Swiss-Polish government

What Swiss-Polish government does

The Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme (also known as Swiss Funds or the Swiss Contribution) is a bilateral government aid mechanism established under a Framework Agreement signed between the Swiss Confederation and the Republic of Poland on 5 December 2022, representing the second edition of Swiss aid to Poland following the first edition's 2007–2017 run. The programme deploys 375.458 million CHF — comprising 320.1 million CHF in Swiss non-repayable contribution plus 55.358 million CHF in Polish national co-financing — to reduce economic and social disparities within the EU and within Poland, with eligibility of expenditures running through December 2029. Its primary beneficiaries are 139 medium-sized Polish cities identified in the National Regional Development Strategy as losing socio-economic functions, with secondary beneficiaries including Polish and Swiss research institutions and a tertiary beneficiary segment of female entrepreneurs supported through the IDEAS Women initiative.

The programme operates two main funding streams: the Polish Swiss Programme for Development of Towns (327.882 million CHF, of which 278.7 million CHF is Swiss contribution), targeting comprehensive urban development across entrepreneurship, education, public safety, transport, environment, energy efficiency, water and waste management, and civic engagement; and the Research and Innovation Programme (41.176 million CHF, of which 35 million CHF is Swiss contribution), supporting basic and applied research collaborations between Polish and Swiss scientists. Implementation is distributed across four institutional operators — Poland's Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy (MFiPR) as National Coordination Unit and operator of the Development of Towns programme, the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) for applied research, the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) for basic research, and Poland's Ministry of Finance as Paying Authority. The programme is not a technology platform; its underlying architecture is a sovereign grant administration stack supported by the official programszwajcarski.gov.pl portal, with marketing integrations limited to Google Analytics, Meta Pixel, TikTok Pixel, X Pixel, and accessibility services (INTONAVI, Tłumacz Migam).

As a sovereign aid mechanism, the programme does not generate commercial revenue; financial flows are non-repayable grant disbursements. Go-to-market is event-driven through structured calls for proposals: the Development of Towns call launched 7 March 2024 attracted 119 of 139 eligible towns by the January 2025 first-stage deadline, followed by second-stage selection. Beneficiary outreach runs through the official website, email newsletters, the Związek Miast Polskich (Association of Polish Towns) consultation portal at wsparciemiast.pl, and annual bilateral meetings (the most recent held 10–11 June 2026 in Gniezno and Bydgoszcz). Project sizes under the Development of Towns programme range from 44.8 to 80.7 million PLN, with flagship inaugurated projects including Dębica (77.1 million PLN, June 2026) and Hajnówka (78.3 million PLN, June 2026), alongside the IDEAS Women platform (3.95 million PLN, June 2026, with AI-driven matching features).

Name

Swiss-Polish government

Legal name

Ministerstwo Funduszy i Polityki Regionalnej

Website

https://programszwajcarski.gov.pl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme is a bilateral government aid mechanism deploying 375.458 million CHF in non-repayable grants to reduce socio-economic disparities in Poland. It funds urban development in 139 medium-sized Polish towns and bilateral research collaborations between Polish and Swiss institutions through 2029.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Development Aid and Grant Programme

NAICS

International Affairs (92812), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

International Affairs (9721), Foreign Governments (8888)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADABAF

Economic Growth, Trade & Private Sector Development Programs

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Bilateral Development Agencies & Aid Programs

SECONDARYBPADAOAB

Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors)

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Donor Coordination, Grantmaking & Development Finance Programs

SECONDARYBPADAOAA

Donor Coordination & Aid Effectiveness

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Donor Coordination, Grantmaking & Development Finance Programs

Keywords

• Bilateral grant programmes
• Government development funding
• Urban development grants
• Research innovation funding
• Foreign development aid

Headquarters

HQ city

Warsaw

HQ country

Poland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Swiss Financial Contribution to Poland: Non-repayable foreign aid granted by Switzerland to Poland as part of Swiss Aid to 13 selected EU member states. Switzerland allocated 1,302 billion Swiss francs in total for reducing socio-economic disparities (1,102 billion) and migration cooperation (200 million).
2. Polish Swiss Programme for Development of Towns: 327.882 million Swiss francs total (278.7 million Swiss contribution and 49.182 million Polish contribution) allocated to urban development projects in medium-sized Polish cities.
3. Research and Innovation Programme: 41.176 million Swiss francs total (35 million Swiss contribution and 6.176 million Polish contribution) supporting basic and applied research collaborations between Polish and Swiss researchers.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme (also called Swiss Funds or Swiss Contribution) is a bilateral non-repayable foreign aid mechanism that channels 320.1 million Swiss francs from Switzerland to Poland to reduce economic and social disparities. It consists of two main programmes: the Polish Swiss Programme for Development of Towns (327.882 million CHF for urban development in 139 medium-sized Polish towns) and the Research and Innovation Programme (41.176 million CHF supporting basic and applied research collaborations between Polish and Swiss researchers). The programme is administered by Poland's Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy as the National Coordination Unit under a Framework Agreement signed 5 December 2022.

