Abstract:

Regions are constantly looking for optimal forms of innovation development. They are still searching for more effective solutions, hence the paper focused on the review of the implementation status of one of the most interesting measures implementing the regional Innovation Strategy of the Śląskie Voivodeship. This undertaking is a project called the pro-innovation fund. The aim of the paper is an attempt to examine the state of implementation of this concept and develop recommendations for the optimization of this process. The concept of the pro-innovation fund outlined in the Implementation Model of the Regional Innovation Strategy of the Śląskie Province for 2013-2020 was compared with the activities of the pro-innovation fund operator established for this purpose. The paper uses the case study method to illustrate the method of implementing the concept of a pro-innovation fund as an action implementing the Regional Innovation Strategy. The publication is the result of a research procedure based on a review of the management science literature and a case study of the operator's activity appointed by the Board of the Silesian Province to implement the concept of a pro-innovation fund. The analysis of the current state has revealed some gaps constituting the space to be overcome in the way of full use of the opportunities resulting from the concept of the pro-innovation fund. It seems that in the horizon of 2-3 years, the Silesian Development Fund will face very significant challenges. Activities aimed at increasing the capital available to the fund for investments in technological projects with a simultaneous increase in interest in projects at lower levels of technological development seem to be of key importance. An important aspect also seems to be a wider inclusion in the activities of the pro-innovation fund of other actors of the Silesian innovation ecosystem, who may be suppliers of interesting projects.