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Grant Analysis

Core Objective: To enhance accessibility competencies among businesses and their employees, focusing on universal design principles and the commercialization of accessibility solutions.
Target Recipient Type and Size: Primarily targets existing micro, small, medium, and large enterprises, including social economy enterprises that engage in business activities.
Designation: SECTOR-AGNOSTIC
Geographic Scope: Nationwide in Poland ('CAŁY KRAJ').
Key Filtering Criteria: Businesses interested in improving accessibility and universal design within their operations, products, or services. Size of enterprise (micro, small, medium, large).
Grant Frequency and Program Context: This is a specific project called 'Akademia Dostępności' with a defined start and end date (2025-2027), funded under the European Funds for Social Development 2021-2027 program. It offers support services rather than direct financial grants to businesses.

This program provides support services (training, consulting) rather than direct financial grants to businesses.
Total project qualified expenditure: 11,264,519.20 PLN.
Funding source: Co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus.
Overall project funding rate from European funds: 81.16%.
For participants, the support services are indicated to be potentially 100% funded, implying no direct cost to the participating business or employee, subject to verification of state aid rules.

Organization Types

Eligible: Micro, small, medium, and large enterprises (MMSP).
Eligible: Social economy enterprises (PES) as defined by Polish law, provided they conduct business activity.

Organizational Size and Capacity

All sizes (micro, small, medium, large) are eligible.
For Path 1 (employee training and optional consulting), employees from large enterprises cannot exceed 40% of the total supported individuals.
For Path 2 (enterprise consulting), large enterprises cannot exceed 40% of the total supported enterprises.

Geographic Location

Other Specific Qualifications

Businesses must undergo a verification process to confirm eligibility for the project.
Applicants' status regarding state aid (de minimis aid) will be checked to ensure they can receive up to 100% funding for the provided support without exceeding legal limits.

Application Process and Deadlines

Application recruitment started on 2025-02-17.
The project runs until 2027-12-31, implying ongoing recruitment until participant targets are met or the project concludes.
Application is described as a 'simplified recruitment' process.
Businesses are encouraged to contact project specialists for assistance with application formalities.
A short phone conversation (approx. 3 minutes) is part of the initial contact to gather necessary information.

Required Documentation and Materials

Documentation is required for three main purposes:
- Verification of company qualification for the project.
- Confirmation that the company can receive 100% funding (e.g., no exceeding of prior state aid).
- Collection of information about the participants (employees or enterprises) who will benefit from the support.
A recruitment regulation document is available for download.
A complete package of documents for filling out is also available for download.

Types of Support Offered

The project offers two main support paths, and a business can choose only one:
- Path 1: Training (general and specialized) on accessibility and universal design, including commercialization, for employees. Optional post-training consulting is available.
- Path 2: Consulting services directly for enterprises on accessibility and universal design of goods or services.

Project Implementation and Reporting Obligations

Services will be provided throughout the project duration, from 2025-01-01 to 2027-12-31.
Training (Path 1):
- Typically 2-day sessions (12 training hours).
- Delivery format: 80% remote (online), 20% stationary.
- Group size: Minimum 6, maximum 16 participants.
- Certificate of competence awarded upon completion, requiring at least 80% attendance and a completed post-training survey.
Consulting (Path 1 & 2):
- Delivery format: 70% direct interaction (in-person, phone, internet communicators), 30% consultant's self-work.
- Path 1: Maximum 15 hours of consulting per employee (average 5 hours), starts after training completion.
- Path 2: Maximum 30 hours of consulting per enterprise (average 27 hours).
- Proof of service: Signed 'Service Delivery Form' (Path 1) or 'Consulting Service Report' (Path 2), including details of scope, location, and time.

Qualification Verification

Evaluation is primarily based on administrative verification of the company's eligibility, rather than competitive scoring of proposals.
Criteria checked include: whether the firm qualifies for the project based on its type and size, and its eligibility to receive the offered support (e.g., ensuring no exceeding of de minimis aid limits).
The project aims to raise competencies and knowledge in accessibility and universal design, and successful participation hinges on the applicant's willingness and capacity to engage with the training and consulting services.
There are no explicit scoring factors related to innovation, specific technological advancement levels, social impact beyond the general accessibility goal, or competitive advantage factors mentioned for the selection process, as this is a support program with ongoing recruitment.

Regulatory Compliance

All project activities and actions of beneficiaries must comply with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (KPON).

Data Protection and Privacy

Collection of participant information implies adherence to relevant data protection and privacy regulations.

Special Considerations

Choice of Support Path: A unique requirement is that a business or its employees can only benefit from one of the two support paths offered (either Path 1 for employees or Path 2 for the enterprise).
Simulation Tools: Consulting activities will include the use of simulation tools such as active wheelchairs, white canes, stoppers, vision impairment goggles, aging suits, and noise-cancelling headphones to provide practical experience of accessibility challenges.
Strategic Alignment: The project aims to help businesses adapt their environment, services, and products to be accessible for all, regardless of health status or age, promoting universal design.
Risk Tolerance: While not explicitly stated for applicants, the grant beneficiary (Wielkopolska Grupa Prawnicza) manages the project, including recruitment and delivery, indicating a low risk for the participant as the funding is for the services provided.