The Polish Agency for Enterprise Development has launched another call for proposals for the "SMART Path" implemented under the European Funds for Modern Economy program for 2021-2027 (FENG). This call is intended for accessibility projects, i.e. meeting the needs of people with special needs. Applications can be submitted until 30 October 2023, and the call budget is PLN 222 million.

Accessibility concerns us all, but in everyday life its lack is noticed mainly by people with special needs: wheelchair users, blind, deaf-mute, mental and intellectual disabilities. The topic of accessibility also includes pregnant women, people with young children, as well as seniors. For many people, temporarily or permanently affected by difficulties, accessibility determines the possibility of independent, independent functioning and participation in various spheres of life.

The subject of each of the modules implemented under the project must be to solve the problems of people with special needs significantly contributing to increasing accessibility, understood as the removal of at least one or more barriers occurring, for example, in physical space (including buildings, devices), digital reality, information and communication systems, products, services, processes or satisfying the special needs of these people. Only micro, small and medium-sized enterprises conducting business activity on the territory of the Republic of Poland may apply for co-financing.

As in previous calls, the SMART Path is based on the implementation of modular projects, i.e. those where an SME entrepreneur chooses at least one of two mandatory modules (research and development or implementation of innovations) and any number of optional modules. Important information is the required level of innovation at least at the national level in the case of implementation of compulsory modules.