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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

This grant, 'Akademia HR,' aims to financially support Polish micro, small, medium, and large businesses in adapting their human resources (HR) strategies to modern labor market challenges and demographic changes. It is a SECTOR-AGNOSTIC grant, meaning businesses from any industry in Poland are eligible, as long as they meet the criteria. The core objective is to provide funding for training and advisory services to enhance HR competencies within companies. The grant operates through various 'Operators' across Poland, and applications are processed in rounds. The overall program runs until November 2026.

Financial Structure

This grant provides financial support primarily for training and advisory services.

Funding Rate: The grant covers up to 80% of the project's value. However, if your company's own contribution is provided in the form of salary costs, the funding can reach up to 100% of the support amount.
Matching Fund Requirements: A minimum private contribution of 20% is always required unless the 100% funding rate applies. Your private contribution must be paid upfront for the services.
Eligible Costs: Funding can only be used for training and advisory services available through the 'Baza Usług Rozwojowych' (Database of Development Services). These services must align with the needs identified in your mandatory self-diagnosis and the official 'Description of HR Staff Competencies' document. VAT (Value Added Tax) is a qualified cost, meaning it will be included in the total cost eligible for reimbursement.
Ineligible Costs: The self-diagnosis process itself is not eligible for funding, as it is a prerequisite for application.
Grant Amounts (Per Operator, example from HRP Grants):
- Per Individual Participant: Each participating employee can receive up to 12,000 PLN in support.
- Per Company (Maximums):
  - Micro-enterprise: 12,000 PLN
  - Small enterprise: 36,000 PLN
  - Medium enterprise: 72,000 PLN
  - Large enterprise: 96,000 PLN
- Note: These amounts are specific to one Operator (HRP Grants) and may vary slightly with other Operators.
Payment Mechanisms: The grant operates on a reimbursement basis. You must pay for the services in full (including your 20% contribution) to the training provider. After completing the service and submitting all required documentation (including proof of payment, attendance, and evaluation), the Operator will refund the eligible amount to your company's bank account within 14 calendar days of approving your complete and correct documents. Reimbursement is contingent on the Operator having sufficient funds.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the 'Akademia HR' grant, your business must meet the following hard requirements:

Organization Type: Must be a micro, small, medium, or large entrepreneur. This grant specifically excludes self-employed individuals who do not employ other staff.
Geographic Location: Your business and project implementation must be located in Poland.
Legal Standing: You must meet the conditions for receiving 'de minimis aid,' which is a specific type of state aid for businesses. Your business activity must remain active throughout the entire project period, from signing the support agreement until the final reimbursement.
Private Contribution: You must be willing to provide a private contribution of at least 20% of the support amount. This is your company's own financial input.
Mandatory Self-Diagnosis: You are required to complete an Autodiagnoza (self-diagnosis) questionnaire. This interactive questionnaire helps assess your company's HR competency needs. A report generated from this self-diagnosis is mandatory and must be submitted to the Operator during the application process. This report needs to be officially stamped by your company and signed by an authorized person. The services you receive must directly address the needs identified in this self-diagnosis and align with the 'Description of HR Staff Competencies' document.

Application Process

The application process for 'Akademia HR' is structured in rounds, managed by different 'Operators'. Application Timeline & Deadlines:

Overall Application Period: You can submit applications from March 25, 2024, until November 30, 2026.
Round-based Submissions: Specific dates for each application round are set by the individual Operators. You'll need to check the Operator's website for their precise schedules, typically announced at least 14 days in advance.

Application Procedure & Steps:

Register in BUR: First, create an institutional account for your company in the 'Baza Usług Rozwojowych' (Database of Development Services).
Complete Self-Diagnosis: Fill out the mandatory Autodiagnoza (self-diagnosis) questionnaire on the PARP website. This will generate a report on your company's HR competency needs. Crucially, download and print this report, and have it stamped by your company and signed by an authorized person.
Register with an Operator: Create an account within the specific Operator's online system.
Submit Application: Once a recruitment round is announced by your chosen Operator, log into their system and submit your application electronically. Paper applications will not be considered.