Product overview

The Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme (also called Swiss Funds or Swiss Contribution) is a non-repayable foreign aid programme granted by Switzerland to Poland. It consists of two main programmes: (1) the Polish Swiss Programme for Development of Towns providing 327.882 million CHF for urban development in medium-sized towns, and (2) the Research and Innovation Programme providing 41.176 million CHF for scientific research. The total financial framework amounts to 320.1 million CHF from Switzerland plus national contribution. The official website portal serves as the information and application gateway for these government programmes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Polish Swiss Programme for Development of Towns (Polsko-Szwajcarski Program Rozwoju Miast) A government grant programme aimed at reducing economic and social disparities in 139 medium-sized Polish towns losing socio-economic functions. Provides 327.882 million Swiss francs (278.7 million Swiss contribution and 49.182 million Polish contribution) for comprehensive urban development projects covering entrepreneurship, education, public safety, transport, environment, civic engagement, healthcare, water and waste management. Minimum project funding is 44.8 million PLN and maximum is 80.7 million PLN.
• Research and Innovation Programme (Program Badania Naukowe i Innowacje) A government grant programme supporting basic and applied research with 41.176 million Swiss francs (35 million Swiss contribution and 6.176 million Polish contribution). The applied research component is operated by the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) and the basic research component by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), with separate calls for proposals.
• IDEAS Women Platform An AI-driven digital platform and acceleration programme supporting female entrepreneurs, connecting women startup founders with mentors and investors through profile-based recommendations. The project runs January 2026 to December 2028 with PLN 3.95 million in funding. Partners include SGH Warsaw School of Economics (project leader), Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), Impact Hub Zürich AG, and Faktorama Capital 1 Sp. z o.o.

Quantifiable outcome

• 119 towns submitted applications in the first call for proposals under the Development of Towns programme
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2026Swiss partner in the IDEAS Women project supporting female entrepreneurs. Collaborates with Polish partners including SGH Warsaw School of Economics and Impact Hub Zürich AG.
• Impact Hub Zürich AGminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2026Swiss partner in the IDEAS Women project providing acceleration programme and mentorship for female-led startups. Collaborates with Polish partners including SGH Warsaw School of Economics.
• Faktorama Capital 1 Sp. z o.o.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2026Polish partner in the IDEAS Women project supporting female entrepreneurs with investment and business development expertise.
• European UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 July 2022Partner under Memorandum of Understanding signed 5 July 2022 between Switzerland and the European Union establishing the framework for Swiss financial contributions to reduce economic and social disparities in the EU.
• Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProgramme Operator for the basic research component of the Research and Innovation Programme. Swiss institution responsible for managing calls for proposals and project funding for fundamental scientific research collaborations.
• National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProgramme Operator for the applied research component of the Research and Innovation Programme. Polish institution responsible for managing calls for proposals and project funding for applied research.
• Związek Miast Polskich (Association of Polish Towns)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPre-defined Component Operator providing informational, educational, and advisory support to eligible cities preparing project proposals under the Development of Towns programme. Operates the wsparciemiast.pl consultation portal.
• Swiss cities (partner municipalities)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe programme encourages Polish towns to establish bilateral partnerships with Swiss municipalities to strengthen institutional capacity and bilateral relations. In the first stage, Polish cities reserve budgets for potential Swiss partnerships.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Swiss-Romanian Cooperation Programme: Direct sibling Swiss Contribution programme for Romania, sharing the bilateral framework agreement approach and similar thematic priorities around cohesion and development.
• Swiss-Bulgarian Cooperation Programme: Another direct sibling under the Swiss Contribution to EU member states, using the same framework agreement structure and Programme Operator model for Bulgaria.
• EEA and Norway Grants: Bilateral aid mechanism from Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein to 15 EU member states. Operates under similar intergovernmental MoU logic, uses comparable two-stage calls for proposals, and targets socio-economic disparity reduction in beneficiary states.
• Swiss-Hungarian Cooperation Programme: Direct sibling programme under the same Swiss Contribution framework covering 13 EU states. Same funding source, same Swiss Federal administration, and same Programme Operator logic as the Swiss-Polish programme.
• Swiss-Czech Cooperation Programme: Sibling Swiss Contribution programme targeting the Czech Republic with similar thematic focus on research, infrastructure, and regional development. Shares governance model with the Swiss-Polish programme.

Regional players

• German-Polish Bilateral Cooperation (Norfarma and similar): Bilateral German-Polish government cooperation programme supporting cross-border projects and regional development. Shares the bilateral government-to-government funding model and beneficiary overlap with Swiss-Polish towns.

Broad incumbents

• EU Cohesion Fund: EU structural fund targeting member states whose GNI per capita is below 90% of the EU average. Operates similar calls for proposals and project approval mechanisms that Poland uses in parallel with the Swiss-Polish programme.
• Interreg (European Territorial Cooperation): EU-managed cross-border cooperation programme that funds joint projects between regions in different member states. Overlaps with the bilateral town-twinning and cross-border infrastructure elements of the Swiss-Polish programme.
• Austrian Development Agency (ADA): Austria's bilateral development cooperation agency operating with similar OECD-DAC principles and bilateral aid mechanisms. Comparable in terms of funding structure for Central and Eastern European partners.

Others

• National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR): Polish Programme Operator for the applied research component of the Swiss-Polish Research and Innovation Programme. Acts as the in-country implementation partner and runs its own parallel national R&D funding schemes with comparable applicant processes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments1 record

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Frequently asked questions about Swiss-Polish government