terms of that form of public aid must engage their own means as well. Hence they are particularly keen on ensuring effective results of research and implementation proceedings.
Equally highly effective results ensue from financing commissioned research. Under that scheme, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education announces a long-term set of thematic research and implementation areas particularly preferred by the state and listed in the National Framework Programme. The Ministry also announces periodic competitions for research projects in strategic research areas covering priority R&D directions. Projects are selected for implementation by members of competition commissions nominated by the Minister and consisting of eminent scientists and economic experts. It is also they who allocate the appropriate subsidies (grants).
Financing R&D work by competition is the rule in almost all EU countries. Hence there was some anxiety in Poland over tendencies to accelerate the growth of public expenditures for science using subject criteria. That development prompted the revision in 2007 of the proposed set of research and education projects in Regional Operational Programmes. We shall soon see whether steps taken by the administration will ensure a more effective selection of research projects.
Andrzej Jodłowski
Source: A.Gryzik, P. Gąsiorkiewicz-Płonka
– Innovative target projects