West Pomeranian region

The economy of Zachodniopomorskie is spatially diverse. Accessibility to the market and low costs of providing goods and services mean that almost one third of enterprises and small businesses operate in towns with population more than 30 000 inhabitants. The result is that the region’s economic potential is concentrated in two areas – the agglomeration of Szczecin and Koszalin cities and their surroundings.

The biggest importance in Western Pomerania have the following industries: services, food processing, biomaterials, construction, IT, logistics with manufacturing of transport equipment, chemical and wood-furniture processing.

A very important role in the development of the voivodship is played by the sector of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which represent over 99% of the businesses in the region (75% of them was individual/ self-employed companies). The Zachodniopomorskie voivodship is known as the best developed sector of SMEs in terms of quantity in Poland, but unfortunately weak with regard to innovation and effectiveness.
The unemployment rate is 19,1% (as for January 2013)

As for January 2013, there was 216 600 companies registered in the Western Pomerania (without entrepreneurs in agriculture) - 2 500 less than one year ago (1,1%).

Of equal importance is the potential of regional industrial parks (such as Goleniow Industrial Park and the Industrial Park of Stargard or the Police Industrial Park) which are constantly changing the face of Western Pomerania. In a few years’ time the gas supplies in Poland will be very balanced: the LNG terminal of Swinoujscie will satisfy approximately one third of the Polish gas-based needs.

To enhance regional economic potential, the Government of the Zachodniopomorskie Voivodship decided to provide more than 232 million zlotys in the Regional Operational Programme 2007-2013 to the priority axis 1. Economy – Innovation – Technology.
The priority axis includes different kind of activities.
It is directed at the development of companies of the SME sector, e.g. through investment and consultation as well as the financing of expenditures connected with the support of financial instruments.
Other activities focus on the internationalization process of companies through consultation and grants for the participation in international fairs and exhibitions.
There are also measures aiming at the creation of the investment zones to increase investment attractiveness of the region.
In order to create a regional technology transfer system, the priority axis 1 provide financial means to develop regional technology transfer centres. This kind of support is connected to the development and establishment of clusters, as the priority axis also includes R+D projects realized by the SME sector. While supporting innovative solutions, support also is given to projects improving quality of R&D infrastructure.

There is a number of institutions providing companies with access to knowledge, capital, innovations and new technologies. The most important institutions supporting the sector of SMEs are all enterprise support centres, centres of the National Services Network, two technological parks as well as dynamically developing non-bank financial institutions.

Major associations and other organizations
Marshal Office of the Zachodniopomorskie Voivodship (in PL)
Regional Centre for Innovation and Technology Transfer
Technopark Pomerania (in PL)
NetCamp Foundation
Szczecin Science and Technology Park / Technopark Pomerania (in PL)
Szczecin City
Koszalin City
Polish Entrepreneurs Foundation
West Pomerania Economic Development Association
Business Centre Club Szczecin Lodge (in PL)
Centre for Maritime Technology Transfer
Economic Portal of Koszalin
Middle Pomeranian Council of Polish Federation of Engineering Associations (in PL)
Polish Federation of Engineering Associations - Szczecin Branch (in PL)
The Polish Foundation in Support of Local Democracy (in PL)
Szczecin Development Fund for Economic Promotion (in PL)
Institute for Regional Development (in PL)
The “Kreatywni dla Szczecina” Association
NetCamp Foundation (in PL)
Science and Technology Park of Technical University in Koszalin (in PL)
Polish-German House of Economy (in PL)
Westpomeranian Agency for Tourism Development (in PL)
West Pomeranian Regional Fund of Credit Guarantee Ltd

Branch chambers
Chamber of Commerce in Stargard (in PL)
Northern Chamber of Commerce (in PL)
Scandinavian-Polish Chamber of Commerce (SPCC)
Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises in Szczecin (in PL)
The Westpomeranian Chamber of Craft and Entrepreneurship in Szczecin (in PL)

Major clusters/ coorporations in Zachodniopomorskie
West Pomerania chemical cluster “Green Chemistry”
West Pomerania ICT Cluster
Creative Industries Cluster (in PL)
Construction Cluster – Construction Committee (in PL)
Cross-border Tourism Cluster – Water Route Berlin – Szczecin - Baltic (in PL)
Swedwood Poland SA
Polska Zegluga Morska POLSTEAM
Szczecin and Swinoujscie Seaports Authority
Zakłady Chemiczne "POLICE" SA (in PL)
PGE Gornictwo i Energetyka Konwencjonalna S.A. - Oddzial Zespol Elektrowni Dolna Odra (in PL)
Netto Sp. z o.o. (in PL)
Vobis Microcomputer Sp. z o.o. (in PL)
ANIMEX
Euroafrica Shipping Lines
PZF Cefarm-Szczecin SA (in PL)
FOSFAN SA
Cargotec Poland Sp. z o.o.