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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

The Concordia Design Accelerator aims to effectively support Polish and foreign startups in their adaptation and commercialization, primarily focusing on social impact, industry 4.0, and e-commerce. The program facilitates active collaboration with the public, scientific, financial, and business sectors, with a strong emphasis on international expansion. It is a SECTOR-SPECIFIC grant for startups with a ready product looking to grow and expand. The geographic scope covers Poland and abroad, with specific tracks for Polish startups expanding internationally ('Go Global') and foreign startups entering the Polish market ('Poland Prize'). This program is recurring, structured in multiple acceleration rounds.

Financial Structure

Funding Amount: Each participating startup is eligible for a 400,000 PLN grant for development.
Funding Type: The grant is equity-free, meaning you do not have to give up shares in your company to receive the funding.
Co-financing: No co-financing requirements are specified in terms of direct financial contribution from the applicant.
Eligible Costs: The grant is intended for the development of products and services and for international expansion. Specific eligible cost categories are not itemized, but they would generally align with the acceleration program's objectives.
De Minimis Aid: The funding is provided under 'de minimis' aid rules. This means that the total amount of 'de minimis' aid your enterprise has received from the state over the current and two preceding fiscal years cannot exceed 300,000 EUR.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the Concordia Design Accelerator, your organization must meet the following criteria: - Organization Type: Startups, micro-enterprises, or small enterprises. - Micro-enterprise: Typically fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover or balance sheet total of up to €2 million. - Small enterprise: Typically fewer than 50 employees and an annual turnover or balance sheet total of up to €10 million. - These definitions are in accordance with Article 22 of Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 and the conditions for 'de minimis' aid. - Product Readiness: Your startup must have a ready product ('gotowym produktem'). - Experience: For the 'Go Global' path, teams should ideally have experience in international expansion and a clear internationalization strategy. - Geographic Scope: The program is open to both Polish startups (for 'Go Global' path, targeting international markets like Germany, Austria, Switzerland) and foreign startups (for 'Poland Prize' path, focused on expansion into Poland). - Exclusion Criteria: Eligibility is subject to 'de minimis' aid rules, which means certain sectors like primary production in fishing/aquaculture, agriculture, and activities related to export aid (e.g., aid tied to export quantities or domestic over import goods) are generally excluded. The total 'de minimis' aid received by an enterprise over a three-year period (current fiscal year and two preceding fiscal years) must not exceed 300,000 EUR.

Application Process

Application Portal: Applications are submitted via the accelerator's website.
Application Deadlines: The program operates with multiple submission rounds. The latest specified round for applications is:
Poland Prize Path (Nabór V): Starts October 15, 2025, and ends December 15, 2025.
Note: An earlier round for the 'Go Global' path (Nabór IV) is from July 1, 2025, to August 31, 2025. There's also an overall program end date of October 31, 2026, but the specific application deadlines are per round.
Program Duration: The acceleration program itself lasts for 6 months.
Support Offered: Beyond the direct grant, the program provides:
Mentorship: Access to a network of experienced mentors.
Networking: Connections with investors, key industry representatives, and ecosystem partners.
Resources: Support in refining expansion strategies, testing product readiness in new markets, and team development.
Required Documentation: Applicants should review the 'Acceleration Agreement' ('Umowę akceleracyjną') and 'Regulations' ('Regulamin') available on the accelerator's website for detailed requirements.

Evaluation Criteria

While explicit scoring criteria are not detailed, the grant materials indicate that applications will be evaluated based on the following: - Sector Alignment: Preference is given to solutions within e-commerce, industry 4.0, and social impact that contribute positively to the world, society, and economy. However, other sectors are not excluded if they present a strong product or service. - Product Innovation and Readiness: Startups must have a 'ready product' and their solutions should aim for efficiency, safety, and smartness. This implies a focus on innovative and well-developed offerings. - Internationalization Potential: For the 'Go Global' path, the potential for successful international expansion is a key factor, including a clear strategy and relevant team experience. - Impact Potential: Solutions that demonstrate a positive impact are preferred, particularly in areas like smart city technologies (mobility, waste, water use), digital transformation, automation, and advanced data utilization (AI, Big Data). - Team Quality: Although not explicitly detailed as a scoring criterion, the mention of seeking 'Teams with experience in international expansion' suggests that team composition and expertise are considered important.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory Compliance: Applicants must adhere to the conditions for 'de minimis' aid as defined by Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 and specifically Regulation (EU) 2023/2831, which sets a limit of 300,000 EUR over any three-year period.
Intellectual Property: The grant is 'equity-free', implying that the startup retains full ownership of its intellectual property, as shares are not transferred.
Risk Management: The program is designed to support startups in their growth and international expansion, inherently accepting a degree of business risk common to innovative ventures.
Unique Aspects: The Concordia Design Accelerator is distinguished by its strong focus on internationalization, offering specific pathways for both Polish startups seeking to enter foreign markets and foreign startups aiming for the Polish market. It provides a comprehensive support system beyond just funding, including significant mentorship and networking opportunities over a concentrated 6-month period.

Grant Details