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30 May 2016

Regional Innovation Monitor Plus 2016 Regional Innovation Report Malopolskie (Industry 4.0 and smart systems)

To the European Commission

Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs Directorate-General

Directorate F – Innovation and Advanced Manufacturing

Regional Innovation Monitor Plus 2016

Regional Innovation Report Malopolskie (Industry 4.0 and smart systems)

technopolis |group| in cooperation with

Jacek Walendowski, Technopolis Group Belgium

Regional Innovation Monitor Plus 2016 i

Table of Contents Executive Summary 2 1. Advanced Manufacturing: Industry 4.0 and Smart Systems 5

1.1 Overview of performance and trends 5 1.2 Business sector perspective 6 1.3 Scientific research potential 8 1.4 Role of intermediary institutions 10 1.5 Developing skills for the future 11 1.6 Major investment projects 12 1.7 International cooperation 16 1.8 Policy support and delivery mechanisms 17 1.9 Good practice case 18 1.10 Leveraging the existing potential 19

2. Regional Innovation Performance Trends, Governance and Instruments 21 2.1 Recent trends in innovation performance and identified challenges 21 2.2 Institutional framework and set-up 25 2.3 Regional innovation policy mix 27 2.4 Appraisal of regional innovation policies 30 2.5 Policy good practice 32 2.6 Possible future orientations and opportunities 34

Appendix A Bibliography 35 Appendix B Stakeholders consulted 36

ii Regional Innovation Monitor Plus 2016

Table of Figures Figure 1 Centre of Computer Science – AGH University of Science and Technology ... 13 Figure 2 Faculty of Mechanical Engineering – the University of Technology ............... 13 Figure 3 High-resolution/high-speed 2D photon counting X-ray detector: HyPix-3000 ......................................................................................................................................... 19

List of Tables Table 1 Key performance indicators of the manufacturing industries ............................ 5 Table 2 Examples of R&D projects undertaken by research scientific organisations from Malopolskie ............................................................................................................. 14 Table 3 Regional innovation support measures, 2007-2013 ......................................... 27 Table 4 Regional innovation support measures, 2014-2020 ........................................ 28

Regional Innovation Monitor Plus 2016 1

PREFACE In the context of the growth and investment package set out in the Investment Plan of the European Commission, the Regional Innovation Monitor Plus (RIM Plus) provides a unique platform for sharing knowledge and know-how on major innovation and industrial policy trends in in some 200 regions across EU20 Member States.

Launched in 2010, the Regional Innovation Monitor aimed at supporting sharing of intelligence on innovation policies across EU regions. Building upon the experience gained and results obtained during the period 2010-2012, the RIM Plus 2013-2014 provided practical guidance to regions on how to use the collected information, via a network of regional experts. Since 2014, the RIM Plus has introduced a thematic focus on advanced manufacturing.

The RIM Plus 2015-2016 evolved from a general monitoring of innovation policies towards establishing a more thematic focus in selected areas in order to contribute to improving the competitiveness of European regions.

Particularly, the RIM Plus aims through its activities and in close cooperation with the regional stakeholders and other relevant initiatives to:

• Contribute to the development of new and open spaces of collaboration and exchange on advanced manufacturing, each with a clearly defined thematic focus.

• Play an enabling role in providing evidence-based information on specific themes and bring in outside perspective from other regions.

• Map out regional practices in support of advanced manufacturing and relevant pilot/demo projects and work towards involving the relevant stakeholders.

• Provide an easy access and comparative overview of regional innovation policies and relevant actions in the field of advanced manufacturing.

• Share the lessons learned with the European Commission services to feed into the preparation of future programmes.

The main aim of 30 regional reports is to provide a description and analysis of developments in the area advanced manufacturing with a clearly defined thematic focus and regional innovation policy, taking into account the specific context of the region as well as general trends. All regional innovation reports are produced in a standardised way using a common methodological and conceptual framework, in order to allow for horizontal analysis, with a view to preparing the Final EU Regional Innovation Monitor Plus report.

European Commission official responsible for the project is Alberto Licciardello ([email protected]).

The present report was prepared by Jacek Walendowski ([email protected]). The contents and views expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of the regions, Member States or the European Commission.

Copyright of the document belongs to the European Commission. Neither the European Commission, nor any person acting on its behalf, may be held responsible for the use to which information contained in this document may be put, or for any errors which, despite careful preparation and checking, may appear.

Further information:

https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/regional-innovation-monitor

2 Regional Innovation Monitor Plus 2016

Executive Summary 1. Advanced Manufacturing: Industry 4.0 and smart systems

The Malopolskie Region is one of the most important scientific research centres in Poland but is less known for carrying out activities related to Industry 4.0 and smart systems. This area has not been explicitly recognised as a priority in the Research and Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialisation (RIS-3) of Malopolskie, however, in three of the seven identified areas of regional specialisation – i.e. ‘Information and communication technology’ (ICT), ‘Production of metals and metal products as well as non-metallic mineral products’, and ‘Electrical engineering and machine-building industry’ – there is reference made to specific technologies which are related to Industry 4.0 and smart systems.

While there are some world-leading suppliers of industrial robots, electrical and electronic architecture systems and components, and ICT solutions located in the region, there is a general lack of well-established networks of manufacturers and service providers specialised in the area of Industry 4.0 and smart systems. On the other hand, there are a significant number of companies manufacturing a wide range of products for which Industry 4.0 and advanced production technologies will be important to remain competitive in the long run. In addition, there is a relatively well-developed cooperation between the science sector and companies in the thematic area covered by the present report.

International cooperation takes place to a large extent at the level of individual institutions and organisations through bilateral contacts, whereas a more structured cooperation supported by the regional authorities with other European regions is missing.

This report includes, as concrete example of a regional good practice case, a long-term cooperation between the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Automatics, Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering of the AGH University of Science and Technology and a Japanese company specialised in the provision of analytical and industrial instrumentation technology.

In summary, the following main challenges related to the area of Industry 4.0 and smart systems have been identified.

• Challenge 1: Improving linkages and enhancing cooperation between the regional innovation stakeholders

Introducing the functional approach into the RIS-3, which is overly focused on sectoral activities and specific technologies, will help clarify and assess the readiness of the relevant actors of the innovation system to undertake joint activities in the thematic area covered by the present report.

• Challenge 2: Addressing the deficit of skills in advanced manufacturing

The deficit of skills in the area of advanced manufacturing (i.e. Industry 4.0 and smart systems) has been mentioned in a number of interviews carried out in the framework of this assignment. The perspective of developing new global value chains requires having access to highly skilled specialists, who will be capable of designing and developing customised solutions on demand.

• Challenge 3: Concentrating funding to better leverage the return of public investment

The biggest challenge is to develop innovative platforms based on public-private partnership (PPP) and relevant joint projects. Such platforms could contribute to achieving excellence in the fields of Industry 4.0 and smart systems, as well as encouraging the update of innovative solutions by the manufacturing sector.


2. Regional Innovation Performance Trends, Governance and Instruments

During the last decade there has been a positive upward trend in many key innovation performance indicators. Particularly, the Malopolskie Region has recorded the increase of innovation and research expenditures, in addition to the growth of innovation investments in companies employing fewer than 250 persons.

More recently, the Malopolskie Region was awarded in July 2015 the title of the European Entrepreneurial Region 2016. It is also important to note a number of developments taking place in the strategic areas of regional specialisation.

On the other hand, there has been no significant progress on structural and long-term indicators. For example, large enterprises employing more than 250 persons have continued to be the major innovation investors, while the innovation sales have recorded a sharp decline in the aftermath of the economic and financial crisis.

Overall, the Malopolskie innovation governance has been characterised by a high degree of stability and no major changes have been introduced into the regional innovation institutional set-up in recent years. The most important developments concern the renewal of membership of the Regional Innovation Council and appointment of the RIS-3 Working Groups.

During the 2007-2013 programming period, the focus of the innovation policy support has been on the development of SMEs and improving their competitiveness. During the 2014-2020 programming period a new dedicated measure to support research and innovation activities has been introduced. Typical projects that will be eligible for funding include support for research and development (R&D) projects, development of R&D infrastructure, and strengthening cooperation between micro- and small enterprises and the science sector by means of innovation vouchers.

The recent evaluations of regional innovation policy instruments have pointed to a positive change in knowledge transfer mechanisms. Another observable trend was a decline of innovativeness at firm level. It was also noted that support should not be directed solely to technologies generally regarded as innovative (e.g. ICT, telecommunications, life sciences, biochemistry, etc.), but should also apply to traditional sectors. One of the recommendations concerned undertaking actions to reduce the administrative burden and costs involved in applying for public funding.

With regard to efforts undertaken to increase synergies between the national and regional innovation support measures, it is important to mention the mechanism of the Regional Scientific Research Agendas, known in Polish as ‘RANB’.

The RIS-3 Working Groups are presented in the present report as an example of regional policy good practice.

3. Future Actions and Opportunities

With regard to Industry 4.0 and smart systems

Based on the existing evidence, it can be concluded that possible future orientations and opportunities in the area of Industry 4.0 and smart systems in Malopolskie lie particularly in:

• Participating in and promoting exchanges on Industry 4.0-type technologies in a collaborative environment with other European regions

The leading engineers, business people and academics from the region will have an important role to play in better connecting with the existing networks from abroad, to achieve three main objectives: participating in the development of new global-value chains, finding customers and increasing productivity.


• Developing new skills in manufacturing technologies

The funding to be secured from the European Structural and Investment Funds could be used to develop a new manufacturing technologies degree or even a Training Centre/Academy of Advanced Manufacturing.

• Implementing a dedicated programme with a clearly defined focus and objectives

There is a need to implement a comprehensive strategic programme to trigger the desired changes. The public investment can help in achieving the set out objectives, however, it is important to ensure that any new undertaking is part of a bigger plan in which actions complement each other towards achieving the common goal.

With regard to innovation policy

Based on the existing evidence, it can be concluded that possible future orientations and opportunities for regional innovation policy in Malopolskie lie particularly in:

• Tailoring and fine-tuning the selection mechanisms and criteria of future instruments in support of R&D activities to better leverage the public investment during the 2014-2020 programming period

At the moment of preparing the present report, the regional administration was assessing the need for changes to the selection mechanisms and criteria used during the pilot support measure concerning the Innovation vouchers.

