U.S.-Poland Innovation Program (PLUS-IP)

U.S.-Poland Innovation Program (PLUS-IP)

Fact Sheet
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
November 13, 2014

The U.S.-Poland Innovation Program (PLUS-IP) is a collaborative initiative between the U.S. Department of State and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Poland. The program will strengthen Poland’s innovation ecosystem through the nexus of government, business, and academia and will benefit both countries by promoting innovation through U.S.-Polish joint ventures and joint research and development projects.

PLUS-IP was established through a framework signed by Secretary of State John Kerry and then-Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski in June 2014. PLUS-IP will hold its inaugural meeting and a signing of a statement of intent Monday, November 17, 2014, in Los Angeles, California.

Poland: An Economic Success Story

Poland is the United States’ largest commercial partner in Central Europe, and the United States is one of the top sources of foreign investment in Poland. Over the past ten years, our bilateral trade quadrupled, American companies invested more than $20 billion in Poland, and more than 180,000 Poles gained employment directly from U.S. companies.

Poland is the sixth-largest economy in the European Union and has witnessed economic growth every year since the fall of communism in 1989. Poland experienced GDP growth of over 20 percent from 2008 to 2013. Its highly educated work force, structural reforms, infrastructure development, and improved competitiveness have contributed to this strong growth.

PLUS-IP Opportunities

PLUS-IP will advance innovation and research and development collaboration between the United States and Poland. The two countries will share best practices and expertise to bring successful innovation models such as the Research Triangle and Silicon Valley to Poland. This effort provides opportunities for joint research and joint ventures aimed at promoting access to capital, more rapid and effective commercialization of technology, strengthening and expanding regional innovation clusters, improving collaboration in key economic sectors, and fostering the innovation ecosystem. Defense, energy, health, and science and technology are sectors of particular emphasis.

To foster innovation opportunities through PLUS-IP, the Government of Poland plans to establish several 10-year venture capital funds to finance identified projects. The United States Government will jointly conceptualize with the Poles the best means to provide financing for these initiatives. Poland’s National Center for Research and Development plans to provide 50-55 percent of each fund’s initial capital, valuing each fund from $100 to $250 million.

PLUS-IP Partners

To manage PLUS-IP, the two countries have established a U.S.-Poland Innovation Council that is co-chaired by the U.S. Department of State and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Poland.

U.S. council members also include U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Defense, Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), Activity for Innovation and Economic Growth (AEIG), American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), American Chamber of Commerce in Poland, American Council for International Education (ACIE), National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), U.S. Chamber of Commerce, U.S.-Poland Business Council, and U.S.-Polish Trade Council.

Additional Polish council members include the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of National Defense, Association of TOP 500 Innovators, Employers of Poland, National Center for Research and Development, Polish Academy of Sciences, Polish Agency for Enterprise Development, Polish Chamber of Commerce, Polish Confederation Lewiatan, and Scientific Policy Committee.

Join the online conversation and learn about U.S. economic success stories in Poland with #PLUSIP.

ENDS

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