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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

The 'SmartUp powered by StartSmart CEE' grant offers non-repayable financial support for technology startups. It focuses on two development paths: 'PilotReady Booster' for pilot implementation with corporate partners, and 'GoGlobal' for international market expansion into the USA or Germany. - Target Recipient Type: Startups, Micro and Small Enterprises. - Target Recipient Size: Micro and Small enterprises, as defined by EU regulations. - SECTOR-SPECIFIC: TECHNOLOGY sector. - Geographic Scope: Applicants must be based in Poland. The 'GoGlobal' path specifically targets market entry into the USA (Boston ecosystem) or Germany (Berlin ecosystem). - Key Filtering Criteria: Technology focus, startup status, micro/small enterprise size, and readiness for pilot implementation or international expansion. - Grant Frequency: The program operates in recurring rounds.

Financial Structure

Funding Type: Non-repayable financial support ('Bezzwrotne wsparcie w formie pieniężnej').
Max Funding Amount per Project: 400000 PLN (as specified for the broader 'Startup Booster Poland – Smart UP' program, under which this grant operates).
Currency: PLN.
Eligible Costs:
Costs related to the implementation of pilot projects for the 'PilotReady Booster' path.
Costs of participation in programs supporting expansion into the USA or Germany for the 'GoGlobal' path.
De Minimis Aid:
The support provided is subject to de minimis aid rules.
The maximum de minimis aid an enterprise can receive is 300000 EUR over any period of three fiscal years (as per Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2831).
This limit applies to all de minimis aid received from any source within the specified period, not just this grant.

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational Type & Size

Micro and Small Enterprises (MŚP):
Must meet the criteria outlined in Annex I of EU Regulation no. 651/2014, as well as the conditions for de minimis aid.
Micro-enterprise: Typically less than 10 employees and an annual turnover or balance sheet total not exceeding 2 million EUR.
Small enterprise: Typically less than 50 employees and an annual turnover or balance sheet total not exceeding 10 million EUR.
Startups:
Must be technology-focused startups.

Project Specific Requirements

For 'PilotReady Booster' path:
Solutions must address needs confirmed by 'Technology Recipients' (Odbiorcy Technologii) who act as business partners.
Focus on pilot implementation of solutions and validating their business value.
For 'GoGlobal' path:
Must be preparing for international expansion into the USA (Boston ecosystem) or Germany (Berlin ecosystem).
The program supports building international business relationships and adapting market strategies.

Geographic Requirements

Applicant organization must be based in Poland.

Other Conditions

Must comply with de minimis aid rules, as per Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2831.

Application Process

Application Timeline and Deadlines

Applications are conducted in rounds. Applicants can submit proposals at a convenient time during open rounds.
The latest specific application deadlines for 'SmartUp powered by StartSmart CEE' are:
PilotReady Booster (4th round 2025):
- Start: 2025-09-08
- End: 2025-10-07
GoGlobal Berlin:
- Start: 2025-10-27
- End: 2025-11-13

Application Procedure

The specific procedure details are not provided but it's stated that applicants can 'fill out an application at a convenient time'. Full documentation will be available for each program edition.

Support and Assistance

PARP Infoline (801 332 202 or 22 574 07 07) is available Monday-Friday, 8:30-16:30 for general inquiries about PARP programs.
LiveChat support is also available via the website.
Expert consultations are available for various PARP programs; applicants should check the schedule for specific program expert availability.

Evaluation Criteria

Specific evaluation criteria and a scoring system are not detailed in the provided grant materials. However, selection is based on the alignment with the program's two paths: - Technological Solution Alignment: How well the startup's technological solution addresses the defined needs. - Business Value Validation (for PilotReady Booster): Potential for successful pilot implementation and confirmation of business value through collaboration with industry leaders. - International Expansion Readiness (for GoGlobal): The startup's preparedness and strategy for entering the US or German markets. - Compliance: Adherence to organizational size definitions (micro/small enterprise) and de minimis aid conditions will be a critical pre-condition for eligibility.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory Compliance

De Minimis Aid: All support is granted under the de minimis aid framework, subject to Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2831. Applicants must ensure they do not exceed the 300000 EUR limit over a three-year period from all de minimis aid sources.
Micro and Small Enterprise Definition: Eligibility is strictly tied to the EU definition of micro and small enterprises (as per Annex I of EU Regulation no. 651/2014).

Special Considerations

Partnership for PilotReady Booster: For the 'PilotReady Booster' path, solutions must meet needs confirmed by 'Technology Recipients' who serve as business partners. A list of these partners will be provided in the call documentation for each program edition.
GoGlobal Market Focus: The 'GoGlobal' path has a specific geographic focus on expansion into the USA (Boston ecosystem) or Germany (Berlin ecosystem).
Program Context: This grant is part of the broader 'Startup Booster Poland – Smart UP' initiative, which implies alignment with its overall objectives and potential for synergy within that ecosystem.

Grant Details