How Polish Firms Use the EU Funds for Innovative Projects? Final Evaluation of Pomerania Region in Poland

The key challenge for EU Cohesion Policy is to improve SMEs access to capital and innovation. The objective of the article is to analyse use of the EU Structural Funds for innovative projects in SMEs from Pomerania Regional Operational Programme (ROP) 2007-2013. The analysis is based on 119 projects granted by the Measure 1.2. In order to achieve the main objective of the paper, the following detailed objectives are expected to be met: description of conditions and rules of grants awarding, analysis of SMEs in Pomerania region and finally, analysis of granted projects. The results of the analysis confirmed significant diversity of total values of projects, awarded grants and branches. The funded projects were implemented mostly in manufacturing. There were no beneficiaries from section H and section I which are very important for Pomerania's economy. Most of the projects concerned implementation activity and only few of them were related to investment in R&D activity. More expensive projects and projects implemented in cooperation were more frequently financed with credit. In most cases firms have not declared employment growth. The research results should give recommendations for regional authorities on defining guidelines and implementing the Pomerania ROP 2014-2020.