Green Chemistry West Pomeranian Chemical Cluster has become one of the first seven Key National Clusters in Poland. The Ministry of Economy has selected the seven winners through a competition organized in cooperation with the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development. The results were announced on 25 September.

 

The website of the Ministry of Economy defines the Key National Cluster as a cluster that is crucial from the perspective of Polish economy and its competitive position. Key National Clusters are selected at the national level, inter alia based on the following criteria: the critical mass, their development and innovation potential, their cooperation status, plans, experience and the potential as a coordinator.

 

In October the Key Clusters will take part in a competition arranged especially for them by the Ministry of Economy with PLN 42 million as the prize to be divided among the winners. The clusters will be able to use these funds (as a 50 – 80 percent subsidy) for their foreign expansion, i.e. access to foreign research and development infrastructure, the associated advisory, participation in economic fairs and missions as well as their promotion abroad. The clusters themselves or the companies that make them up (through the intermediary of their cluster) may apply.

 

“The companies and institutions forming the ‘Green Chemistry’ cluster, just like the remaining Key National Clusters, will score additional points in competitions organized as part the Innovative Development Operational Programme , the only condition being that they need to be part of the key cluster for at least six months. This translates into a preferential treatment when applying for EU funds,” explains Jaśmina Solecka, a Green Chemistry management board member.

 

Green Chemistry comprises over 50 companies, research units and institutions. The majority of them are headquartered in West Pomerania. The fact that the cluster has joined the exclusive group of the Key National Clusters is bound to make it easier for its members to liaise with both Polish and foreign partners representing the sectors of chemicals, environmental protection and renewable energy. The cluster management is also counting on the Ministry of Economy to promote the Key National Clusters to the general public.

 

The status of a Key National Cluster is awarded for a three-year period.

 

Apart from Green Chemistry, the following clusters have received this status:  Aviation Valley from Rzeszów, two IT clusters: ICT from Mazowsze region and Interizon from Pomerania, Metal Processing Cluster and Eastern Constructing Cluster (both originating from Białystok) and Polish Aluminium Cluster seated in Dąbrowa Górnicza.

 

The consortium of the ‘Green Chemistry' project consists of over 50 members, including  companies from the chemical industry, research units specializing in chemistry and related subjects, companies and institutions focused on technology transfers, finance as well as local authorities.

 

Cluster members come from all over Poland, but the majority of them are seated in West Pomerania. The cluster includes entities that are concentrated on the regional market as well as publicly listed companies (Grupa Azoty Zakłady Chemiczne Police, Synthos). West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin and Koszalin University of Technology represent the academic circles.

 

The cluster supports its members by providing a platform for sharing experience and ideas and by helping them to initiate cooperation with Polish and foreign partners, raise funds and implement innovative products. Green Chemistry also facilitates the cooperation of its members with scientists and institutions from various business circles.

 

SG