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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

The 'Startup Spark 3.0' program aims to support micro and small enterprises, specifically startups, in developing new technologies for various business and industrial applications. It also seeks to facilitate their expansion into international markets through a structured acceleration and post-acceleration program. This grant is primarily SECTOR-SPECIFIC in its core technology focus areas (robotics, blockchain, etc.), but it also offers a 'sector-agnostic' track for how those technologies are applied. Target recipients are startups classified as micro and small enterprises. Geographically, applicants must be from Poland. The 'Go Global' track specifically targets expansion into markets such as Israel, the USA, and Spain. Key filtering criteria for initial screening include being a Polish startup, meeting the micro or small enterprise definition, and developing solutions in automatics, robotics, web3, blockchain, sustainable development, or ESG. This is a recurring grant program, being the 'next iteration' of an accelerator initiative run by the Łódź Special Economic Zone since 2017.

Financial Structure

Funding Amounts

Maximum Grant Amount: Individual startups can receive financial grants up to 400,000 PLN.
Minimum Grant Amount: A specific minimum grant amount is not specified in the provided materials.
Total Program Budget: The overall budget allocated for the entire 'Startup Spark 3.0' program is not specified.

Eligible and Ineligible Costs

Eligible Costs: Financial grants are specifically earmarked for the 'development and testing of solutions with business partners'. The program broadly supports a startup's presence in foreign markets and general product development and scaling. While specific eligible cost categories (e.g., personnel, equipment, travel) are not detailed, the purpose of the grant indicates it covers expenses directly related to these activities.
Ineligible Costs: No explicit ineligible cost categories are mentioned in the provided information.

Matching Fund and Co-financing Requirements

The grant materials do not specify any mandatory matching fund requirements or co-financing obligations from the applicant.

Payment Schedule and Mechanisms

Details regarding the payment schedule, disbursement mechanisms, or frequency of grant payouts are not specified.

Financial Reporting and Audit Requirements

The specific financial reporting obligations or audit requirements for grant recipients are not detailed in the provided materials.

Indirect Cost Policies

Information on policies regarding indirect costs (overhead) is not provided.

Financial Guarantees

There are no mentions of financial guarantees or security requirements for applicants.

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational Eligibility This grant is exclusively for micro and small enterprises, commonly referred to as startups.

Eligible Organization Types: Micro enterprises and small enterprises. The grant materials refer to these explicitly as 'startups'.
Geographic Location: Applicants must be registered and operate within Poland. The project's territorial scope is Poland.
Focus Areas: Eligible startups must be developing innovative solutions in one or more of the following technological and thematic areas:
- #automatyka (automatics)
- #robotyka (robotics)
- #web3
- #blockchain
- #zrównoważonyrozwój (sustainable development)
- #ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance)

Exclusion Criteria

No explicit exclusion criteria are provided in the grant materials, beyond not meeting the stated eligibility for organization type, size, or technological focus.

Application Process

Application Deadlines and Timeline

Call Announcement and Application Start: January 30, 2024.
End of Application Acceptance (Program General): January 31, 2026.
Current Status: Please note that while the program generally accepts applications until January 31, 2026, the specific call for 'Startup Spark 3.0' is currently marked as 'Nabór został zakończony' (Recruitment has ended) on the primary PARP website. This indicates that new applications for this specific round are no longer being accepted, though the overall program may have future rounds.
Grant Duration: The acceleration phase of the program has a maximum duration of 6 months.

Required Documentation and Materials

The grant states that a 'Komplet dokumentów do pobrania' (Complete set of documents for download) is available, which likely includes detailed application forms, regulations, and guidelines. Applicants should download and review these thoroughly.

Application Procedure

Applications are submitted through an online platform, likely via a dedicated portal (e.g., F6S, as suggested by the HTML source). The process involves completing application forms and submitting supporting materials.