Similarly to other Polish regions, there is still a need to continue working on the refinement of the selection criteria and tailoring them to the needs of regional innovation stakeholders.

• Undertaking a review of activities carried out so far by the RIS-3 Working Groups and assessing the need for changes to improve the regional strategic intelligence

By doing so, it will be possible to take stock of lessons learned since the appointment of those working groups and establish a longer-term commitment between the regional authorities and relevant stakeholders for providing strategic intelligence concerning the identified areas of regional specialisation.

• Building new alliances and platforms of cooperation with other European regions

Increasingly, the importance of gaining insights into the developments and trends taking place outside the region has been recognised by the regional innovation stakeholders.

Taking into account the existing potential and comparative advantages of Malopolskie, there is definitely an opportunity for leadership in the development of new and open spaces for collaboration between the relevant stakeholders from other European regions and within a clearly defined theme.


1. Advanced Manufacturing: Industry 4.0 and Smart Systems

1.1 Overview of performance and trends The Malopolskie Region is considered an important scientific research centre in Poland but is less known for undertaking activities related to Industry 4.0 and smart systems. The employment in industry represents some 7.5% of total industry employment in Poland. In 2014, it accounted for 273,000 employees, which is the sixth largest among the Polish regions. According to the latest available data, employment has fallen by 5.5% since 2008, which is a more negative trend than that (-4.4%) observed at the country level.

It accounts for 7.7% of national GDP, which is comparable to the Lower Silesia Voivodeship. The share of industry in gross value added (GVA) represents 22.2%, putting the Malopolskie Region in 12th place among Polish regions.

While innovation expenditures in the manufacturing sector remain modest (7th out of 16 regions in total), the results which stand out is the highest share of R&D investments in total innovation expenditures. On this specific indicator Malopolskie is ranked on the first position.

Also, the manufacturing companies employing more than 250 staff continue to be the major innovation investors (sixth position among the Polish regions). In 2014, the share of expenditures on innovation activity in enterprises employing more than 250 in total innovation expenditures in the manufacturing sector accounted for almost 72%.

Moreover, the innovation sales in the manufacturing sector recorded a sharp decline especially in the years 2007, 2012 and 2013 and recently the sales picked up again reaching a level of 10.2% in 2014. This result places the region in sixth place among the Polish regions. Table 1 below presents an overview of key performance indicators of the manufacturing sector.

Table 1 Key performance indicators of the manufacturing industries Indicator Malopolskie Malopolskie Malopolskie Ranking

among PL regions

2000 or around Previous year Most recent Most recent

Industry employment in thousands

288.9 285.5 273 6th

2008 2013 2014 2014

Gross domestic product in € million

24,116 29,592 30,508 5th

2009 2012 2013 2013

Industry gross value added in %

23.5 22.8 22.2 12th

2000 2012 2013 2013

Innovation expenditures in the manufacturing sector in PLN thousand

866,256 1,807,271 1,687,958 7th

2005 2013 2014 2014


Indicator Malopolskie Malopolskie Malopolskie Ranking among PL regions

Share of R&D investments in total innovation expenditures in the manufacturing sector in %

23.4 25.4 35.9 1st

2005 2013 2014 2014

Share of expenditures on innovation activity in enterprises employing more than 250 in total innovation expenditures in the manufacturing sector

75 75 71.8 6th

2005 2013 2014 2014

Innovation sales in manufacturing sector in %

17.9 8.3 10.2 6th

2005 2013 2014 2014

Source: Central Statistical Office Local Data Bank and Eurostat (Data extracted on 27 January 2016)

Identified as a regional specialisation in two out of seven RIS-3 priority areas, the innovative technologies and industrial processes refer in relation to the area of ‘Production of metals and metal products as well as non-metallic mineral products’ to technologies of: advanced nano-structural materials, production and manufacturing technologies of materials and final products associated with the formation of microstructure, nanostructure and functionality, and the development of methods for the control and monitoring of production processes, etc.

In the area of ‘Electrical engineering and machine-building industry’, the following technologies are mentioned: advanced nanostructured materials for applications in electronics, optoelectronics, sensorics, computing, photonics and communications; physical sensors (incl. MEMS/NEMS/MOEMS), chemical sensors, bio-sensors, sensor networks, flexible sensors (e.g. the application in the areas of Internet of the Things and Machine-to-Machine), in addition to LED, OLED, and EL, etc.

Within the automation and robotics, which is identified as another regional specialisation in the two RIS-3 priority areas of ‘ICT’ and ‘Electrical engineering and machine-building industry’, the following technologies are considered of strategic importance for the region: technologies of intelligent control of equipment and machinery as well as the use of robots in the production systems (incl. Wi-Fi, RFiD), advanced diagnostic and monitoring systems of processes, machinery, equipment, robots, and the respective components based on artificial intelligence and export systems, unmanned systems and robots, as well as mechatronics.

1.2 Business sector perspective Overall, the Malopolskie Region does not have an extensive network of manufacturers of smart production systems, providing specialised software, peripheral equipment and/or services of this type. On the other hand, there are some world leading suppliers of industrial robots, electrical and electronic architecture systems and components as well as IT solutions located in the region.


It is also important to point out a significant number of manufacturing companies of a wide range products for which embracing automation, data exchange and advanced manufacturing technologies will be important to remain competitive in the long run.

There are four active clusters carrying out activities related to industry production technologies. Established in December 2011, the Modern Cast Cluster is a platform of cooperation in the area of metal casting innovation technologies.1 One of the focus areas of the Innovation Cluster of Western Malopolskie activities is placed on advanced technologies in the areas of material-, medical engineering, informatics and electronics.2 The Cluster Make IT was established in 2014 as a result of cooperation among Cracow Technology Park and regional ICT companies.3 In one of the industrial parks, “Mechaniczne” of the Tarnow Industrial Cluster, activities are mainly concentrated on the reindustrialisation and start-up activities on the zones belonging previously to a defence manufacturing company, known as ‘Zakłady Mechaniczne’. The Cluster is managing the areas most of which belong to the Special Economic Zone in Cracow – Sub-zone in Tarnow.4

Another underlying characteristic of the Malopolskie Region is a relatively well-developed cooperation between the science sector and companies, and it is possible to point to several examples of close cooperation. For example, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics of the AGH University of Science and Technology collaborates with the extractive and metallurgical industries, in addition to a considerable number of energy and heat energy plants. Accordingly to the publicly available information, the faculty has established close working relations in particular with companies such as: KGHM Polska Miedź SA, SKANSKA SA, SIEMENS, PZL Mielec – Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, IOS KRAKOW, VALEO, ABB, KIRCHHOFF, MAN, MISUBISHI ELECTRIC, PIMOT Warsaw, and DELPHI Automotive Systems.

Within the faculty, the Department of Robotics and Mechatronics has been actively collaborating with industry by undertaking joint projects and among the key industrial partners for the department are: Delphi, ALSTOM Power, Valeo, ABB, FESTO, HTL, ALSTOM Transport, Bombardier Transportation, TEAC, Ratier, Fiat, Renault, Airbus, Dassault, Onera, LMS, FUCHOSA, TRW, UTC, Teneco, SIKORSKY, P&W, Motorola, VULCAN (SEAcom GmbH), EBCC, Swidnik (Augusta/Westland), Volkswagen, Solaris, Stomil Sanok, Tauron, Grupa Azoty, Airbus, Alenia, Astrium, BAE SYSTEMS, DSTL, EADS, EPSRC, EU, ESA, FNP, Fiat, Messier-Dowty, QinetiQ, Rolls-Royce, etc.5 The project with the highest budget so far concerned the low-floor tram implemented into the production together with the company PESA SA.6

The scientific research activities carried out by the above-mentioned department have led to the establishment several spin-off companies, including the following:

• UAVS Poland – a manufacturer of unmanned systems containing ground station, payload system, telemetry and imagery links and target tracking system7

• MONIT SHM – specialised in innovative solutions in the field of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) and Structural Health Monitoring (SHM), also designs and builds quality control stations8

1 See: http://www.moderncast.pl 2 See: http://klaster.malopolska.pl 3 See: http://www.megiteam.pl 4 See: http://www.tkp.com.pl/index.php/26-jezyki/69-the-tarnow-industrial-cluster 5 See: http://krim.agh.edu.pl/o-katedrze 6 See: http://krim.agh.edu.pl/projekty 7 See: http://www.uavs.eu 8 See: http://www.monitshm.pl/en


• ENETECH – established to commercialise the results of research conducted at the AGH University of Science and Technology: use of piezoelectric materials and thermoelectric materials.9

With regard to other examples of cooperation, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Automatics, Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering of the AGH University of Science and Technology closely cooperates with the following companies: ABB, ENION, COMARCH, MOTOROLA, DELPHI, SOLIDEX, GE POWER CONTROLS, APRISO, ABG, KOMEL, ENERGOPROJEKT.10 The ongoing cooperation between departments belonging to this faculty and industry has been to a large extent focused on the activities related to smart grids, smart city, and development of autonomous vehicles (e.g. the AGH-Delphi Laboratory of autonomous vehicles).

The Department of Metrology and Electronics of the above-mentioned faculty has been actively cooperating with a Japanese company, Rigaku, specialised in analytical and industrial instrumentation technology. More detailed information about this concrete example of cooperation is presented in Section 1.9.

It is also worthwhile mentioning that graduates of Faculty of Computer Science, Electronics and Telecommunications of the AGH University of Science and Technology have become valuable members of engineering teams working for international corporations located in Cracow, including Google, IBM, CISCO, MOTOROLA, DELPHI, COMARCH, etc.11

The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Technology in Cracow has been closely collaborating with a number of industrial partners, including Horus Energia, specialised in generator sets, power stations, boilers producers, manufacturers of construction materials as well as rolling stocks, etc.

The Institute of Advanced Production Technologies (IOS) has a long tradition of more than 65 years in carrying out research activities and concrete delivering concrete solutions upon the demand from industry – previously mainly for machinery industries and nowadays for different branches of the economy.