Required Documentation & Materials:

The self-diagnosis report (stamped and signed).
Proof of payment for the development service (e.g., invoice from the training provider, bank transfer confirmation).
Confirmation of service completion (certificate, attendance list, or login records).
If using salary costs as your own contribution: A declaration from the entrepreneur, along with a payroll list and confirmations of salary payments for participating employees.

Support Offered: The grant offers financial support (funding) for eligible training and advisory services. It does not directly provide mentorship, networking, or equipment purchases. Project Implementation & Reporting Obligations:

Start of Services: You must start the first development service within 30 calendar days of signing the support agreement with the Operator.
End of Services: All services must be completed by the deadline specified in your support agreement.
Reporting: You are required to upload all necessary settlement documents (invoices, payment confirmations, completion certificates, attendance lists) to the Operator's system within 10 working days of the service's completion.
Mandatory Service Evaluation: After each service, both the participating employee and your company (as the employer) must complete an evaluation of the service in the BUR system. Failure to do so will result in withheld reimbursement.

Post-Award Requirements: Your business must maintain active operational status for the entire duration of the project covered by the support agreement.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications are evaluated and ranked based on points. The primary ranking factor is the number of points accumulated, and for applicants with the same score, the order of submission will be the tie-breaker. Preferential Criteria (offering additional points to increase your chances of success):

Delegating an employee who is a woman to participate in the project: +10 points
Delegating an employee who is a person with a disability to participate in the project: +10 points
Delegating an employee who is over 60 years old to participate in the project: +10 points

These points are awarded by the Operator. Not meeting the criteria for services (e.g., if the service does not align with your self-diagnosis or the HR competency description) will result in those services being ineligible for funding. The program's core focus is on developing HR competencies related to:

Preparing organizations for labor market challenges
Managing changes due to market transformations
Age management and intergenerational cooperation
Diversity and multiculturalism management
Implementing equal opportunities, non-discrimination, and transparency
Managing remote and hybrid work
Implementing new work models
Building inclusive work environments for people with special functional needs
Utilizing migration processes in HR policy
Business and socio-cultural orientation
Digital literacy in HR (ICT tools, analytics)
Sustainable management of employee potential
Managing technological work support processes
Building a pro-family work culture

Compliance & Special Requirements

This grant has specific compliance and unique requirements you should be aware of:

De Minimis Aid Compliance: The funding provided is categorized as 'de minimis aid.' This means it falls under specific EU regulations for small amounts of state aid, which have cumulative limits over a three-year period. You must ensure your company's cumulative de minimis aid received does not exceed these limits.
Self-Diagnosis as a Prerequisite: The completion of the Autodiagnoza (self-diagnosis) questionnaire is not just a document; it's a fundamental condition for participating. The training and advisory services you seek funding for must directly align with the needs identified in this diagnosis and with the 'Description of HR Staff Competencies' document.
Operator-Specific Details: While PARP manages the overall 'Akademia HR' program, the actual application and project implementation are handled by various 'Operators.' This means specific details like precise application deadlines (within the overall program window) and exact project value per company are determined and managed by each Operator. You must apply through an Operator's system and adhere to their specific terms and conditions. The HRP Grants operator is just one example of many, and their specific project values and preferential criteria apply only to their calls.
Focus on HR Competency Development: The core of the program is to address challenges in HR management related to demographic shifts, labor market changes, diversity, and technology. The list of 15 key HR competencies (e.g., managing intergenerational cooperation, remote work, diversity, digital HR tools) defines the scope of eligible training.
No Solo Self-Employed: A crucial exclusion is that single-person businesses not employing other staff are explicitly not allowed to participate.
Complaints Regarding Accessibility (KPON): The program emphasizes accessibility and compliance with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (KPON). While this is mainly for the program implementers, applicants can report suspicions of non-compliance to the Ministry or PARP, ensuring an inclusive environment.
No Consortium Required: This grant is for individual businesses; there's no requirement to form a consortium.

Grant Details