Applications are open for the Development Incubator project

Recruitment period: from 12.12.2025 to 28.02.2026

Duration of the R&D project: up to 9 months with the possibility of extension to 12 months in justified cases.

Possible R&D project funding amount is up to PLN 100,000.00 (with the possibility of increase to PLN 150,000.00 for projects with high implementation potential).

project information page

Take advantage of substantive consultations before submitting the application - check the schedule

Participate in an informational meeting during the ongoing recruitment: 

1. 22 January 2026, 11:00-12:00 - online meeting (MS Teams link) 
2. 10 February 2026, 14:15-15:15 - stationary meeting, Hydromechanics, Creative Room (level -1, building no. 11 on the campus map)

How to apply:

• Step 1: Familiarize yourself with the competition documentation. In case of questions, consultations are available.
• Step 2: Prepare the necessary attachments required in the competition and recruitment regulations.
• Step 3: Fill out the R&D Project Card form in the MyPG / Grants tab as an electronic document with attachments.
• Step 4: Submit the R&D Project Card in the MyPG / Grants tab as an electronic document with attachments.

Terms of implementation

1. Funding may be applied for by a Gdańsk Tech Employee or a project implementation team consisting of students, PhD candidates, Gdańsk Tech employees and/or persons outside Gdańsk Tech, provided that:

• At least one person is the creator or co-creator of the innovation
• At least one person is a Gdańsk Tech employee
• The R&D project manager can only be a Gdańsk Tech employee

2. Only R&D projects with a settled intellectual property status may be financed, i.e. projects in which:

• agreements on the transfer of proprietary rights have been concluded
• R&D results have been reported and registered in the Gdańsk Tech register
• consents of co-right holders have been obtained.

3. The innovation submitted for recruitment must:

• Have a minimum level of readiness for implementation of at least TRL 2;
• Fit within the thematic area covered by National Smart Specializations 1-13;

4. R&D projects related to eco-innovation will be awarded additional points if the results will implement the 6R principles and/or their implementation aligns with the 6R principles.
5. Funding granted is intended for the implementation of work within the R&D project concerning innovation, understood as a new or significantly improved solution in a given field or industry sector compared to market-available solutions, in particular[1]:

• product innovations,
• process innovations,
• marketing innovations
• organizational innovations.

6. Before signing the contract for implementation of the R&D project, approval from the Dean of the Faculty and/or the infrastructure manager (Head of Unit / Department / Laboratory) is required for the research implementation.
7. Including persons not employed at Gdańsk Tech and/or for whom the generated intellectual property does not belong to Gdańsk Tech in the project implementation team requires:

• concluding an agreement transferring proprietary rights to the intellectual property created by them to Gdańsk Tech, in accordance with intellectual property management regulations,
• in the case of students and PhD candidates - additional acceptance by the employee supervising the student / PhD candidate or the head of the relevant Gdańsk Tech organizational unit.

8. Priority topics of recruitment: none specified

Funding principles and eligible cost categories

Funding is intended for the implementation of R&D projects encompassing industrial research and experimental development works aimed at increasing the technological readiness level (TRL) and/or business readiness level (BRL) of innovations.

Support may include in particular:

• Development, testing, and demonstration of prototypes
• Certification and technology adaptation to market needs,
• Market, technological, and implementation analyses.

Eligible cost categories include, among others:

• promotion of research and technology offer,
• purchase of fixed assets (up to 10% of the project budget),
• purchase or rental of equipment, materials, and technical services related to prototyping,
• IT services and software,
• research, advisory, legal, and marketing services, expertise, analyses, and reports,
• intellectual property protection (including patent applications and know-how protection),
• domestic and foreign business trips of persons involved in project implementation.

Evaluation criteria

Evaluation of R&D projects is conducted in multiple stages and includes:

1. Formal evaluation including:

• timeliness of submission of the R&D Project Card,
• completeness and correctness of filling out the R&D Project Card form,
• fulfillment of participation conditions in the recruitment.

2. First-stage substantive evaluation including:

• compliance with the Incubator for Development Project requirements,
• innovative and implementation potential of the project
• justification of budget and work schedule.

3. Second-stage substantive evaluation will be carried out according to the criteria specified in appendix no. 12 of the regulations.

The Investment Committee may invite the Applicant to present the Innovation before making a decision on granting the innovation.

Recruitment deadline and expected decision date:

Recruitment period from 12.12.2025 to 28.02.2026

Planned schedule:

• 01-30.03.2026 – formal and substantive evaluation of submitted R&D project cards, including approval of R&D projects for funding by the Investment Committee.
• 01-10.04.2026 – signing of contracts for the implementation of R&D projects

Start of R&D Work: no later than 30.04.2026.

Amount of funds allocated for the call

• Gdańsk Tech: a maximum of PLN 800,000 or until the allocation is exhausted, assuming at least 8 R&D works – may increase the amount allocated for funding projects in the call. If a decision is made to increase the amount allocated for funding projects in the call, it will be increased in accordance with the principle of equal treatment of applicants.
• Excento Sp. z o.o.: a maximum of PLN 525,000 or until the allocation is exhausted – Excento may increase the amount allocated for funding projects in the call. If a decision is made to increase the amount allocated for funding projects in the call, it will be increased in accordance with the principle of equal treatment of applicants.

Competition Results will be published on the project website and the Gdańsk Tech website. Applicants will be informed of the results by e-mail.

[1] : Source: “Oslo Manual Guidelines for Collecting and Interpreting Innovation Data,” a joint publication by the OECD and Eurostat.