Podlaska Regional Development Foundation
What we do
As a non-profit business support institution we have been operating for 27 years in the Podlaskie Voivodeship. We are a tool for implementing development policies and regional economic strategies. We support the economic development of the region; in our activities we focus mainly on three areas: financing the functioning and development of enterprises, internationalization of companies and management of programmes aimed at increasing the competitiveness and efficiency of companies from the Podlaskie region.
Our history
Our beginnings date back to 1994, when, as a result of the Polish and British Governments initiative, the Białystok Voivodeship Development Foundation was established, and it has been renamed to the Podlaska Regional Development Foundation. At the beginning, our small team of 8 people managed the British Know-How Fund aimed at supporting small and medium-sized companies in two regions of eastern Poland, i.e. Lubelskie and Białostockie Voivodeships. We were responsible for the Białostockie Voivodeship, and after the country’s administrative reform (1999) – for Podlaskie Voivodeship. Therefore, what we have been doing for over 27 years and what is inscribed in our DNA is supporting the economic development of the region, in particular inspiring the creation of and supporting already existing micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
We currently employ 42 people in 7 locations throughout the voivodeship. They are specialists in the fields of law, economics, IT, international relations, administration, finance, project management, pedagogy, psychology and sociology. The broad competences and experience of our team are a guarantee of good cooperation with us.
Over time, we gained experience and new competences. We are currently operating in the areas of:
We carry out venture capital investments in exchange for shares or stocks. We secure all types of credit transactions: loans (investment, working capital, overdraft and other), guarantees, factoring, letters of credit. We grant loans to micro, small and medium-sized entrepreneurs and people starting a business who may have difficulties with obtaining a bank loan.
We make it easier for entrepreneurs to do business around the world. We have gained our experience in the field of business and export operations on European and world markets by preparing strategies for entering foreign markets, finding foreign contractors, supporting companies in the organization of trade missions, trade fairs, business meetings, during which entrepreneurs successfully established new contacts.
We are members of two international economic cooperation networks: Enterprise Europe Network and TIBS – these strong partnerships with 450+ economic institutions allow us to operate effectively in many countries across the globe.
We administer EU-funded programmes aimed at supporting entrepreneurs. We perform economic, financial and marketing analyses.
We are well-versed in the opportunities to obtain money from national and EU funds, therefore we help entrepreneurs and local governments in receiving aid for economic and local government projects.
Industry 4.0, digital transformation, the Internet of Things, intelligent buildings, optimization of energy consumption, artificial intelligence, i.e. AI (Artificial Intelligence) – these are terms that are familiar to us. Modern technologies are a necessity in the developing world. Matching and implementing a solution suitable for your company or institution will allow, among others to increase efficiency and competitiveness, reduce energy consumption, optimize production, make processes more flexible in the event of events such as a pandemic. Modern digital solutions mean savings and new opportunities.