1.3 Scientific research potential Altogether there are four scientific research institutions located in the region undertaking research activities in the field Industry 4.0 and smart systems. Among them there are three higher education institutions as outlined below, in addition to the Institute of Advanced Manufacturing Technology.12

Higher education institutions:

• AGH University of Science and Technology in Cracow (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Automatics, Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering, and the Faculty of Computer Science, Electronics and Telecommunication)13

• University of Technology in Cracow (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering)14

• Jagiellonian University in Cracow (Chair of Optimisation and Control of the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science)15

9 See: http://enetech.com.pl/language/en 10 See: http://www.eaiib.agh.edu.pl/wspolpraca,partnerzy.html 11 See: http://www.agh.edu.pl/en/wydzialy/wydzial-informatyki-elektroniki-itelekomunikacji 12 See: http://www.ios.krakow.pl 13 See: http://www.agh.edu.pl/en/agh-ust-faculties 14 See: http://www.pk.edu.pl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=86&Itemid=268&lang=en


The scientific research activities are focused on a number of topics which are related to the thematic area covered by the present report.

Mechatronics is the latest offer of Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics of the AGH University of Science and Technology. It is a new, interdisciplinary branch, which combines mechanics, electronics, and computer science. The Department of Robotics and Mechatronics carries out research activities, in different fields, including mechatronics and robotics (inspection, commercial, industrial and medical robotics), structural dynamics, structural health monitoring, condition monitoring and non-destructive testing (NDT), smart materials and structures, advanced signal/data processing and numerical modelling and simulations of engineering structures, polymers and biomaterials. The two other departments of the Faculty (i.e. Department of Production Systems and Department of Process Control) also undertake relevant research activities.

The focus of scientific research activities carried out by the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Automatics, Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering of the AGH University of Science and Technology is placed on modern techniques and computer science, bioengineering, robotics, environmentally-oriented production, transport and use of electrical energy, modern electrical equipment and metrology. Within the Faculty, the Department of Metrology and Electronics is carrying out activities related to design and testing of integrated circuits, in addition to some projects in the field of neurobiology.

The development strategy of the Faculty of Computer Science, Electronics and Telecommunications of the AGH University of Science and Technology includes key research areas such as: information society technologies, computational cloud structures, fast optical networks, global wireless communications, Internet of the Future, Internet of Things and sustainable development, including, embedded systems, industrial electronics, renewable energy sources, sensorics and nanotechnology.

The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Technology carries out activities in the field of automation and robotics. One of its institutes, namely the Institute of Machinery Technologies and Automation of Production (M-6) has a significant track record of experience in the field of automation and computerisation of processes and manufacturing systems.

The Chair of Optimisation and Control of the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science of the Jagiellonian University is specialised in the area of applied mathematics, computer science and mechanics.

The Institute of Advanced Manufacturing Technology is a research institute specialised in technology and techniques of metal cutting, abrasive machining, non-conventional methods of machining, technical metrology, automation of manufacturing and assembly processes.

Also, the Technology Park in Cracow (known in Polish as the ‘KTP’)16 supports technological development, entrepreneurship, and promotes innovativeness and new technologies in Malopolskie. It is a joint venture of State Treasury, Cracow Municipality, the Malopolskie Region, Jagiellonian University, Technical University of Cracow, the AGH University of Science and Technology, and Mittal Steel Poland S.A. Launched in 2010, the Małopolska Information Technology Park (MITP) is the largest and most important investment of KTP focused on information technologies.

It is also important to mention the regional scientific research institutions specialised in the area material science. Particularly, the most relevant entities are: Faculty of

15 See: http://www.en.uj.edu.pl/en 16 See: http://www.kpt.krakow.pl/en


Metals Engineering and Industrial Computer Science, Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, Faculty of Foundry Engineering, Faculty of Non-Ferrous Metals, and the Academic Centre for Materials and Nanotechnology of the AGH University of Science and Technology17, in addition to the Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Science of the Polish Academy of Sciences.18

1.4 Role of intermediary institutions The main intermediary institutions tasked with the diffusion of R&D results and the uptake of advanced manufacturing technologies by local companies are Centres of Innovation and Technology Transfer.

Altogether there are the following four centres of this kind located in Malopolskie:

• AGH University of Science and Technology Centre for Transfer of Technologies19

• Krakow Centre for Innovative Technology - INNOAGH Ltd.20

• Centre of Technology Transfer of the University of Technology in Cracow21

• Centre for Innovation, Transfer and Monitoring of Manufacturing Technologies Development of the Institute of Advanced Manufacturing Technology (IOS).22

Established in 2010, the INNOAGH is a company owned by the AGH University of Science and Technology provides advice and support for researchers interested in setting up innovative companies created on the basis of intellectual property originating from the University, and investing in such companies. Based on the intellectual property rights originating from the University some 16 spin-off companies have been created.23

Particularly, the following three spin-off companies are of relevance with regard to the thematic focus of the present report:

• EMBETECH – specialised in activities related to IoT (Internet of Things) and IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things)

• RIOT Technologies – the company’s activities are focused on the commercialisation of R&D results concerning the areas of mobile robotics and mechatronics and in particular autonomous mobile robots and platforms24

• Reliability Solutions – a company specialised in analysis RAMS-C (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, Safety and Costs), which finds applications in the development phase of new products, as well as in maintenance of equipment that is already in use.25

On the other hand, there are a number of barriers to the diffusion and uptake of R&D results by industry. The previous analyses carried out in the framework of RIS3 assessments in Polish regions commissioned by DG REGIO pointed to unclear rules concerning the establishment of specially targeted companies (known as ‘spolki

17 See: http://www.agh.edu.pl/en/agh-ust-faculties/academic-centre-for-materials-and-nanotechnology 18 See: http://www.imim.pl/english 19 See: http://www.ctt.agh.edu.pl 20 See: http://www.innoagh.pl/en 21 See: http://www.transfer.edu.pl 22 See: http://www.ios.krakow.pl/CITiMRTW/english/index.php 23 See: http://www.innoagh.pl/pl/portfel-spolek-spin-off 24 See: http://www.riot.com.pl 25 See: http://www.relia-sol.pl


celowe’) within the scientific research organisations and related fiscal aspects create a hands-off attitude of the science sector which is increasingly facing the challenge to break even in financial terms.

Also, the requirements of assessing the value of IP rights by external experts can lead to higher costs during the process of technology transfer. The other costs relate to patent applications, marketing and identification of clients and commercialisation (sale, licence or creation of spin-off companies). Subsequently, the scientific research organisations try to compensate the costs by applying high margins and this is done on case-by-case basis (even up to 50%).

Finally, the fact that some R&D infrastructure cannot be used for commercial purposes within the period of five years (in case of full funding), whereas in the case of partial co-funding there is such a possibility, creates a challenge of developing a comprehensive offer for the business sector.

1.5 Developing skills for the future According to the latest available information, since 2004 there has been a decline of 23.4% in the number students at higher education institutions in Poland. In fact, there were some 448,000 fewer students in 2014 than a decade ago. Comparatively, the Malopolskie Region has recorded a downward trend (-4.4%), which was not as pronounced as the trend observed at the country level.

During the same period, the number of students at technical universities in Malopolskie increased from 47,300 students to around 49,200 – representing growth of almost 4%. As a result, the issue of a gap between the available skills for innovation and industry needs seems to be of a lesser problem than in the majority of Polish regions.

One of emerging findings of the recent analysis on key competences and qualifications for increasing the chances of university graduates in the labour market (Agrotec, 2014) in relation to the thematic area of automation, robotics and mechatronics was that a general understanding of the context in this discipline can have an important influence on the creativity and innovativeness of graduates. The thrust of the presented argument was that the high-level specialisation could constitute a barrier to adaptability on the labour market and cooperation in the network systems. The industry stakeholders also pointed to the desired ability of cooperation within interdisciplinary and international projects.

There have been of number of projects and initiatives undertaken by the respective scientific research institutions aimed at the development of new skills and curricula, which are related to the topic of Industry 4.0 and smart systems. In summary, the following projects have been recently undertaken in Malopolskie:

• Mechatronics – Practical Professionals of the Future (Mechatronicy – Praktyczni Specjaliści Przyszłości)26

The project is a part of Operational Programme Human Capital and it is co-financed by the European Social Fund. The project is addressed for bachelor students of mechatronics and provides support in the form of grants, through visits at manufacturing companies, national and international fairs, specialised courses and technical trainings, competition in designing and prototyping of mechatronics devices and traineeships.

26 See: http://home.agh.edu.pl/~mechatkz


• Scholarship ABB Jürgen Dormann (Stypendium ABB JDF 2015)27

The Foundation provides scholarships to electrical engineering students in different parts of the world who can prove a high standard of academic achievement and who need financial support to be able to continue their studies.

• Scholarship for the best PhD students for the academic year 2015-2016 (Stypendium dla najlepszych doktorantów na rok akademicki 2015-2016)28

The scholarship is granted for the first year students who obtained very good results in the recruitment process and in the subsequent years for students who fulfil the following conditions: obtained very good or good results in exams part of PhD programme studies, demonstrated achievements in the scientific research work and preparation of doctoral dissertation, and demonstrated particular involvement in education activities.

• ASEM-DUO Scholarship (Oferta stypendialna - Korea)29

This programme is for the exchange students from European countries including Poland, under the exchange agreement with Korean universities. If any student of undergraduate or graduate course comes to Korea from Europe as an exchange student, they can apply for this scholarship.

• Strengthening of educational potential of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the Technical University in Cracow (Wzmocnienie potencjału dydaktycznego Wydziału Mechanicznego Politechniki Krakowskiej)30

The project is co-financed by the European Social Fund in the framework of Operational Programme Human Capital. The objective of the project is to modernise the curricula matching the demand of labour market, which involves the organisation of specialised courses, investment in the equipment of laboratories and specialised materials for students, trainings and traineeships.

1.6 Major investment projects The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics is one of the largest faculties of the AGH University of Science and Technology and is ranked among the best faculties in mechatronics in Poland. The faculty has carried out important investment in research equipment and laboratories. According to the latest publicly available information there are some 76 laboratories operating within the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics31, in addition to laboratories of respective departments and faculties undertaking activities in the thematic area covered by the present report.

