How to obtain funding from the National Recovery Plan?

The National Recovery Plan is the Polish component of the EU's Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), which is part of the Next Generation EU package. The goal of the KPO is to rebuild the economy after the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, while accelerating the energy transition, digitalization, and strengthening economic innovation.

The National Recovery Plan focuses on:

• green transformation – reduction of CO₂ emissions, investments in RES, energy efficiency, and industrial decarbonization;
• digitalization – supporting the implementation of modern digital technologies in companies and developing IT infrastructure;
• innovation – promoting new technologies and processes that will enhance the competitiveness of Polish enterprises in the international market.

The total budget of the National Recovery Plan for Poland amounts to approximately EUR 58 billion, of which about EUR 23.9 billion are grants and EUR 34.2 billion are preferential loans.

The NRP funds are distributed across five main pillars:

• economic resilience and competitiveness – EUR 20.5 billion;
• green energy and reduced energy intensity – EUR 16 billion;
• digital transformation – EUR 5.7 billion;
• healthcare infrastructure – EUR 4.5 billion;
• education, labor market, social integration – EUR 3.5 billion.

These amounts are intended to support a wide range of activities promoting innovation, energy efficiency, and digitalization of companies and institutions in Poland.

NRP funds are available to a wide range of recipients, including:

• industrial companies, which can implement investments related to energy efficiency, digitalization, infrastructure modernization, and production decarbonization;
• SMEs – small and medium-sized enterprises planning innovations, automation of production processes, and implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies;
• the public sector – local governments and public institutions may receive support for infrastructure modernization and digitalization of public services;
• entrepreneurs from the RES sector, who wish to invest in renewable energy sources such as photovoltaics, wind power, biogas, or energy storage technologies.

The highest chances of obtaining support from the KPO go to companies that align with the program's objectives, i.e., plan to improve energy efficiency, reduce CO₂ emissions, implement technological innovations, and enhance economic competitiveness. Companies that already have strategic plans related to energy transition and digitalization may be prioritized in the application evaluation process.

The application process for KPO funding includes several steps. Companies interested in obtaining support should follow these guidelines:

• investment project identification – companies should clearly define the project they want to implement and how it fits the NRP goals. It is important that the project contributes to the objectives related to energy transition, digitalization, or innovation;
• preparing the application – the application should include a detailed project description, implementation schedule, cost analysis, and expected results (e.g., reduction of CO₂ emissions, increased energy efficiency). Often, an Energy Efficiency Audit may be required during the preparation phase;
• submitting the application to the appropriate institutions – applications for KPO funding are submitted to designated institutions such as Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK) or the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW). Each institution responsible for distributing KPO funds has its own application schedule;
• application evaluation – the institutions evaluate the project’s compliance with KPO goals and its financial viability. Companies that prepare strong applications can expect quick decisions;
• project implementation – after receiving funding, companies can start implementing the project. It is important to follow the project assumptions and regularly report progress.

Projects with the highest chances of receiving KPO funding are those that make a significant contribution to the green transition, digitalization, and increased economic competitiveness. Here are some examples:

• investments in RES – photovoltaics, wind farms, energy storage technologies, biogas plants. These projects aim to increase the share of renewable energy in the energy mix and reduce CO₂ emissions;
• energy modernization – thermal modernization of industrial buildings, improving energy efficiency in production plants (e.g., heat recovery, optimization of energy generation, modernization of technological installations, installation of heat pumps or Energy Management Systems - EMS);
• industrial digitalization – automation and robotization of production processes, implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies, expansion of IT infrastructure, implementation of artificial intelligence and big data systems;
• technological innovations – development of new technologies, products, and services that contribute to increased global market competitiveness of the company.

The National Recovery Plan offers Polish companies great opportunities to finance investments that are crucial for the future of the economy. The KPO budget of EUR 58 billion is directed at supporting the energy transition, digitalization, and innovation in Polish industry. Companies that wish to obtain funding from the KPO must prepare appropriate applications aligned with the program's objectives. The greatest chances for support go to enterprises focusing on green energy, energy efficiency, and digital transformation.