The objective of the “R & D Grants” project is “Promoting the R & D activities of Podlaskie micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in order to increase market competitiveness”. The project consists of the creation and management of the grant fund. Grants will be allocated to support development projects with a total value of approx. PLN 10.6 million. — to improve the competitiveness of Podlasie SMEs. Co-financing will be subject to expenditure on the undertaking’s own research and development or the use of services of other entities that will carry out research and development on its behalf, including the purchase of research services, intellectual property rights, patents, licences, know-how, technological audits, support for the transition of patent protection. Entrepreneurs will be able to receive up to PLN 100, and not more than 85 % of their expenses. Entrepreneurs who have not yet benefited from innovation support will be preferred, creating innovations to be notified to the patent office and projects related to activities from the core of RIS3. The total value of the project is PLN 11 579 058.83, of which funding from the WP ROP will amount to PLN 10,000 000. The project will be implemented from 1.04.2019 to 31.03.2021. Grants offer is a response to internal barriers limiting the demand for R & D activities and the possibilities of carrying out these activities i.e. mental barriers, competence barriers, technical resources, human resources, risk fears, capital shortages, etc. The economic development of the region is primarily determined by increasing competitiveness and the development of enterprises. R & D & I activities are one of the ways to achieve competitive market advantages and thus increase the size of the company’s activities. The grant project is based on the above-mentioned logic of intervention, which is in line with the objective of axis I of the Podlaskie Voivodeship Regional Operational Programme, i.e. “Strengthening the potential and competitiveness of the economy of the region