A concrete example of the recently undertaken investment by the University in the framework of the Regional Operational Programme for the Malopolskie Region 2007-2013 is the Centre of Computer Science (Figure 1).32

27 See: http://www.eaiib.agh.edu.pl/aktualnosci,stypendia-i-wyjazdy,artykul.html&id=1999&pg=0 28 See: http://www.iet.agh.edu.pl/pl/aktualnosci/stypendium-dla-najlepszych-doktorantow-na-rok-

akademicki-20152016 29 See: http://galaxy.uci.agh.edu.pl/~wmiim/views/studia/stypendia/program_korea.pdf 30 See: http://www.mech.pk.edu.pl 31 See: http://www.uci.agh.edu.pl/laboratoria/?wydzial=3&rodzaj=3 32 See: http://budowa.ki.agh.edu.pl


Figure 1 Centre of Computer Science – AGH University of Science and Technology

Source: AGH University of Science and Technology.

Another example of investment realised with the financial assistance of the Regional Operational Programme for the Malopolskie Region 2007-2013 was infrastructure project at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Technology in Cracow (Figure 2).33

Figure 2 Faculty of Mechanical Engineering – the University of Technology

Source: University of Technology in Cracow, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.

33 See: http://www.mech.pk.edu.pl/mrpo


Table 2, below presents concrete examples of national-funded R&D project in the area of Industry 4.0 and smart systems.

Table 2 Examples of R&D projects undertaken by research scientific organisations from Malopolskie Name of Institution

Faculty/ Department

Title of the project

Short summary Weblinks

AGH University of Science and Technology

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics

TEGTEC

Thermal stability issues are of great importance in high-speed rotating machinery. Bearing sets are especially vulnerable to the problem of excessive temperature growth.

http://krim.agh.edu.pl/project/tegtec

Projects carried out by individual departments can be found at the following link:

http://www.imir.agh.edu.pl/en/faculty/departments



MONIT - Monitoring of Technical State of Construction and Evaluation of its Lifespan

The research tasks planned to be carried out within the Project are designed to develop innovative global technological solutions for methods and systems of monitoring the state of construction and of warning of emergency situations in objects where low risk level is required.

http://www.monit.pw.edu.pl/index.php/eng/content/view/full/98



End Line Mechatronic test bench type "END LINE" for diagnosing post-production vehicle buses, trolleybuses and hybrids of values

http://krim.agh.edu.pl/projekty/


Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Automatics, Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering

INSTEPRO Integrated system of production control. Optimisation of processes, integration with ERP, MES, SCADA and PLC.

http://www.eaiib.agh.edu.pl/badania,projekty-badawcze.html

http://www.instepro.agh.edu.pl/project.html


Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Automatics, Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering

PBS I – High-speed photon counting X-ray detector

The objective of this project is to develop a prototype of high-speed photon counting X-ray detector in the mode of individual counting of photons and able to selectively register photons from the respective category of energy.

http://www.kmet.agh.edu.pl/katedra-metrologii/zespoly-badawcze/asics/asic-badania-naukowe/ufxc


Name of Institution

Faculty/ Department

Title of the project

Short summary Weblinks


Faculty of Computer Science, Electronics and Telecommunications

SPINLAB National Centre of Magnetic Nanostructures for Applications in Spin Electronics.

http://www.maglay.agh.edu.pl/artykul/47,projekty.html

http://www.spinlab.agh.edu.pl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48&Itemid=2

Projects carried out by individual departments can be found at the following link:

http://ke.agh.edu.pl/artykul/31,badania.html

University of Technology

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

ZAMAT The objective of the project is the application of the latest achievements related to engineering materials for the development of modern material and technological solutions.

http://iim.mech.pk.edu.pl/pliki_d/poig.htm

Projects carried out by the Institute of Machinery Technologies and Automation of Production (M-6) can be found at the following link:

http://m6.mech.pk.edu.pl/dzialalnosc-naukowa/realizowane-projekty.html

Institute of Advanced Manufacturing Technology

n.a. Innovative equipment and technology for processing of long slots through the electrochemical method

The project concerns the development and implementation of special machine tools.

http://www.ios.krakow.pl/911,a,innowacyjne-urzadzenia-i-technologia-do-obrobki-dlugich-otworow-me.htm

Other projects carried out by the Institute can be found at the following link:

http://www.ios.krakow.pl/143,a,fundusze-strukturalne.htm?l=pl


1.7 International cooperation With regard to international cooperation, the regional scientific research institutions have a relatively well-developed network of partners.

The Department of Robotics and Mechatronics of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics of the AGH University of Science and Technology collaborates with the following foreign scientific research institutions: Sheffield University, University of Innsbruck, Catholic University of Leuven, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, University of Technology of Compiegne, INRIA, IRISA, University of Stuttgart, University of Stavanger, Georgia Tech, UCSD, Bristol, Trinity College, Hong Kong Poly, Los Alamos Laboratories, Fraunhofer Institute, DLR, Cleveland University, and Technical University in Dresden.34

Currently, the department is carrying out two international projects: ‘Xsensor’, coordinated by the company EC Systems (a spin-off company) concerning the construction of a wireless sensor, and FOGA, long-life interconnected smart battery system for off-grid applications.35

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Automatics, Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering of the AGH University of Science and Technology closely collaborates with foreign HEIs and scientific research institutions, such as: Monash University Melbourne, Technical University of Birmingham, France Telecom Research and Development, Lund University, Deutsche Telekom AG, Siemens AG, etc.36 Within the faculty, the Department of Metrology and Electronics has been actively cooperating with the research centre Imec, specialised in nanoelectronics and located in Leuven (Belgium), and a number of scientific research institutions from Japan and the United States.

Within the Faculty of Computer Science, Electronics and Telecommunication of the AGH University of Science and Technology, the Department of Computer Science has a number of inter-institutional agreements with several institutions, such as Grenoble Institute of Technology, Catalonia University of Technology, Albert-Ludwigs-University in Freiburg, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, etc.37

One of the institutes of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (Institute of Applied Mechanics – M1) of the University of Technology in Cracow collaborates with a number of institutions, among others: within the Network of Excellence KMM-NoE “Knowledge-based multicomponent materials for durable and safe performance”, coordinated by the Institute of Fundamental Technological Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences and GSI in Darmstadt.38

The Institute of Advanced Manufacturing Technology (IOS) has become a dynamic centre specialised in the field of material engineering and sintering processes thanks to unique laboratories of the Centre of Material Engineering and Sintering Techniques. During the 2013-2016 period, the Institute has been involved in an EU FP7 project (known also as ‘SINTERCER’) concerning the Development of a sintering centre and know-how exchange for non equilibrium sintering methods of advanced ceramic composite materials. There are a number of partnering organisations involved in twinning activities aiming at exchange of know-how and experience from abroad.39

34 See: http://krim.agh.edu.pl/o-katedrze 35 See: http://krim.agh.edu.pl/project 36 See: http://www.eaiib.agh.edu.pl/wspolpraca,partnerzy.html 37 See: http://www.ki.agh.edu.pl/en/page/inter-institutional-agreements 38 See: http://riad.pk.edu.pl/~m-1/zagranica.html 39 See: http://www.ios.krakow.pl/sintercer/611,a,partnering-institutions.htm


It is also worthwhile mentioning the two following projects that are to some extent related to the thematic area covered by the present report, namely: Innobridge – bridging the innovation gap through converting R&D results into commercial success in a more effective and efficient way (duration: second and third quarter of 2016) in which the Voivodeship of Malopolskie plays a role of partner and 3DCentral – Catalysing Smart Engineering and Rapid Prototyping (duration June 2016 – November 2018) in which Kraków Technology Park (KTP) and Cracow University of Technology act as the consortium’s partners in association with the Voivodeship of Malopolskie. The sources of funding of these projects are Interreg Europe and Interreg Central Europe Programme.

1.8 Policy support and delivery mechanisms Adopted in November 2015, the Regional Innovation Strategy for the Malopolskie Region 2020, which is de facto the Research and Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialisation (RIS-3) of Malopolskie, identified seven areas of regional specialisation. The three following priority areas have some commonalities and can be considered as relevant in relation to the area of Industry 4.0 and smart systems:

• ICT

• Electrical engineering and machine-building industry

• Production of metals and metal products as well as non-metallic mineral products

The Annex of the RIS-3 contains a somewhat more detailed description of niches of regional specialisation in Malopolskie.

With regard to ‘ICT’, one of the sub-priority areas is related to automation of technological processes and robotics. As part of activities concerning design and optimisation of processes, it contains intelligent security automated systems and robots, design of advanced interfaces man-machine, man-system, machine-machine, system-system, virtual prototyping of solutions in automation of processes and robotics, etc. There is also a mention of technologies for automation of processes and robotics, diagnostic and monitoring, control systems, as well as machinery and equipment.

Other inter-related sub-priority areas within ‘ICT’ include electronics based on conductive polymers; intelligent networks, system integration and geo-information technologies; sensors (including biosensors) and intelligent sensor networks as well as optoelectronic system and materials.

As far as the area of ‘Electrical engineering and machine-building industry’ is concerned, the automation of technological processes and robotics is mentioned again as in case of the ICT priority area, in addition innovative technologies and industrial processes. The latter refers to activities related to advanced nanostructure materials, physical sensors, chemical sensors, biosensors, network sensors, sensor technologies, elastic sensors, LED, OLED, EL, packaging logistics and security.

In the third priority area, namely ‘Production of metals and metal products as well as non-metallic mineral products’, there is a reference made to innovative technologies and industrial processes. This specialisation encompasses the development of new advanced production technologies related to founding, forming process, machining, sintering and coating. It is also important to mention innovative pro-ecological solutions, which are related to construction and components of machinery, equipment and means of transport.

It can be concluded on the basis of the presented above information that Industry 4.0 and smart systems are indirectly recognised as a priority in the RIS-3 of Malopolskie. During the 2007-2013, there was no special, dedicated instrument to support activities in this area.


Similarly as in other Polish regions, Malopolskie has benefited from the funding available from the national programme ‘Human Capital, 2007-2013’ to support the development of skills, including the area of Industry 4.0 and smart systems. The scientific research institutions were eligible to obtain funding for projects related to commissioning new disciplines of studies of strategic importance for the regional knowledge-based economy. The offer to students included scholarships, additional lectures, stages in modern manufacturing companies, stages in international scientific research institutions, specialised courses, study visits in regional manufacturing companies, lectures by representatives of industry and foreign experts.

