PGNiG has precisely defined its technological challenges to be used by the KTP ScaleUp as a yardstick in the selection process. Startups seeking to participate in the acceleration programme must first register an original solution as part of the selection procedure. The accelerator operated by the Kraków Technology Park will offer the best startups a non-repayable grant from the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development of up to PLN 200 thousand, and a six-month support programme including expert advice and training. During the programme, they will get an opportunity to develop their solution in partnership with a large company.

‘The opportunity to run a pilot at the company interested in actually applying the idea is invaluable experience, both for the startup and for PGNiG, a company that is constantly on the lookout for innovative solutions. Our participation in acceleration programmes enables us to clearly define our expectations with respect to finding innovations. We are satisfied with the outcomes of this collaboration – we ran four exciting pilot projects last year,’ said Arkadiusz Sekściński, PGNiG Vice-President for Development. ‘The KTP ScaleUP and similar projects bring industrial companies like ours closer to startups, and startups gain an opportunity to work with industry experts capable of helping them to further develop their projects. The benefits are mutual,’ Mr Sekściński added. 

‘The KTP ScaleUP’s core mechanism is to create a friendly space for cooperation between young technology companies  and experienced, reputable companies in various industrial sectors. It’s where bold innovative ideas meet expertise and market knowledge. It helps startups understand how to improve their product, technology or services,  while enabling large companies to enhance their business and production processes,’ explained Angelika Popławska, KTP ScaleUP Project Manager. ‘The two teams work directly with each other and hold numerous technical meetings, with the startups given the opportunity to test their ideas at a factory, plant or warehouse of their industrial partner,’ Ms Popławska added.

KTP ScaleUP is another startup accelerator programme partnered by PGNiG. The Company has worked with the IDEA Global HugeTech accelerator of Rzeszów for over a year now. Both accelerators operate under the government’s Scale Up programme, which is co-funded by the European Union. Previously, PGNiG teamed up with the Startup Hub Poland Foundation to implement a support project intended for foreign startups operating in Poland. The Company has its own startup acceleration arm operating under the InnVento brand. For PGNiG the accelerator programmes are a source of innovative projects that are at a late or advanced development stage. 

Startups may register for the KTP ScaleUP programme until May 3rd 2021 on  https://gust.com/programs/kpt-scaleup-vi-edycja