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Poland has opened a new September cycle of European-funded competitions aimed at research, digital transformation, skills and business innovation. The programme is not a single grant scheme but a coordinated calendar of opportunities covering national, regional and cross-border funds.
The official European Funds portal says that 142 competitions will be available to applicants during September 2026. Together, they represent more than 1.5 billion złoty in national programmes, 2.5 billion złoty in one competition under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, almost 2.8 billion złoty in regional programmes and more than 163 million złoty in Interreg funding. A further 49 new calls are scheduled to open during the month.
The announcement was published on 31 August, making it one of the clearest current indicators of where public support for Poland’s innovation economy is being directed at the start of the autumn business and academic season. ([funduszeeuropejskie.gov.pl](https://funduszeeuropejskie.gov.pl/aktualnosci/nabory-z-funduszy-europejskich-i-kpo-we-wrzesniu-2026-roku/))
Research support starts the month
One of the most significant calls is the International Research Agendas competition, which opened on 1 September and will accept applications until 30 September. It has a budget of 60 million złoty and is intended for research organisations.
The scheme is designed to help Polish teams build stronger research capacity and work according to international standards. The published description refers to support for research management, staff development, the selection of research themes and the practical and business use of research results. It can also complement selected projects connected with Horizon Europe’s “Teaming for Excellence” area.
That combination gives the call a practical dimension. Rather than funding only individual research projects, it is intended to strengthen the organisations and teams that repeatedly produce, manage and transfer knowledge. For universities and research institutes, this may be particularly relevant as they seek to turn scientific work into partnerships, technologies and services.
Digital hubs and local skills
Another planned call focuses on Europe’s Digital Innovation Hubs, known as EDIHs. The competition, administered by the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development, is scheduled to run from 24 September to 28 October, with a budget of 20 million złoty.
EDIHs are intended to act as one-stop centres for small and medium-sized companies. Their services can include preparing a digital development plan, providing specialist expertise, testing technologies and assessing how digital tools may improve products, services and internal processes. The official programme specifically connects the support with areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, supercomputing and advanced digital skills.
For smaller companies, the significance lies in access. Many firms may understand that automation, data analysis or artificial intelligence could improve their competitiveness but lack the staff or capital to test solutions independently. A local hub can lower that initial barrier by combining advice, experimentation and technical support.
The wider September calendar also includes a 160.5-million-złoty call for scaling up Digital Development Clubs. These local centres are intended to build digital skills in municipalities that were not covered by the first competition. Eligible applicants include local authorities, non-governmental organisations, public science, education and cultural institutions, as well as universities. ([funduszeeuropejskie.gov.pl](https://funduszeeuropejskie.gov.pl/aktualnosci/nabory-z-funduszy-europejskich-i-kpo-we-wrzesniu-2026-roku/))
Clusters receive a route towards internationalisation
Business clusters are another priority. From 16 September, coordinators of National Key Clusters will be able to apply for support, while a related call for supra-regional clusters is scheduled to open on 22 September. Both competitions are administered by PARP.
The planned support is intended to expand clusters’ offer of research, development and innovation services. Listed areas include digital transformation, the circular economy, low-emission economic activity and modern education. Clusters may also use support to promote their offer abroad and attend international industry events.
The budgets had not yet been published in the official announcement and are due to be provided in a later update. That makes the September launch an important first step rather than a complete funding decision: organisations will know the timetable and priorities before the final financial parameters are available.
Skills remain part of the innovation story
On 3 September, a 7.8-million-złoty call for Sectoral Skills Councils is scheduled to open. The councils will monitor labour-market needs, identify qualification gaps and encourage closer cooperation between companies, schools and universities.
This is a relatively modest programme compared with the month’s overall funding figures, but it addresses a central problem for innovation policy. New technologies do not automatically raise productivity if firms cannot find people able to implement and manage them. Linking employers, educators and sector specialists can help make technology investment more usable in everyday business.
Applicants and institutions should check the detailed rules and opening dates directly with the relevant managing authority. Some September opportunities are already open, while others will only become available later in the month. The official calendar also notes that no new National Recovery and Resilience Plan calls are scheduled to launch in September, even though one KPO competition remains among the calls available during the month.
For Poland’s innovation ecosystem, the overall direction is clear: the autumn funding cycle combines research capacity, digital adoption, local skills, cluster cooperation and international market access. Its success will ultimately depend not on the number of calls announced, but on whether organisations turn the available support into tested technologies, stronger teams and productive business partnerships.
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