New principles of operation of special economic zones, new projects, a decade of operation of the KPT Technology Incubator: 2018 was an especially important year for the Kraków Technology Park (KPT)
Supporting investments in Małopolska
20 years of operation of special economic zones also means 20 years of managing the Małopolska zone by the KPT. In that time, we issued 263 permits to operate in the zone, and the investors declared a total outlay verging on PLN 5 billion, with the zone boasting more than 28,000 new jobs. Last year regulations concerning special economic zones changed. The governmental programme Polish Investment Zone (Polska Strefa Inwestycji) assumes that the whole country is one huge special economic zone. This means plenty of changes for entrepreneurs but also simplifies a lot, as for example it offers the opportunity to invest in any land, and not only in the area of a special economic zone. From the moment when the new law came into force the KPT has issued five support decisions (they replaced previous permits), and there are more in the pipeline.
“Whole Małopolska is the zone” is a slogan buttressed by practical solutions that let Kraków Technology Park grant tax relief to all production companies, irrespective of the place where they want to develop. In our case, this changes a lot
Krystyna Sadowska, director of the investor support department argues.
Start-ups welcome!
This year also marks a decade since the establishment of the KPT Technology Incubator. More than 140 companies have taken advantage of incubation, and 80% of them remain in business. Their number includes the gems of the order of Autenti, Seedia, and Reality Games. Autenti obtained PLN 6.3 million from two investors, Innovation and Black Pearls VC, in just six months since inception, and is now planning a conquest of global markets. Seedia qualified for KPT ScaleUp acceleration programme and obtained financing of PLN 3 million from Value investment fund. Reality Games is an example of ultra-quick growth: in just two years of operation in the KPT building, they have developed from an 18 m² office in the incubator to over 400 m² they take up today.
Early in 2019 we will invite more businesses, and are glad to remind you that the KPT Technology Incubator means more than just office space, as it also provides mentor support, a place where creative energies flow, tens of events are organised, and interesting people meet
Mateusz Cybula, head of the incubator team invites.
Acceleration for the mature
Another important element in the KPT portfolio is there KPT ScaleUp acceleration programme. In 2018 we completed a pilot with participation of 23 businesses. As we are launching another round, another group of 40 start-ups can count on consulting and mentoring worth PLN 50,000, and a grant of up to PLN 200,000.
It’s also worth remembering that in autumn, we opened the Digital Dragons Incubator for companies from the video games sector, as part of the Baltic Game Industry project, and SpaceUp acceleration programme for start-ups using Copernicus satellite data (Baltic SatApps Project).
The games sector in the spearhead
The Digital Dragons Conference in 2018 marked the successive year of growth, as it exceeded the previous year’s edition. We also introduced new tools to support the games sector. More than 90 speakers, 100 hours of lectures, nearly 500 businesses from 46 countries: altogether 1700 participants, 150 interviews in the HR zone for those interested in working in the games sector, and 6 stands from the Eastern Europe are some statistics describing this year’s round of the leading games industry event in Central Europe. In the autumn we also launched another round of the workshop for people who want to work in the games sector. This year it is held under the aegis of the Digital Dragons Academy for the first time. The large number of participants in all the activities conducted so far is a proof of its value for participants. Last December, the Academy held its first historical workshop in Warsaw, which attracted over 130 people!
The moving pictures
Multilab KPT postproduction film studio continues its vibrant operation. In 2018 it ran postproduction for six films, including Dreamland that won accolade at eight film festivals. It also leased its space to hours of workshops in colour correction, 3-D graphic etc., and numerous small film productions. Multilab was also a proud organiser and participant in all major Kraków film events, notably OFF Camera, Kraków Film Festival, Artcore Festival, and the Etiuda & Anima Festival.
Our studio is gaining recognition in the film world and is appreciated by specialists
says Mateusz Mleczko, head of Multilab KPT.
Beyond the Horizon
We have also embarked on the first project of Horizon 2020. The goal of SISCODE is to introduce user-driven-innovation tools and methods into planning and responsible management of research and innovation, that is to help the transition from the concepts of new solutions and policies to their implementation.
Several dozens of events organised by the KPT and our companies, but also by external organisers attracted by our building and its architecture, have been held in the seat of the KPT. Altogether they attracted thousands of people. In this way the KPT Building becomes home to scientific conferences, hackathons, meetings, workshops for film crews, and even events for children.
2018 already belongs to the past. Ahead we sense plenty of joy drawn from working with companies, hope for more good investments in Małopolska, and plentiful ideas for more activities.