Section 1.5 contains more detailed information about the initiatives implemented to support the development of skills.

The analysis of the draft Regional Operational Programme for the Malopolskie Region 2014-2020 gives an overview of the allocation of funding to support the implementation of research and innovation related activities in strategic areas identified in the RIS-3. However, the programme neither includes a breakdown of funding available for the seven priority areas nor specifies the financial allocation for specific sub-priorities identified in the RIS-3.

Consequently, it is not possible to determine how much funding will be earmarked in support of activities relating to Industry 4.0 and smart systems. The analysis of the following two priorities of the Regional Operational Programme gives a general idea about the funding available to support research and innovation activities in Malopolskie.

The Priority 1 ‘Knowledge Economy’ constitutes the main priority in support of the Thematic Objective 1 ‘Strengthening research, technological development and innovation’). In terms of funding, some €250m will be allocated for this priority representing almost 9% of total financial allocations during the 2014-2020 programming period.

Another important source of funding will be of course a part of Priority 3 ‘Competitiveness of SMEs’ as this priority is linked to the Thematic objective 3 ‘Enhancing the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises’, although formally it is not entirely subject to the ex-ante conditionality. The total funding allocated to Priority 3 accounts for roughly about €240m representing slightly more than 8% of the total funding of the Regional Operational Programme for the Malopolskie Region during the 2014-2020 programming period.

More detailed description of the new forms of support and analysis of changes between the two programming periods (i.e. 2007-2013 and 2014-2020) in relation to the available measures in support of R&DI activities is presented in Section 2.3.

1.9 Good practice case A concrete example of regional good practice case is a long-term cooperation between the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Automatics, Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering and a Japanese company Rigaku Corporation.

The company is specialised in the provision of analytical and industrial instrumentation technology. The Rigaku Group of Companies are world leaders in the fields of general X-ray diffraction (XRD), thin film analysis (XRF, XRD and XRR), X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (TXRF, EDXRF and WDXRF), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), protein and small molecule X-ray crystallography, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray optics, semiconductor metrology (TXRF, XRF, XRD and XRR), X-ray sources, computed tomography, non-destructive testing and thermal analysis. The products of Rihaku are sold all over the world and find application in various areas, such as: material analysis, quality control of products as well as in the automotive sector, electronic, pharmaceutical, chemical industries, and criminology, etc.


Thanks to the developed integrated circuit at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Automatics, Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering, the new generations of high-speed one-dimensional X-ray detectors, such as D/teX ultra are being developed.

There was a new product that was introduced into the market as a result of cooperation between the faculty and Rihaku. It is a high-resolution/high-speed 2D photon counting X-ray detector, known also as ‘HYPix-3000’ (Figure 3).40 The nucleus of the detector consists of 16 specialised integrated circuits called ‘PXD18k’. The faculty team led by Prof. Paweł Gryboś designed those circuits and each contains approximately 40m transistors.

Figure 3 High-resolution/high-speed 2D photon counting X-ray detector: HyPix-3000

Source: Rigaku Corporation.

The results of undertaken research include also joint patent applications (e.g. WO2012077217A1, WO2012077218A1), whereas students and PhD students from the AGH University of Science and Technology regularly take part in industrial exchange programmes organised in Japan.

Most recently, the research team from has completed a research project funding by the NCBiR concerning the development of a new generation of high-speed X-ray detectors. The project was carried out during the period 1 December 2012 – 30 November 2015 in partnership with Creotech Instruments S.A., a company specialised in space industry, science instruments industry (including systems for particle accelerators), industrial equipment (M2M, cameras), and contract electronics manufacturing.

1.10 Leveraging the existing potential Based on the analysis of materials collected during the desk research, complemented by a series of face-to-face interviews with the regional stakeholders, the following main challenges related to the area of Industry 4.0 and smart systems have been identified.

• Challenge 1: Improving linkages and enhancing cooperation between the regional innovation stakeholders

40 See: http://www.agh.edu.pl/fileadmin/default/templates/images/Aktualnosci/aktualnosci/_2014/ HYPIX3000.pdf


Introducing the functional approach into the RIS-3, which is overly focused on sectoral activities and specific technologies, will help clarifying and assessing the readiness among the relevant actors of the innovation system to undertake joint activities in the thematic area covered by the present report. It will also bring a value added in terms of increasing the coherence between future activities to be implemented within the different areas of regional smart specialisation.

• Challenge 2: Addressing the deficit of skills in advanced manufacturing

The deficit of skills in the area of advanced manufacturing (i.e. Industry 4.0 and smart systems) has been mentioned in a number of interviews carried out in the framework of this assignment. The perspective of developing new global-value chains requires having an access to highly skilled specialists, who will be capable of designing and developing customised solutions upon demand. In practice, creating a future for young people will be only possible by creating sustainable partnerships in the framework of large-scale and ambitious initiatives. Above all, it will be necessary to avoid by all means a piecemeal approach and fragmentation of efforts.

• Challenge 3: Concentrating the funding to better leverage the return of public investment

The biggest challenge is to develop innovative platforms to be based on public-private partnership and relevant joint projects. Such platforms could contribute to achieving the excellence of the Malopolskie Region in the field of Industry 4.0 and smart systems as well as encourage the update of innovative solutions by the manufacturing sector.

Based on the existing evidence, it can be concluded that possible future orientations and opportunities in the area of Industry 4.0 and smart systems in Malopolskie lie particularly in:

• Participating and promoting exchanges on Industry 4.0-type technologies in a collaborative environment with other European regions

The leading engineers, business people and academics from the region will have an important role to play in better connecting with the existing networks from abroad, to achieve three main objectives: participate in the development of new global-value chains, find customers and increase the productivity. By doing so, it will be able also possible to strengthen networks at regional level to respond and take this opportunity seriously.

• Developing new skills in manufacturing technologies

The funding to be secured from the European Structural and Investment Funds could be used to develop a new manufacturing technologies degree or even a Training Centre/Academy of Advanced Manufacturing. The success of a possible initiative of this type will depend on a number various factors. Among the most important ones appear to be the capacity of establishing close cooperation between different faculties of the higher education institutions, the ability to ensure the involvement of industry in all developments as well as effective implementation.

• Implementing a dedicated programme with a clearly defined focus and objectives

There is a need for implementing a comprehensive strategic programme to trigger the desired changes. The public investment can help in achieving the set out objectives, however, it is important to ensure that any new undertaking is a part of a bigger plan in which actions are complementing each other towards achieving the common goal.

This will be instrumental for developing a network of public-private organisations designed to transform the regional capability for innovation and help drive future modernisation of industry.


2. Regional Innovation Performance Trends, Governance and Instruments

2.1 Recent trends in innovation performance and identified challenges Malopolskie is an important scientific research centre in Poland. It has managed to attract a number of strategic investors who have established their headquarters in the region. By way of example, companies based in the region include: Google, IBM, CISCO, MOTOROLA, DELPHI, COMARCH and many others that play a pivotal role in the development of regional economy.

ArcelorMittal Poland’s Unit in Cracow is the largest investment of that kind in Europe within the last 20 years. Together with its network of OEMs, it accounts for a substantial share of employment and plays an important role in the economic development of Malopolskie. It is also important to mention that while the region is not the most important industrial centre in Poland, industrial activities are far from negligible.

During the last decade there has been a positive upward trend on many key innovation performance indicators. Similarly to other Polish regions performing relatively better on the main research, development and innovation (R&DI) indicators, Malopolskie has recorded the increase of innovation and research expenditures, in addition to the growth of innovation investments in companies employing less than 250 persons. Overall performance of and recent trends in the manufacturing sector were already discussed at length in Section 1.1.

There has been also a significant upward trend in gross expenditures on R&D in absolute terms from €273m back in 2010 to €395m in 2013 and measured as percentage of GDP it accounted 1.3% of GDP according to the latest available data for 2013. Malopolskie also occupies the leading position compared to other regions in supply of human capital. In 2014, it accounted for the highest number of students (182,600), following the capital region of Mazowieckie (269,500). It also occupies the second position after Mazowieckie in terms of the number of PhD students. During the 2014-2015 academic year, there were 6,779 PhD students in Malopolskie compared to some 10,423 PhD students in Mazowieckie.

More recently, in July 2015, the Committee of the Regions awarded the Malopolskie region the title of European Entrepreneurial Region 2016 for its outstanding and innovative business strategy.41

Increasingly, there has been also some evidence of closer cooperation between the scientific research institutions and the private sector. The interviews undertaken in the framework of this assignment pointed to complementarities and opportunities of future cooperation between Malopolskie and the neighbouring region of Silesia. The latter is considered as an important industrial centre in Poland, thus offers an excellent base for transferring the know-how and technologies from Malopolskie.

Overall, the situation in the Malopolskie Region has been stable and companies have coped relatively well despite the economic and financial crisis in 2009, which has affected many regions across the EU. The following observation, which emerges from a closer analysis of patters of structural and long-term indicators, points to a mixed picture. On the one hand, there has been clearly a boost of R&D investment by manufacturing companies. During the last decade, the share of R&D investments in total innovation expenditures in the manufacturing sector has increased from merely 23% in 2005 to almost 36% in 2014. Taking into account the significant increase of innovation expenditures during that period, this can be considered as an important achievement. On the other hand, large enterprises employing more than 250 persons

41 See: http://eer.malopolska.pl/index_eng.php


have continued to the major innovation investors in the region and innovation capacity of SMEs has been increasing slowly. Also, the innovation sales have recorded a sharp decline in the aftermath of the economic and financial crisis and have remained limited since then.

With regard to the regional comparative advantages, it is important to note recent developments taking place in the following strategic areas in which the region hopes to excel.

Life sciences

Further development of the already existing Life Science Park is planned in the current programming period, as part of the so-called regional network “Parks of Intelligent Specialisation”. Likewise, the funding will be provided through the Regional Operational Programme 2014-2020 for the development of the Malopolskie Centre of Biotechnology, which was established with the financial assistance of the national programme Innovative Economy 2007-2013. The regional authorities pay also special attention to the development of specialisation areas in Malopolskie by promoting and participating in activities of the Life Science Cluster.

