Invest in Pomerania 2020

The aim of the project is quality improvement of investment opportunities in the region (that will have a positive impact on the labour market and create more economic links between companies, including those from the SME sector), and the objective is the development of a system of investor services, by means of the implementation of investment support instruments, such as:

1. Establishing a fund with resources at its disposal for preparation of investment areas and creation of industrial zones as well as designing a durable system which will allow to deliver the above mentioned areas to the market;

2. Creating a system of investment incentives (incl. offering training courses and an employee relocation programme, assistance with the procedure of company registration, making temporary space available to new entities) as well as investment promotion of the region (incl. participation in economy-related events, involving investors already present in the region in its promotion, etc.) and providing services for running investment projects (data collection and processing, report preparation, servicing investors visits to the region).

Description of the project scope and of the stipulated initiatives

The project’s objective is the development of a system of services for new investors and those already present in the region (incl. pre-investment and post-investment services), primarily from the SME sector, by means of the implementation of investment project support instruments, with particular focus on projects within the scope of Smart Specialisations strategy and industries with the greatest development potential. The project as a whole, covers the area of the entire voivodeship.

Within the project, the following initiatives have been stipulated:

1. Establishing a regional fund with resources at its disposal for preparing (including utilities provision) investment areas and creating industrial zones in the Pomorskie Voivodeship as well as creating a durable system of delivering the above mentioned areas to the market. This process would involve utilities provision for 3-5 industrial parks as well as a certain number of individual investment areas (in total, not less than 70 ha). Selecting the areas for industrial parks which require further utilities provision will be conducted based on location analysis.

2. Creation of a system of investment incentives, based on organising training courses in order to upgrade qualifications of available potential employees in the labour market, whose competences are not suited to the needs of the employers, as well as providing re-location grants to those persons whose qualifications meet the criteria of the employers, but who permanently reside outside of the voivodeship. The result of the initiatives directed at employees will be assistance provided to a minimum 1200 persons which is going to strengthen the local labour market and indirectly influence the status of local companies, incl. those from the SME sector.

Additionally investors receive support which consists of i.a. information on the investment, organising visits to the region, setting up Terms of Reference meetings, and after deciding upon the investment – assistance in the form of post-investment support. Assistance with the procedure of registering a company is also being considered, for new companies that are being registered in Pomorze and also making temporary office space available to new investors (for the period of up to 3 months). A decision about implementing both of the above mentioned instruments is to be made by the Applicant at a later stage of the application.

The result of the initiatives directed at entrepreneurs will be assistance offered to minimum of 750 companies (non-financial, in the form of an investment service at the decision -making stage, and also later, as post-investment support).

As part of the project, a promotional campaign of investing in the region will also be conducted (e.g. participation in trade fairs, conferences, trade missions, involving investors already present in the region in its promotion, organising economy-related events in the region) – directed at specific target groups, within specific industries and on specific markets. Representatives of the Applicant will take part in a minimum of 150 promotional events (30 of them abroad, and 120 local).

The aim of the project is quality improvement of investment opportunities in the region, resulting in investment and re-investment projects being carried out in the region, in the industries with the greatest potential, that will have a positive impact on the labour market and create more economic links between companies, including those from the SME sector, improving their competitive advantage. The project consists of 3 specific objectives :

1. Creation of a minimum of 3 industrial zones in the region with total surface area of 70 ha – as a result the region will have conveniently located investment areas, with full utilities and large surface area. This will facilitate effective competition for large industrial

projects, and at the same time provide an excellent opportunity for companies from the SME sector planning further growth and expansion. It is estimated that these prepared investment areas will host a minimum of 10 new investments. Another desired outcome is providing an incentive in the areas directly adjoining the created industrial zones, which would also support the services sector, and have a lasting effect on reducing unemployment. Creating the industrial parks will lead directly (through own investments of the companies) or indirectly (through establishing or strengthening the business collaboration networking) to an increase of the competitive advantage of the SME’s.

2. Creation of a coherent system of investment incentives based on 3 principles:

•Organisation of training courses which are a direct response to the constantly growing demand of the market;

• Providing re-location grants to those persons whose qualifications meet the criteria of the employers, but who permanently reside outside of the voivodeship

– the grants will constitute an instrument, particularly useful for the SME’s.

•Investment facilitation for investors in the first stage of the investment e.g. by means of securing a temporary office premises or enabling registration of the company – due to its specific nature these instruments will have a special value to companies from the SME sector

3. Implementation of promotional initiatives directed at specific target groups, specific industries and specific markets. Intensive promotional activity combined with offered incentives will have an impact on increased interest in the region among potential investors. In effect, the number of serviced investment projects will amount to a minimum of 600. The above will lead to new investments in the region, within which investors will declare creation of a minimum of 5000 jobs.