{"id":18736,"date":"2026-07-10T09:24:59","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T09:24:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ppnt.poznan.pl\/business-support-institutions-in-greater-poland-potential-barriers-and-directions-for-development\/"},"modified":"2026-08-11T12:37:58","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T12:37:58","slug":"business-support-institutions-in-greater-poland-potential-barriers-and-directions-for-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ppnt.poznan.pl\/en\/business-support-institutions-in-greater-poland-potential-barriers-and-directions-for-development\/","title":{"rendered":"Business Support Institutions in Greater Poland: Potential, Barriers, and Directions for Development"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What role do business support institutions play in the development of an innovative Greater Poland region, and what do they need to more effectively support regional companies?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

This study, prepared by a consortium comprising the Pozna\u0144 Science and Technology Park of the Adam Mickiewicz University Foundation and the \u201cRe Source\u201d Korczy\u0144ski Research and Consulting Studio<\/a><\/strong>, is part of the monitoring and updating of the \u201cRegional Innovation Strategy for Greater Poland 2030.\u201d<\/strong> Its goal was to map the regional innovation ecosystem in detail and, above all, to identify the actual potential, barriers, and needs of Wielkopolska\u2019s business support institutions. <\/p>\n\n

A Comprehensive Assessment of the Regional Ecosystem<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

The study included an analysis of existing data, a survey conducted among business support institutions, in-depth interviews with representatives of domestic and foreign entities, and an expert workshop. A total of 64 active business support institutions were identified in Greater Poland, and responses were received from 54 of them, representing a response rate exceeding 84 percent. <\/p>\n\n

The mapped entities included, among others, technology transfer centers, university special-purpose companies, chambers of commerce and business associations, business parks and incubators, startup support institutions, non-bank financial institutions, and local entrepreneurship support centers.<\/p>\n\n

Strong Concentration in Pozna\u0144<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

One of the most important findings is the uneven distribution of institutions. As many as 39 of the 64 active IOBs are headquartered in Pozna\u0144. The regional capital is home to a particularly high concentration of technology transfer centers, startup ecosystem institutions, and business parks and incubators. <\/p>\n\n

Outside of Pozna\u0144, the support network is significantly less developed. In the subregions, primarily basic services are available, such as training, consulting, informational activities, and networking. Specialized services requiring advanced infrastructure or technological expertise remain concentrated in the metropolitan center <\/p>\n\n

Training, Consulting, and Relationship Building<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

The services offered by Wielkopolska\u2019s innovation support organizations (IOBs) are primarily advisory, educational, informational, and networking-oriented. Most institutions provide training and consulting. Thirty-seven out of 54 surveyed entities indicated each of these forms of support. Networking events, as well as informational and promotional activities, are also frequently organized. <\/p>\n\n

The most common function is community building and fostering innovation ecosystems. Twenty-nine institutions indicated this. Twenty-five of the surveyed entities support the innovative development of SMEs. Activities related to technology transfer, financial instruments, incubation, internationalization, and acceleration are carried out significantly less frequently. <\/p>\n\n

At the same time, it is precisely the relatively rarely offered financial services – including guarantees, loans, and equity financing – that are among those most in demand by businesses. This highlights the discrepancy between the dominant profile of the offerings and the needs of some customers. <\/p>\n\n

Green and Digital Transformation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

More than half of the surveyed IOBs are active in at least one of the key areas of economic transformation. Most often, these areas involve digitization, energy efficiency, the circular economy, and automation and robotization. <\/p>\n\n

However, the scale of this support remains limited. As many as 24 out of 54 institutions do not provide services in any of the areas mentioned. The report therefore highlights the need to develop staff competencies, diagnostic tools, and specialized infrastructure that will enable IOBs to more effectively support businesses in their digital and environmental transformations. <\/p>\n\n

Staff as a Strength of the System<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

The median number of employees at the surveyed institutions is seven. Management, administrative, technical, and business-service staff are generally assessed as highly qualified. Most institutions also invest in staff development, primarily through training, self-study, and participation in conferences and seminars. <\/p>\n\n

At the same time, technological and regulatory changes are increasing the demand for new skills. This applies, among other things, to artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, ESG, the circular economy, technology transfer, commercialization, and securing funding. <\/p>\n\n

Funding as the Biggest Barrier<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

The most serious challenges relate to funding day-to-day operations and a lack of long-term stability. Other significant challenges include difficulties in recruiting employees with the right skills, dependence on projects and grants, changing regulations, and cumbersome administrative procedures. <\/p>\n\n

Although most IOBs rely primarily on their own funds, only 14 out of 54 institutions could maintain a similar scope and scale of services without external funding. For 16 entities, the lack of external support would mean they could no longer continue to operate. The most important need identified is therefore to ensure stable, long-term funding, followed by funds for day-to-day operations and infrastructure development. <\/p>\n\n

Cooperation exists, but it requires sustainable mechanisms<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Nearly all of the IOBs surveyed cooperate with other entities, most often with local governments, chambers of commerce, development agencies, and other business support institutions. These relationships are based primarily on the exchange of information, the implementation of joint projects, and consultations. <\/p>\n\n

However, the report notes that this cooperation lacks consistent coordination, continuity, and common operating standards. Territorial disparities could be partially mitigated by better linking local institutions with specialized centers operating in Pozna\u0144. <\/p>\n\n

From Individual Initiatives to a Cohesive System<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

The activities of 44 out of 54 surveyed IOBs are linked to at least one objective of the Regional Innovation Strategy for Greater Poland 2030. Among other things, these institutions support innovative activities by enterprises, the development of the regional innovation ecosystem, and the training of personnel for the modern economy. <\/p>\n\n

Recommendations include greater involvement of IOBs in regional policy design, the development of staff competencies, stable funding for services and infrastructure modernization, the establishment of a permanent mechanism for network collaboration, the creation of a regional support pathway for startups, and the development of a shared data system on business needs and the outcomes of the support provided.<\/p>\n\n

The authors point out that IOBs should be viewed not only as project implementers, but also as partners and co-creators of development policy. The future of the regional support system therefore depends not so much on increasing the number of individual initiatives as on improving their coordination, stability, and focus on measurable results achieved by businesses. <\/p>\n\n

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READ THE REPORT<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What role do business support institutions play in the development of an innovative Greater Poland region, and what do they need to more effectively support regional companies? This study, prepared by a consortium comprising the Pozna\u0144 Science and Technology Park of the Adam Mickiewicz University Foundation and the \u201cRe Source\u201d Korczy\u0144ski Research and Consulting Studio, is part of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":18676,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[330,312],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18736","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aktualnosciblog","category-blog"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ppnt.poznan.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18736","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ppnt.poznan.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ppnt.poznan.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ppnt.poznan.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ppnt.poznan.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18736"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ppnt.poznan.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18736\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18737,"href":"https:\/\/ppnt.poznan.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18736\/revisions\/18737"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ppnt.poznan.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18676"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ppnt.poznan.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18736"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ppnt.poznan.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18736"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ppnt.poznan.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18736"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}