Concrete examples of pivotal companies in this area include the following:

• ASPEL s.a. – specialised in manufacturing of electronic medical equipment, dedicated for cardiology

• BioTe21 – a biotech Laboratory with the experience in the field of molecular medicine, development of new genetic diagnostics and innovative biotechnologies

• Farmina – pharmaceutical company with products covering a range of therapeutic areas, including dermatological, analgesic, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and gynaecological

• Silvermedia – a company that supports the development of IT and innovation in the healthcare sector.

Sustainable energy

It is planned to provide financial support for the two science and technology parks, notably one managed by the AGH University of Science and Technology concerning sustainable energy and the other overseen by the Technical University of Cracow specialised in the area of energy efficiency. These investments will be realised, as part of the so-called regional network “Parks of Intelligent Specialisation”. It is also foreseen that the funding from the Regional Operational Programme 2014-2020 will be provided for the development of the Centre of Sustainable Development and Energy Efficiency “Miękinia”.

Concrete examples of pivotal companies in this area include:

• EDF Krakow s.a. – energy supplier

• EDF Paliwa Ltd. – specialised in supplies of fuel for production

• ELFRAN – a manufacturer of solar thermal collectors

• MPEC Kraków – a supplier of heat energy

ICT

One of the recently completed pilot projects “System of Medication Information in Malopolskie” has led to the development of a single integrated platform for the exchange of medical data and facilitated the access to electronic medical services in the region.

As of future, the region plans to provide funding for the Science and Technology Park overseen by the AGH University of Science and Technology concerning the area of ICT, as part of the so-called regional network “Parks of Intelligent Specialisation”. It is


also possible to support in the framework of the Regional Operational Programme 2014-2020 the development of super computing and networking centre.


• AdRem Software – a software company specialised in network and systems management

• Comarch s.a. – global IT business solutions provider

• Ericpol – an engineering company specialised in the development of dedicated solutions in telecommunications, M2M (machine to machine), IoT (Internet of Things), healthcare, finances, banking and business solutions area

• Mobile Experts – a leading company in innovative mobile solutions and services for telecommunications

• Motorola Solutions Systems – a world-known data communications and telecommunications equipment provider

• Softhis – a company specialised in web applications, workflow solutions, e-signature, CRM, ERP, mobile applications and interface design.

Chemistry

It is planned that the funding will be provided for the establishment of the R&D Centre within the Faculty of Chemistry of the Jagiellonian University. The regional authorities have recently signed the letter of intent concerning the cooperation related to the establishment of the Chemical Centre of Technology and Development. In summary, the objective of this investment is exploring, organising, undertaking and implementing the most effective solutions in the field of chemistry and related patenting activity.


• Alwernia – a company specialised in chromium and phosphorus compounds production

• BP Europa SE – its main business activities cover distribution of fuels, lubricants and also LPG

• Grupa Azoty – a company specialised in the field of construction plastics, as well as the raw materials for their manufacturing and mineral fertilisers

• Krakchemia – a major plastics raw material distributor in Poland

• Linde Gaz Polska – is a supplier of industrial, process and speciality gases

• Mota Engil Central Europe – a company specialised not only in civil construction and road and bridges areas, but also electromechanical, environmental, and railway construction

• Novatek Polska – a company specialised in the LPG market

• Orlen Oil – a manufacturing company and distributor of lubricants

• Orlen Południe – a company specialised in the production and distribution of biofuels, bio composites, paraffin and solvents

• Slovnaft Polska – a fuel company, Solvent Wistol – a manufacturer of a wide range of chemicals

• Synthos – a manufacturing company of chemical raw materials.

Production of metals and metal products as well as non-metallic mineral products


It is envisaged that the funding will be provided for the development of a science and technology park managed by the University of Science and Technology AGH concerning the area of material engineering.


• Alumetal – a manufacturer of secondary aluminium casting alloys

• ArcelorMittal Poland – the largest steel producer in Poland

• Grupa Kęty – a supplier of advanced products based on aluminium, and of flexible packaging

• Grupa KZN Bieżanów – a company specialised in the production of surfaces for railways, the industry, municipal rail transport systems (tramways, subways) and special types (mountain railways)

• Laboratorium LRM – a company specialised in steel wire robes, steel tubes and conveyor belts, non-destructive testing and evaluation

• Staco Polska – offers a complete range of high-quality gratings and treads in steel, plastic, aluminium and stainless steel

• Stalprodukt – a manufacturer and exporter of steel

• Tele-Fonika Kable – the largest cable company in Central and Eastern Europe

• ZGH “Boleslaw” – a mining and smelting complex.

Electrical engineering and machine-building industry

It is planned that that funding for the development of regional network of park initiatives linked to smart specialisation areas will be provided in the framework of Regional Operational Programme 2007-2014. Also, the Malopolskie participates in the Vanguard initiative as one of the two Polish regions offering opportunities for development in this area of specialisation.


• BWI Poland Technologies – a chassis supplier that designs and manufactures brake and suspension systems for the global transportation market

• Delphi Poland – a world leading supplier of electrical and electronic architecture systems and components, producer of drilling tools and equipment

• MAN Trucks – a leading provider of commercial vehicles and transport solutions worldwide

• Newag – a company specialised in manufacturing and modernising electric multiple units, diesel multiple units, locomotives and passenger cars

• Valeo Autosystemy – a company specialised in the production of rear lamps and head lamps for cars, both on the original equipment market and the automotive ‘aftermarket’

• Zaklady Mechaniczne Tarnów – a member of Polish Armaments Group, which concentrates over 60 armament sector companies.

Creative industries

Launched in 2010, the Voivodeship of Malopolskie has led a project MSIT that concerned the establishment of modern regional system of tourism information. There are plans in the future to establish the Centre of Creativity and Design, in order to promote the importance of industry design and consequently stimulate demand of companies for design-related services.


Based on the discussion presented in the section above and complemented by a series of interviews with the regional stakeholders, the main challenges in the Malopolskie Region can be summarised as follows:

Challenge 1: Tailor and fine-tune the selection mechanisms and criteria of R&DI projects to better leverage investments in the area of regional specialisation

The adopted Regional Innovation Strategy for the Malopolskie Region in November 2015 identifies seven areas of regional specialisation. This raises a question whether it is feasible to trigger changes in the behaviour of firms and scientific research institutions from Malopolskie with the available funding in all seven areas of regional specialisation. Similarly to other Polish regions, it is not clear how the funding will be allocated among the areas of regional specialisation. Thus, the development of selection mechanisms and criteria of R&DI projects will play an important role, as they will de facto determine the thematic concentration of funding available during the 2014-2020 programming period.

Challenge 2: Monitor trends and developments taking place within areas of regional innovation specialisation

One of the objectives of the established in June 2015 the RIS-3 Working Groups was to promote cross-sectoral cooperation between enterprises, scientific research institutions, business intermediary institutions and other relevant stakeholders of the innovation system with the view of preparing and undertaking joint initiatives and projects as well as exploring the new emerging areas of regional comparative advantage that could be developed, complement or even replace the identified areas of smart specialisation.

To this end, a more detailed reflection about how to keep the momentum of active involvement of their members especially from the private sector and develop the most effective mechanism for monitoring dynamic changes taking place within each niche area of regional innovation specialisation will be required.

Challenge 3: Explore new business opportunities in cooperation with actors from other regions

The Malopolskie Region is the only Polish regions participating in the activities of the Vanguard Initiative.42 The inter- and intra-regional cooperation is reflected in the Development Strategy of Southern Poland until 2020, which was officially adopted on 5 April 2013. In concrete terms, it should be closely monitored how the plans will be translated into actions and implemented in practice. In this respect, there is a real risk of reinforcing lock-in effects and creating long-term path dependencies.

2.2 Institutional framework and set-up The main regional institutions are the Regional Assembly, the Board of Voivodeship and the Marshal Office. The parliament is the decision-making and inspection body of the region. The board assisted by the Marshal Office is the executive body of the region and acts as the managing authority of the EU Structural Funds interventions.

There are three departments at the Marshal Office, which are dealing with aspects related to the regional development and economy.

The Department of Economic and Regional Development is tasked with activities related to attracting and providing services to business investors. It also develops the information society programmes and co-creates the Malopolskie Business Centre. The Department also through the Unit of Monitoring and Management of RIS coordinates the implementation of the Strategy in the Voivodeship of Malopolskie. Starting from

42 See: http://www.s3vanguardinitiative.eu


2008 until mid 2015 the activities carried out by this Unit were supported in the scope of the project “Regional Innovation Strategy for the Malopolskie Region” funded from the national programme Human Capital 2007-2014. Since mid-2015 the funding has been provided as part of technical assistance.

The Department of Regional Policy is responsible for the development of regional policy, coordinates the aspects related to the preparation, implementation and monitoring of the Regional Development Strategy of the Voivodeship of Malopolskie, as well as coordinates and monitors the matters related to the Regional Operational Programme for the Malopolskie Region. With regard to innovation, the Department is overseeing the SPIN programme43, which covered the period 2012-2015 and has been recently extended until 2018.

The Department of Implementation of Operational Programmes as its name suggests is responsible for the implementation of activities financed within the Regional Operational Programme 2014-2020.

Established in 2006, the Regional Innovation Council of Malopolskie is an advisory body of the Executive of the Malopolskie Voivodeship in the area of innovation and entrepreneurship. The new Council was appointed in November 2015. It consists of 38 members, including the representatives of regional, city authorities, intermediary business organisations, scientific research institutions and business sector.

Comparatively to the previous composition of the Council, the major novelty has been the appointment of two members per specialisation area identified in the RIS-3. All documents from the Regional Innovation Council meetings are publicly available and can be consulted on the webpages of the Malopolska platform.44

Overall, the innovation governance in Malopolskie has been stable and there have been no major changes introduced into the regional innovation institutional set-up over the recent years. The most important development has been the appointment of working groups for each of the specialisation area identified in the RIS-3, in addition to a horizontal working group.

More detailed information about those working groups is presented in Section 2.5.

43 See: http://www.spin.malopolska.pl 44 See: http://www.malopolska.pl/Przedsiebiorca/iMalopolska/Strony/Ma%C5%82opolska

RadaInnowacji.aspx


2.3 Regional innovation policy mix During the 2007-2013 programming period, the focus of innovation policy mix has been placed on the development and improving the competitiveness of SMEs. The typical projects eligible for funding related to direct investment support for companies, cluster initiatives, the development of business intermediary institutions, and financial engineering instruments, including: loan-, guarantee funds, and other alternative means of funding the business activities. Altogether the total funding allocated for this type of support measures accounted for some €362.5m during the period 2007-2014.