Types of Support Offered Beyond financial grants, the program offers comprehensive support: - Financial Grants: Up to 400,000 PLN. - Mentorship: Business, legal, and technological mentoring. - Networking: Access to business networking opportunities. - Access to Clients: Direct access to potential clients and industry partners for solution testing and potential commercialization. - Resources and Infrastructure: Access to the experience, resources, and infrastructure of mature business partners. - Product Development and Scaling Support: Assistance with product development and scaling strategies. - Internationalization Support: Specific support for foreign market expansion (e.g., in Israel, USA, Spain). Project Implementation and Reporting

Implementation Timeline: Projects will undergo an acceleration phase lasting a maximum of 6 months.
Reporting Obligations: Specific reporting schedules or requirements are not detailed in the provided materials.

Post-Award Requirements

The program includes 'post-acceleration' support, indicating continued assistance beyond the initial 6-month acceleration period. Specific post-award compliance or reporting details are not specified.

Evaluation Criteria

The grant materials do not provide a detailed, explicit scoring system or specific evaluation criteria with weights. However, based on the program's objectives and scope, the following aspects are implicitly important for selection:

Innovation and Technological Advancement: Emphasis on creating technologies and innovative solutions in the specified areas (#automatyka, #robotyka, #web3, #blockchain, #zrównoważonyrozwój, #ESG). The uniqueness and technical feasibility of the proposed solution are likely key.
Market Potential and Scalability: The program aims to support product scaling and provide access to potential clients. Solutions with clear market demand and high growth potential will likely be favored, especially for the 'sector-agnostic' track.
Business Model and Development: Support for product development and testing solutions with business partners suggests that the clarity and viability of the business model, as well as the proposed development plan, are important.
Internationalization Potential: For the 'Go Global' track, the potential for successful expansion into foreign markets (e.g., Israel, USA, Spain) and the startup's readiness for such expansion are critical factors.
Alignment with Partner Needs: The 'branżowa B2B' (industry-specific B2B) track emphasizes connecting startups with the 'experience, resources, infrastructure, and needs of mature businesses'. Startups demonstrating a strong alignment with the technological or business challenges of the program's partners (e.g., Ericsson, FAME MMA, healthcare centers) will be highly competitive.
Impact: Solutions addressing 'real technological and business problems' are preferred. The focus on #zrównoważonyrozwój and #ESG indicates an expectation for positive social, economic, or environmental impact.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory Compliance

The grant materials do not explicitly detail specific regulatory compliance requirements (e.g., permits, authorizations) that applicants must adhere to. However, it is implicit that all activities must comply with Polish national and relevant international laws.

Data Protection and Privacy Regulations

No specific data protection or privacy regulations are detailed for this grant.

Environmental and Ethical Standards

While not explicitly regulatory, the grant's focus areas include #zrównoważonyrozwój (sustainable development) and #ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance). This strongly implies an expectation for projects to adhere to and ideally contribute positively towards environmental and ethical standards.

Intellectual Property Policies

Specific policies regarding intellectual property ownership, usage, or licensing developed during the grant project are not detailed in the provided materials.

Risk Management and Security Requirements

The grant materials do not outline specific risk management frameworks or security requirements for the proposed solutions or project implementation.

Unique Aspects and Strategic Opportunities

Three Acceleration Tracks: The program offers distinct tracks tailored to different startup needs:
- Branżowa B2B: Connecting startups with the specific needs and resources of mature industry partners.
- Sector-Agnostic: Focused on product scaling, business networking, and product development without a specific corporate partner's immediate needs.
- Go Global: Dedicated support for international market expansion.
Direct Business Integration: A significant advantage is the direct connection between startups and established businesses (partners like Ericsson, medical centers, etc.), facilitating real-world testing, access to infrastructure, and potential client relationships.
Comprehensive Support: Beyond funding, the program provides extensive mentoring (business, legal, technological), access to clients, and support for foreign market entry.
Established Program: As the 'next iteration' of a program running since 2017, it benefits from established processes and networks.

Potential Challenges or Limitations

The 'Nabór został zakończony' (Recruitment has ended) status for this specific call indicates that immediate application is not possible, requiring applicants to monitor for future rounds.
The specific criteria for selecting 40+ startups are not fully transparent, which might make it challenging for applicants to tailor their proposals without more detailed evaluation rubrics.

Cross-Cutting Themes

Sustainability and ESG: These are not just peripheral considerations but core thematic areas for eligible solutions, highlighting the program's emphasis on responsible and impactful innovation.

Grant Details