The Municipal Technology Exchange is a special platform that connects smart city solution providers with the needs of municipalities. Now, in one place, local government officials can compare the offers of various technology companies, find the solution they need and apply for a grant to fund the testing of a selected product.

According to the Polish Development Fund (PFR), technology companies can already submit their offers.

The Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) 2022 ranking shows that in terms of digital public services, Poland ranks 22nd out of 27 surveyed European Union. Although this is Poland’s highest score in the DESI 2022 ranking in the four studied categories, there is still a lot of catching up to do. Particularly as the European Commission has set a target for 100% of all key public services to be available online by 2030.

“Local governments are increasingly using new technologies, for example in the areas of transport, lighting, waste management or energy management, and these solutions can be particularly helpful in uncertain times. This is why we have set up the Municipal Technology Exchange, a platform which, in combination with funding, will facilitate local government investment in digitisation. I believe that our tool will help build an atmosphere of professional cooperation between technology providers and local government officials”, said Paweł Borys, President of PFR.

Each municipality can set up its profile on the platform free of charge and get acquainted with a catalogue of products containing selected IT solutions, presented in an accessible and systematised way.

PFR has planned five calls for proposals – each with a budget of PLN 300 000. It means that self-governments will receive a total of PLN 1.5 million in support to accelerate the digitalisation process. The first call will start already on 17 October and will last until 30 October.

Adrian Andrzejewski