Comparatively, some €127m was allocated for R&D infrastructure projects and undertakings related to the development of infrastructure of educational base of higher education institutions. Further financial support for R&D infrastructure of roughly about €33.4m was provided in the framework of another support measure aimed at the development the metropolitan area in relation to the European Research Area.

Additionally, some €22.7m was provided as direct funding to business R&D and innovation to finance undertaking R&D activities in companies and/or purchase of R&D results as well as investment projects concerning R&D activities.

Table 3, below provides an overview of regional innovation support measures during the programming period 2007-2013.

Table 3 Regional innovation support measures, 2007-2013 Title Duration Policy priorities Budget Organisation

responsible More information

Improving the quality of education

2007-2013

1.3. Research infrastructures

€127m Marshal Office of the Malopolskie Region

http://www.fundusze20072013.malopolska.pl

Development and improving the competitiveness of SMEs

2007-2013

4.2.Organisational, process and other non-R&D innovation 5.1. Cluster development 5.2. Science-, technology parks and incubators 5.5. Seed and early-stage capital vehicles, business angel networks

€362.5m Malopolskie Centre of Entrepreneurship


Support to the commercialisation of scientific research

2007-2013

4.1. Direct funding to business R&D and innovation



Metropolitan area as an important knot of the European Research Area

2007-2013

1.3. Research infrastructures

€33.4m Marshal Office of the Malopolskie Region


Source: Own, based on the Complement of the Regional Operational Programme 2007-2013 of 7 January 2016.


During the 2014-2020 programming period a new dedicated measure to support research and innovation activities has been introduced. The typical projects that will be eligible for funding include the support for R&D projects, development of R&D infrastructure as well as strengthening the cooperation between micro-, small enterprises and the science sector by means of innovation vouchers. The total funding allocated for this purpose accounts for some €188.2m.

Additionally, €147m has been earmarked for projects aimed at developing and improving the competitiveness of the Malopolskie SMEs. The support will be provided in the form of financial instruments, grants to finance R&D results necessary for the introduction of new products, processes and services on the market, and vouchers for specialised advisory services.

The financial allocation earmarked to finance research infrastructure of the science sector accounts for €70.6m. Besides that, €35.3m will be available to finance infrastructure projects of intermediary business institutions and regional centres of technology transfer.

There has been also an important investment planned of about €43.5m for the internationalisation of the Malopolskie economy and additional €21.2m has been allocated for the promotion of entrepreneurial attitudes and potential of intermediary business institutions.

Table 4, below provides an overview of regional innovation support measures during the programming period 2014-2020.

Table 4 Regional innovation support measures, 2014-2020 Title Duration Policy

priorities Budget Organisation

responsible More information

Research infrastructure of the science sector

2014- 2020 1.3. Research infrastructures

€70.6m Marshal Office of the Malopolskie Region

http://www.rpo.malopolska.pl

Research and innovation in enterprises

2014- 2020 4.1. Direct funding to business R&D and innovation 2.4. Demonstration projects, proto-types and proofs of concepts 4.5. Knowledge transfer and cooperation between firms (incl. technology acquisition)



Innovation Centres in Malopolskie

2014- 2020 5.2. Science-, technology parks and incubators




Title Duration Policy priorities

Budget Organisation responsible

More information

Promotion of entrepreneurial attitudes and potential of intermediary business institutions

2014- 2020 4.3. Fostering start-ups and gazelles 5.2. Science-, technology parks and incubators



Internationalisation of the Malopolskie economy

2014- 2020 5.4. Innovation management and advisory services



Development and Competitiveness of the Malopolskie SMEs

2014- 2020 5.5. Seed and early-stage capital vehicles, business angel networks 4.1. Direct funding to business R&D and innovation 4.5. Knowledge transfer and cooperation between firms (incl. technology acquisition)

€147m Malopolskie Centre of Entrepreneurship


Source: Own, based on the Complement of the Regional Operational Programme 2014-2020 of 14 January 2016.


2.4 Appraisal of regional innovation policies Recently, the three following evaluations provide an appraisal of the general adequacy of the current approach to regional innovation policy, but also of its factual outputs and outcomes:

• The Regional Innovation System of the Małopolska Region. Pilot project (January 2015)

• The assessment of knowledge transfer and linkages between the science sector, intermediary business institutions and enterprises in the Voivodeship of Malopolskie in 2012 (November 2012)

• Effects of implementation of innovative projects carried out in the framework of the EU funding, subscribed in objectives of the Regional Innovation Strategy for the Malopolskie Region Malopolskie 2008-2013 (2010).

Launched in 2008, the first Pilot project aimed at identifying and implementing systemic solutions for the effective management and monitoring of Regional Innovation Strategy for the Malopolskie Region, developing a network to foster cooperation and facilitate exchanges in order to create conditions for the development of a knowledge-based economy in the Malopolskie Region as well as strengthen pro-investment functions of institutions responsible for the development and implementation of the Regional Innovation Strategy.

The evaluation undertaken by iTTi (2015) concluded that all the three specific project objectives have been effectively, efficiently and sustainably reached. It was pointed that only in the case the objective related to development of network for cooperation and exchanges the achievement of sustainability requires taking actions in the longer term.

With regard to the problems encountered during the project’s implementation, the evaluators pointed to the issue of making modifications to the project’s annual allocations. Also, the public procurement rules and procedures were identified as a barrier during the project’s implementation. In conclusion, it can be ascertained that there have been a number of problems of organisational-formal nature encountered during the project’s duration. Nevertheless, they have not had a significant impact on the activities foreseen by the projected and have only resulted in slight delays during the implementation.

The main objective of the second evaluation mentioned above was to evaluate the impact of the activities carried during the years 2009-2012 on the achievement of objectives set out by the Regional Innovation Strategy for the Malopolskie Region 2008-2013.

The evaluators found a highly visible, positive change in the mechanisms of knowledge transfer (i.e. a clear positive correlation between the activities undertaken under the Regional Innovation Strategy for the Malopolskie Region and conditions for carrying out business innovation activities).

With regard to the diagnosis of companies’ innovation potential, it was confirmed that the EU funding significantly improved the investment capacities of entrepreneurs. The evaluators also pointed to a downward trend in self-assessment of the companies’ innovativeness and a decrease in the share of enterprises introducing innovations. While according to the 2009 results some 87% of enterprises introduced innovations in 2009, this represented only 57% in 2012. It is also important to note the uncertainty of the economic situation due to economic and financial crisis in 2009 was evaluated to have a negative influence on the development of innovative activities in enterprises.

The assessment of knowledge transfer found that the undertaken activities have contributed not only to the establishment of meeting spaces but also to the development of cooperation readiness in this type of events. The evaluation also noted a significant increase of R&D activities carried out the scientific research institutions


from 9% in 2009 to 17% in 2012. The cooperation among companies was also gaining in importance, according to this evaluation.

As far as research domain is concerned, the evaluation pointed to the improvement in the availability of grants and in the quality of information, as well as the creation of good conditions for cooperation among stakeholders as the main achievements of the Regional Innovation Strategy. Another emerging finding that stands out in the evaluation is the improvement of cooperation between companies and the science sector.

In summary, the evaluation has formulated a number of recommendations, including the following:

• Priority should be given to innovative activities that take into account a formal cooperation between the scientific and research and business sectors. At the moment, a mechanism for cooperation is being shaped, which should be encouraged and supported financially.

• Grants for businesses should be limited in favour of financial engineering instruments. It is advisable to audit the effectiveness of regional loan funds, and assess their ability to finance innovation. A balance of activities of BEIs should be made indicating the desired directions of the sector’s development.

• The introduction of a mechanism for a flexible approach to the application process.

• At present, the mechanism of displacing small businesses and micro-enterprises from the grant system can be observed. This is due to the high level of complexity of the application process. Such entities are not able to meet the requirements.

• Grant support for academic BEIs in the widely understood academic entrepreneurship. These units are now seen as effective, they have taken up the role of an intermediary between companies and the sphere of science, but they require continuous organisational, promotional and financial support.

• The concepts of innovation and innovative activities in the new strategic documents should not be limited solely to technologies generally regarded as innovative (IT, telecommunications, life sciences, biochemistry, etc.), but should also apply to traditional sectors, taking into account the existent specificity of the region.45

The third evaluation mentioned above by Re-Source” (2010) found that one of the biggest barriers in the implementation of innovative projects was due to formal requirements and administrative burden and costs. It was also noted that the level of co-funding for different regions (at NUTS II level and not NUTS III level) does not sufficiently allow taking into account the existing inter-regional differences. Last but not least, the evaluation also acknowledged the existence of a number of factors that have a negative influence on the science-industry cooperation.

With regard to efforts undertaken to increase synergies between the national and regional innovation support measures, it is important to mention a mechanism of the Regional Scientific Research Agendas, known also in Polish as ‘RANB’. As background information, the Ministry of Regional Development in cooperation with the National R&D Centre (NCBiR) plans in 2016 to launch a call for industrial research and development activities in the framework of the national programme Smart Development for years 2014-2020 (known also in Polish as ‘POIR’). The total allocation for all 16 Polish regions accounts for €98m. The support measure is

45 FUNDEKO Korbel, Krok – Baściuk Sp. J. (2015).


addressed at consortia with the involvement of scientific research institutions and enterprises to be led by a scientific entity.

The launch of this support measure will announced, following the establishment of the Regional Scientific Research Agendas by the NCBiR. The entrepreneurs and representatives of regional scientific research organisations can express their interests (i.e. specifying the thematic coverage and research activities) by completing a specially designed form and submitting it to the relevant services of the Marshall Office. Based on the collected information, the NCBiR will undertake a more detailed analysis that will be carried out by the Expert Committee and subsequently establish a list of Regional Scientific Research Agendas.

Hence, at this stage establishing scientific-research consortia is not required. In case the expression is not deemed successful by the NCBiR as the Regional Scientific Research Agenda the company or scientific research institutions that submitted this expression of interest will be able to apply for funding, provided the this entity joins forces with another consortium in the framework of one of the approved Regional Scientific Research Agendas by the NCBiR.

