Promocja Bioregionu Małopolska (ProBioM-2) The project is co-financed by the Regional Operational Programme of the Malopolska Region for 2020-2022. The name of the Project: Promotion of the economic potential of BIO - Regions of Małopolska on the international arena (ProBio Małopolska) · Project leader: Fundacja Klaster LifeScience Kraków · Project partner: Fundacja Inicjatyw Innowacyjnych Financial information: · Project budget: PLN 4 471 943.75 · European Funds contribution: PLN 3 801 152.19 · Project duration: 28 months The aim of the Project is to strengthen the competitiveness of SMEs and StartUps, through an integrated programme of the economic offer of the Malopolska BioRegion, linked to a programme to stimulate and support expansion into international markets. The ProBioM2 project is based on the experience of the first ProBio Małopolska project, implemented in 2016-2019. The project relates directly to the opportunities and challenges of the SME sector, characterised by a high rate of change and development and a high cost and risk of starting a business. The project Promotion of the Małopolska Bioregion (ProBioM-2) is an element of the LifeScience Krakow Cluster strategy, the long-term goal of which is to build the position of "Małopolska Bio-Region as a leader among bio-regions in Central and Eastern Europe, having the ability to compete and cooperate with developed regions in Europe. and in the world ". This goal will be achieved in the long term through the existence of an effective "life sciences innovation ecosystem" in Małopolska. The key element of this ecosystem, with the greatest potential for growth on a global scale, is the sector of small and medium-sized enterprises, conducting innovative activities in the area of smart specialisation "life sciences", being at all stages of company development (i.e. from start-up to developed commercial activity).

Organisation of the Project and planned tasks



Organisation of the Project and planned tasks

• The project will be implemented by a consortium of 2 entities: Foundation LifeScience Cluster Kraków (leader) and Foundation for Innovative Initiatives. Division of tasks is dictated by key competencies and resources that are needed to achieve the Project goals.

• A total of 8 tasks were designed, including seven complementary ones, implementing the Project goals

• knowledge development and competence building in international SME activities

• StartUp Scene - support of StartUp participation in international B2B events

• PARTNERING - support for the participation of entrepreneurs in international B2B events of a PARTNERING nature

• trade missions: organisation of trade missions to selected markets in Europe, Asia, America. 

• GIN - promotion of Malopolska Bio-Region in the global network of economic and scientific cooperation

• development of Life Science Open Space as a branded industry event of international significance

• preparation and updating of the Catalogue of Regional Intellectual and Organisational Resources 

• and one aimed at monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of implemented projects and effective management of the Project.



The Project is in line with the objectives of the Regional Innovation Strategy, in particular those related to increasing the innovativeness of the regional economy (priority axis 1) and to building an open to innovation, competitive and strong SME sector (priority axis 3). In this respect, the Project assumes the implementation of comprehensive activities in the field of:

• development and use of modern promotional tools,

• development of competencies, support for participation in expert missions,

• support for participation in specialised trade fairs,

• facilitating contacts with industry investors,

• and building the Małopolska Region brand on the basis of an international industry event. 

Achievements so far in the project The list includes:

1. Workshops were organised: Developing knowledge and building competencies for the international activities of SMEs.





The workshops were dedicated to SME companies with a registered office in the Małopolska Voivodeship, conducting business in areas belonging to the smart specialisations of the Region with particular emphasis on the life science sector.





These were five cycles of 4-day workshops that will aim to develop and strengthen the competences necessary for the implementation of an internationalisation strategy in a company. The workshops covered the following topics:

• preparing a business offer for b2b meetings

• negotiating terms of cooperation

• marketing and sales, including identifying and researching target markets

• effective presentations of an offer on stage (StartUp pitching).

  
  

Participants of the workshop were provided with a guide , "How to prepare for participation in selected partnering, trade fair and startup events".





2. StartUp Scene - supporting StartUp participation in international B2B events





StartUps from the Małopolska region are given support for their participation in selected international business events organised periodically in Europe and Israel. Support is aimed at newly established companies at an early stage of development, conducting innovative activities (product, process and marketing innovations). The main objective of the support is to facilitate the commencement of sales of goods and services in foreign markets.





A total of five trips have been organised, with support planned for 30 people.





Participation concerned two events dedicated to Startups:

• mIXiii-BIOMED - Start-up Area & Competition, Israel (May 2021, 2022)

• slush, Finland (December 2020, 2021, 2022)

  
  

3. Partnering - support for the participation of entrepreneurs in international B2B events of a partnering character





Support is provided to SMEs from the Małopolska region for their participation in selected international partnering events organised periodically in Europe, Asia and America. The support is addressed to technological companies carrying out innovative activities (product, process and marketing innovations). The main objective of the support is to facilitate the commencement or development of sales of goods and services on foreign markets.





A total of 15 trips is to be organised, in which support for 60 people is planned. All trip participants are tasked with actively promoting the Region through the use of promotional materials received during the meetings.





The events include mainly:

•  BioFit  , France (December 2020,2021,2022)

•  Medica , Germany (October 2020,2021,2022)

•  bioTrinity  , London GB (May 2021,2022)

•  BIO Japan  , Tokyo, Japan (October 2020,2021,2022)

•  BIO International Convention  , USA (June 2021,2022)