European Entrepreneurial Region

There is a lot of evidence proving that Małopolska is a business-friendly region, e.g. prestigious awards, high positions in independent international rankings, but also specific statistics showing its investment attractiveness.

EUROPEAN ENTREPRENEURIAL REGION 2024 - SPECIAL MENTION

Małopolska is the only region in Europe that can boast having been awarded a special mention in “European Entrepreneurial Region 2024” competition that was granted unanimously by a jury comprising representatives of the most important EU institutions, including the European Committee of the Regions and the European Commission. The European Entrepreneurial Region title for a given year is awarded to regions with a forward-looking vision for developing and supporting entrepreneurship. It should be emphasised that it is the second time that Małopolska has stood on the European podium as it also received the European Entrepreneurial Region award in 2016.       

Małopolska Region was recognised above all for creating a friendly atmosphere  for development of entrepreneurship, strong regional partnership and the involvement of many institutions in activities aimed at strengthening the region's business and innovation potential. Its readiness to be a centre of expertise and a cooperation partner for Ukrainian business environment institutions and entrepreneurs, also in terms of supporting Ukraine in its reconstruction and European aspirations, also played a major role here. Over the past few years, Małopolska has accumulated a vast amount of knowledge and experience, e.g. in implementing of European funds, building an entrepreneurial ecosystem and creating innovation strategy. Experts from Małopolska are keen to share their knowledge with Ukrainian institutions so that they can build again their economic potential at European level.

Business is US

Małopolska and the region’s capital Kraków have been classified at the top of rankings of the investment attractiveness of regions for years:

• Kraków is among European leaders in fDi's European Cities and Regions of the Future 2024 ranking – “Top 10 Large European Cities of the Future 2024”: 1st position in the "business-friendly" category, 1st position in the "human capital and lifestyle" category, 6th position in the "economic potential" category, 4th position in the "overall" category
• Kraków was ranked 20th globally among cities most attractive to international business services in the prestigious Tholons Services Globalization City Index 2021
• Kraków was placed on the second position in the Forbes ranking in the "Business-Friendly City" category.

An atmosphere conducive to doing business is also confirmed by the investments already made in Małopolska. Cisco, Motorola, Google, Shell, Philip Morris, Lufthansa, MAN Trucks, Mabuchi Motors are only some of global corporations which have already invested in the region.

 

WE create the business climate

BUSINESS ACTIVITY:

• More than 495 thousand business entities registered in Małopolska (4th place in Poland)
• Małopolska ranked fifth among Polish regions in terms of contribution to national GDP (Małopolska's GDP constitutes 0% of Poland's GDP)
• Third position of Małopolska in terms of the number of start-ups

ACCESS TO HIGH-CLASS SPECIALISTS:

• 37 thousand graduates per year, almost 150 thousand students, 25 universities (including the oldest Polish university - Jagiellonian University)
• 5 million working people

SUPPORT FOR BUSINESS:

• Support for research, development and entrepreneurship in the amount of more than 300 million euro under the European Funds for Małopolska 2021-2027 programme
• 45 innovation and entrepreneurship support centres
• Thriving activities of the Business in Małopolska Centre - an investor and exporter service centre