The deadline for submitting the expression of interest by enterprises and scientific research institutions from Malopolskie was 29 February 2016. Prior to this, an organisation meeting was held on 19 January 2016 with the participation of representatives of the NCBiR, the Marshal Office and potential beneficiaries. It is planned that the call concerning the Regional Scientific Research Agendas will be launched no later than 30 September 2016 with an indicative deadline of submitting proposals by 31 December 2016.46

Overall, the so called demarcation line, which is used as the basis for programming interventions to determine the type of projects eligible for funding and the financial allocations at national and regional level, has been a long standing issue in all Polish regions. There is a potential risk that the demarcation line might lead to the design of similar programmes in all regions, not sufficiently taking into account the regional endowments and innovation potential, as it was the case during the 2007-2013 programming period.

2.5 Policy good practice Established in 2014, the RIS-3 Working Groups of can be considered as an example of regional good practice. Altogether there are seven such groups (i.e. one per specialisation area), in addition to one horizontal group tasked with ensuring exchanges between and synergies with other working groups.

In practice, the working groups are platforms of cooperation between companies, thus they play an important role in the entrepreneurial discovery process in Malopolskie. The interviews conducted in the scope of this assignment revealed some interesting facts about those working groups.

Primary, the working groups were established to fulfil specific functions and carry out a number of tasks. One of them related to the preparation of a detailed complement document. The main purpose of this document was to specify the scope of each area of regional specialisation which would be subsequently used as a reference document to determine whether applications for EU funding to be submitted in the future meet the characteristics of the identified regional specialisation areas, and thus are eligible for funding or not. The complement document was a result of entrepreneurial discovery process, which involved the organisation of some 25 dedicated workshops as well as intensive email exchanges.

46 See: http://www.malopolska.pl/Przedsiebiorca/Wydarzenia/Strony/Aktualnosc.aspx?pid=10034


The working groups will have a possibility of updating the document, which contains descriptions of regional areas of smart specialisation, depending on the signals coming from the market for the development of innovative solutions and the emergence of promising technologies in the future. By doing so, the support for research and innovation activities will be focused on those areas that can maximise the best return of investments.

Secondly, the working groups are also expected to contribute to setting out the vision for the development, technological solutions as well as measurable results of activities within the respective areas of regional specialisation. Promoting and facilitating cross-sectoral cooperation is another important area of activity of the working groups. It is also important to note that the working groups have a mandate to provide operational recommendations to the Executive level of the Voivodeship of Malopolskie as well as the Regional Innovation Council in relation to areas of smart specialisation, programmes and measure in support of research and innovation activities.

Thirdly, the process of becoming a member of those working groups followed an open-method. The call for candidatures has attracted a lot of interest and resulted in 261 submitted applications of which half of them represented entrepreneurs from Malopolskie. A detailed breakdown of submitted applications per type of organisation is the following:

• Enterprises – 130

• Scientific research institutions – 64

• Intermediary business institutions – 28

• Regional and local administration – 15

• Other stakeholders – 24.

The composition of each working group deserves to be also mentioned. Altogether the number of members of each working group should represent different actors of the regional innovation system but not exceed 20 members. The indicative number of members per working group is the following: enterprises (max. 10 members), science sector (max. 4 members), intermediary business institutions (max. 3 members), regional and local administration (max. 2 members) and other stakeholders (max. 1 member). The list of members of each working group is publicly available information.47

Moreover, it is important to note that each of those working groups are overseen by the Coordinator and the Deputy Coordinator who are appointed by the Executive of the Voivodeship of Malopolskie from among the members of the working groups.

Most recently, the working groups have been active in the process of identifying the thematic scope and research areas of activity that will be used by the NCBiR in establishing the Regional Scientific Research Agendas, known also in Polish as ‘RANB’ on the basis of which the support measure 4.1.2 of the national programme Smart Development will be launched.

Finally, it is important to mention the involvement of working groups in the assessment process of submitted applications for the 2016 competition “Innovator of Malopolskie”. The competition is open and is organised by the Cracow University of Technology, the Centre of Technology Transfer in cooperation with the Marshal Office of the Voivodeship of Malopolskie.

47 See: http://www.malopolska.pl/Lists/DocumentManager/RSI/grupy%20robocze/ %28Sk%C5%82ad%20GR%29.pdf


2.6 Possible future orientations and opportunities Based on the existing evidence, it can be concluded that possible future orientations and opportunities for regional innovation policy in Malopolskie lie particularly in:

• Tailoring and fine-tuning the selection mechanisms and criteria of future instruments in support of R&D activities to better leverage the public investment during the 2014-2020 programming period

At the moment of preparing the present report, the regional administration was assessing the need for introducing changes to the selection mechanisms and criteria used during the pilot support measure concerning the Innovation vouchers.

Similarly, to other Polish regions, there is still a need to continue working on the refinement of the selection criteria and tailoring them to the needs of regional innovation stakeholders. A recommendation that applies to Polish regions in general is to promote the exchange of practices on the selection criteria and implementation mechanisms adopted in other regions with the view of developing possible improvements, while taking into account the specific regional context.

• Undertaking a review of activities carried so far the RIS-3 working groups and assessing the need of introducing changes to improve the regional strategic intelligence

By doing so, it will be possible to take a stock of lessons learned since the appointment of those working groups and establish a longer-term commitment between the regional authorities and relevant stakeholders for providing strategic intelligence concerning the identified areas of regional specialisation.

The development of new monitoring framework should subsequently allow better capturing trends and dynamic changes taking place within those areas. This activity should be seen as complementary, thus taking into account the experience gained by the monitoring team of RIS as well as the Regional Observatory of Economy will be important to maximise the potential success of the future initiative in this area.

• Building new alliances and platforms of cooperation with other European regions

Increasingly, the importance of gaining insights into the developments and trends taking place outside the region has been recognised by the regional innovation stakeholders.

The declaration of enhanced cooperation with the neighbouring region of Silesia and officially joining forces with other members of the Vanguard initiative can be considered as commendable efforts undertaken recently by the regional authorities. The success in the application for the Interreg Europe ‘InnoBridge’ led by the region of Lower Austria deserves to be mentioned as another positive development.

Taking into account the existing potential and comparative advantages of Malopolskie, there is definitely an opportunity for taking a leadership in the development of new and open spaces of collaboration within a clearly defined thematic, involving the relevant stakeholders from other European regions.


Appendix A Bibliography

1. Agrotec (2014) Analiza kwalifikacji i kompetencji kluczowych dla zwiększenia szans absolwentów na rynku pracy. Available at: http://www.ncbr.gov.pl/gfx/ncbir/userfiles/_public/fundusze_europejskie/kapital_ludzki/ewaluacja/raport_koncowy_ncbir_kompetencje_final.pdf

2. FUNDEKO Korbel, Krok – Baściuk (2012) Ocena transferu wiedzy i powiązań sfery B+R oraz instytucji otoczenia biznesu z przedsiębiorstwami. Available at: http://www.malopolska.pl/Lists/Publications/Publications/117/Files/Ocena transferu wiedzy i powi_za_ 2012.pdf

3. iTTi (2015) Badanie ewaluacyjne projektu “Regionalny System Innowacji Województwa Małopolskiego. Projekt pilotażowy”.

4. Marshal Office (2016) Szczegółowy Opis Osi Priorytetowych Regionalnego Programu Operacyjnego Województwa Małopolskiego na lata 2014-2020. Available at: http://www.rpo.malopolska.pl/download/program-regionalny/o-programie/zapoznaj-sie-z-prawem-i-dokumentami/szczegolowy_opisu_osi_priorytetowych_regionalnego_programu_operacyjnego_wojewodztwa_malopolskiego/2016/01/SzOOP_20160114.pdf

5. Marshal Office (2016) Uszczegółowienie Małopolskiego Regionalnego Programu Operacyjnego na lata 2007-2013. Available at: http://www.fundusze20072013.malopolska.pl/mrpo/Documents/dokumenty-programowe/uszczegolowienie/2016/UMRPO16022016.pdf

6. Marshal Office (2015) Inteligentne specjalizacje województwa małopolskiego. Uszczegółowienie obszarów wskazanych w Regionalnej Strategii Innowacji Województwa Małopolskiego 2020. Available at: http://www.malopolska.pl/Przedsiebiorca/iMalopolska/Documents/RSI/RSIWM%202014/grupy%20robocze/Zal.%20nr%201%20do%20Uchwaly%20ZWM%20-%20Uszczegolowienie%20obszarow%20IS.pdf

7. Marshal Office (2015) Strategic Programme, Regional Innovation Strategy for the Malopolska Region 2020. Available at: http://www.malopolska.pl/Przedsiebiorca/iMalopolska/Documents/RSI/RSIWM%202015/Regionalna%20Strategia%20Innowacji%20Wojew%C3%B3dztwa%20Ma%C5%82opolskiego%202020.pdf

8. Pracownia Badań i Doradztwa “Re-Source” (2010) Efekty realizacji projektów innowacyjnych, zrealizowanych w ramach środków unijnych wpisujących się w cele taktyczne Regionalnej Strategii Innowacji Województwa Małopolskiego 2008-2013. Available at: http://www.malopolska.pl/Lists/Publications/Publications/65/Files/Efekty realizacji projektów innowacyjnych.pdf


Appendix B Stakeholders consulted

1. Leszek Kotulski, prof. dr hab., AGH University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Automatics, Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering, Department of Applied Computer Science (23 February 2016).

2. Marcin Kopeć, Head of Unit, Monitoring and Management of RIS, Department of Economy Development, Marshal Office of the Voivodeship of Malopolskie (3 and 10 March 2016).

3. Paweł Gryboś, prof. dr hab. inż., AGH University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Automatics, Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering, Department of Metrology and Electronics (8 March 2016).

4. Leszek Wojnar, prof. dr hab. inż., University of Technology in Cracow, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (11 March 2016).

5. Tadeusz Uhl, prof. dr hab. inż., AGH University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics, Department of Robotics and Mechatronics (16 March 2016).

technopolis |group| Belgium Avenue de Tervuren 188a B-1150 Brussels Belgium T +32 2 737 74 40 F +32 2 727 74 49 E [email protected] www.technopolis-group.com

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