The grant application is a continuation of the Podkarpackie Innovation Centre (PCI) project implemented by the applicant in 2018-2023. The aim of the project is to transform and develop and improve the ecosystem conducive to the creation of innovative ideas of high value that have the potential to be implemented on the market. It is assumed that activities will be implemented in three areas, which will be responsible for achieving the specific objectives of the project: 1. Increasing the potential of Podkarpackie universities and scientists to create innovations by providing funding, knowledge and improving competences resulting in strengthening the market offer and the potential of individual universities - it will be implemented through financial support including the Grant Programme and complementary activities: training, consulting and networking activities, as well as conducting research and analysis (creation of dedicated reports, analyses and expertise). 2. Increased competences and opportunities for individuals aged 16-30, including students and pupils of secondary schools, to create intertechnology projects. Within this area, competences and user skills will be developed using the PCI Protolab creative space, where knowledge and ideas are exchanged. They will be inspired to develop projects through development programmes, accessible infrastructure and experts, and networking events. Financial support will be implemented for the incubation of ideas and their implementation in the Protolab space. These activities will increase soft skills, but also manual skills in the use of equipment and technology, which will allow to create prototypes of technological inventions with high market potential, physical models of innovative solutions will be created. 3. Giving market value to projects produced by individuals - academic staff, students and pupils of secondary schools and their preparation for market implementation or commercialization. Thanks to training, technological advice and business mentoring, ProtoLab scientists and users will receive support for the development of technologies developed by them, and participation in external events or networking meetings on the science-business line will result in an increase in the number of enterprises and business environment institutions that have established cooperation with universities in the field of innovative activities. It is planned to further develop and support the Podkarpackie Network of Research and Calibration Laboratories, including through networking activities, consulting and specialized training in the field of accreditation, research standards, improving the skills of laboratory employees. Further development of the Network is aimed at increasing the availability of structured commissioned research offered by universities from the Podkarpackie voivodship for business and improving the qualifications of employees of university laboratories. The planned activities are part of the specific objective "Developing and strengthening research and innovation capacities and the use of advanced technologies" aimed at increasing the competitiveness of the region's economy based on innovation and the implementation of advanced technologies. The project envisages the creation of cooperation platforms between business, research and public institutions, within the scope of the intervention "Technology transfer and cooperation between enterprises, research organisations and the higher education sector". The economic development of the region depends on the level of innovation of these sectors, and the effective operation of PCI increases the chances of strengthening the local potential of the business and innovation ecosystem. PCI is a part of the research and innovation system coordinated by the Board of the Podkarpackie Voivodeship. Thus, the functioning and further development of the institution is desirable and very important for the effective implementation of the assumptions of the Regional Innovation Strategy (RIS).