PODLASKA FUNDACJA ROZWOJU REGIONALNEGO

Podlaska Regional Development Foundation (PRDF) was established in 1994 and is a non-government organisation that supports regional economic development in Eastern region of Poland through conducting activities promoting entrepreneurship. The head office is located in Białystok, regional offices are in Hajnówka, Łomża, Bielsk Podlaski, Augustów and Suwałki - this allows to reach a wide audience throughout the voivodeship. PRDF implemented in 1994-1999 Polish-British Enterprise Project – the largest aid scheme in Central and Eastern Europe. PRDF manage programs and projects to support entrepreneurs from EU funds (Interreg Europe, Interreg Baltic Sea Region, Interreg Central Europe). PRDF realizes/-ed projects such as: Supporting Eco-innovations towards international markets acronym SUPER, FastForward Europe acronym FFWD co-financed by Interreg Europe, GoSmart co-financed by Interreg Baltic Sea Region, WOMEN co-financed by Interreg Central Europe, EURESP, EURESP+ co-financed by EC (EACI), EENEPSCALEUP (COSME). PRDF evaluates and gives opinions on applications for co-financing concerning, inter alia, supporting the computerization of enterprises, cooperation between universities and Research and Development Centres and entrepreneurs, purchase of research services, intellectual property rights, patents, licenses, know-how, technological audits to increase the competitiveness of regional small and medium-sized enterprises. PRDF prepares business plans and strategies for the development of enterprises and local governments. PRDF performs economic, financial and marketing analyses, develops internationalization business models, both for the EU / Single Market and third countries (USA, Switzerland), provides services for natural persons interested in starting a business, helps in obtaining aid funds for economic and local government projects. In total, PRDF have prepared over 200 investment projects worth approximately EUR 125 million. PRDF cooperates with various institutions at the regional, national and foreign level. So far, PRDF have cooperated with the Chamber of Industry and Commerce; National Key Clusters: Metal Processing Cluster and Polish Construction Cluster; technology parks: Białystok Science and Technology Park and Technology Park in Łomża; technology clusters: the regional INFOTECH Cluster and SINOTAIC (Silesian Cluster of the Internet of Things) - functioning as a national EDIH, as well as with foreign institutions, such as the Association of Employers and Employees (BSPN) in Belarus. PRDF is a Partner of Enterprise Europe Network Centre since 2008 (former Euro Info Centre in 1994-2007). PRDF cooperates not only with regional politicians, decision-makers, key authorities and organizations responsible for regional development but also with enterprises and potential start-ups as the main actors responsible for sustaining an economic growth in Podlasie region. PRDF provides a wide range of services through particular divisions such as Podlaski Equity Investment Fund Ltd., Podlaski Loan Guarantee Fund Ltd., Loan Fund, and Network of Business Support Centres. In 2002, PRDF became the Regional Financing Institution (RFI) in the Podlaskie region and was involved in the implementation of PHARE Programmes and structural funds targeted at SMEs. The Regional Financing Institution supports aid measures aimed at the SME sector. The main tasks are granting subsidies and monitoring their proper use. In 2020, PFRR implemented the "Antivirus voucher" project, the purpose of which is to support enterprises that, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, have to cope with specific, negative conditions for doing business.