Incentives for innovations
in
Lodz Special
Economic Zone
Anna Kądzielewska – Specialist for
Investment Development
September 2013
LODZ REGION ACCESIBILITY
A1 and A2 motorways junctions,
S8 and S14 express roads
THE REGION OF LODZ
- HUMAN RESOURCES
The Region of Lodz is an excellent academic centre
where almost 120 000 students attend 24 higher universities
with more than 90% speaking English, 40% German. Apart
from the most popular languages, students can choose
different languages offered by the universities (Chinesse,
Japanese, French, Russian, Arabic).
Annualy, almost 30 000 young and competent people
graduate from the universities in Lodz ready to enter the
labour market.
The number of students in Lodz allows the city to place 6th
in Poland in the ranking among economic faculties, 4th
among IT faculties and 6th among technical faculties.
SEZs IN POLAND

A special economic zone (SEZ) is a
designated area in which manufacturing or
distribution activities can be conducted on
preferential terms

The purpose of SEZs is to support regional
development

Currently, there are 14 SEZs in Poland, each
consisting of several subzones

Total area of all SEZ – 20 000 hectares
approx. 16 000 already occupied

SEZ will operate until 2020

Permits to conduct activities in SEZ are
issued by the authorities of each SEZ

Minimum investment: EUR 100,000

Possibility of cover the land selected by an
investor by SEZ
ABOUT LODZ SEZ
Lodz Special Economic Zone
administratively separated part of the territory of Poland,
where companies may conduct their business activities on
special, preferential terms determined by the Law on SEZ.
Lodz Special Economic Zone
one of the most dynamically developing economic areas in
Poland, perfect localisation, tax incentives, rich traditions and
full support in investment project implementation.
LODZ SEZ LOCATION
45 subzones
The area of 1290 ha
- developed area
- free area
RANGE OF
ACTIVITIES
IN LODZ SEZ
Production
including food processing
Services
including transport and storage
BPO/ SSC/ IT/ R&D
including accountancy and bookkeeping, call centre services,
technical analyses
BENEFITS
 a total CIT exemption from (corporate income tax) in the
amount calculated as 50% of two-year labour costs of newly
hired employees or of investment expenditures
 intensity of the aid for SME’s sector: 60-70% - the highest
level of State Aid in the European Union
 plots of land prepared for investment projects, available at
competitive prices
 free assistance in dealing with formalities related to the
investment project
 assistance in finding business partners (HR, consulting,
construction, finances) – Partner Program.
POSSIBILITY OF
COVERING AREA
WITH SEZ STATUS
Based on the Law on SEZ
it is possible to establish
a new SEZ subzone on a
land selected by a company for
the purpose of a new
investment project.
The project has to meet the
ministerial criteria in terms of
number of new jobs and/or
value of an investment.
CONDITIONS FOR ENLARGING
THE ZONE
I. Citerion referring to the unemployment rate in a district (poviat):
1) in a district (powiat) in which the unemployment rate is equal to or lower than 60% of
the national average, the entrepreneur undertakes to create at least 500 new workplaces
or to cover qualified investment expenditure in the amount of at least 350 million zlotys;
2) where unemployment is higher than 60% but not higher than the national average creation of at least 250 new jobs or investing at least 155 million zlotys;
3) where unemployment rate is higher than the national average, but not higher than
130% of the national average -creation of at least 200 new workplaces or investment of at
least 138 million zlotys;
4) where unemployment rate is higher than 130% of the national average, but not higher
than 160% of the average – creation of at least 170 new workplaces or investment of at
least 120 million zlotys;
5) where unemployment rate is higher than 160% of the national average, but not higher
than 200% of the average – creation of at least 150 new workplaces or invests at least 100
million zlotys;
6) in a district (powiat) in which the unemployment rate is higher than 200% of the
national average, but not higher than 250% - creation of at least 100 new workplaces or
investment of at least 70 million zlotys;
PREFERENTIAL CONDITIONS
FOR ENLARGING
THE ZONE
II. Criterion referring to innovation
1) activity carried out as a result of the investment shall consist in implementation of
new products manufacturing or manufacturing of significantly improved goods not
manufactured on the Polish market or rendering services having such features and
not being offered within the region or new technological solutions which have not
been used so far or have been used on the Polish market for the period no longer
than one year; fulfillment of the criterion shall be confirmed by the opinions of at
least two scientific entities within the meaning of Article 2 item 9 of the Act of 8
October 2004 on principles of financing science (Journal of Laws of 2008, No. 169,
item 1049), and
2) at least 30 new workplaces shall be created in connection with the investment and
qualified investment costs in the value of at least 20 million zlotys shall be incurred.
CONDITIONS
 A new investment project of minimium value EUR
100.000,
 The investment and business activity has to be maintained for a period
of minimum 5 years (3 years for SMEs*),
 Creation of new jobs and maintaining employment level for a period of
minimum 5 years (3 years for SMEs*),
 Maintenance of the assets for which the investment costs were incurred
for a minimum period of at least 5 years after they had
been put into the fixed assets evidence (3 years – SMEs*)
* According to EU definition SMEs are companies that employ up to 50-250 workers
and their yearly turnover does not exceed EUR 10-50M
POST-INVESTMENT CARE
Lodz SEZ is in constant contact with companies during the whole
process of implementing investment project:
 cooperation with local authorities;
 support in contacts and negotiations with infrastructure companies
(gas electricity power, etc. suppliers);
 organization of free trainings and conferences;
 annual meetings integrating entrepreneurs;
 promotion of companies;
 support in contacts with the Ministry of Economy.
LODZ SEZ - RESULTS
30000
25000
20000
15000
14756
24450 25925
23248
18983 20844
New workplaces
10000
5000
0
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
3
2,5
2
Investment expenditures
in billion EUR *
1,5
1
1,45
1,79
2,05
2,3
2,5
0,97
0,5
0
2007
2008
2009
* 1 Euro = 4,00 PLN
2010
2011
2012
230 COMPANIES
ALREADY TRUSTED US
IT
Pharmeceutics &
cosmetics
Household
appliances / electro
- engineering
Packaging
Others
LODZ SEZ’S
BUSINESS PARTNERS
Architektura i generalne
wykonawstwo
Budownictwo
HR
Dostawcy mediów
LODZ SEZ’S
BUSINESS PARTNERS
Finanse i consulting
Inne
Adaptation and development of 19th century
Ludwik Grohman’s factory for office spaces
for Lodz SEZ and its investors – year 2011
Adaptation and development of 19th century
Ludwik Grohman’s factory for office spaces
for Lodz SEZ and its investors – year 2013
April 2013
May 2013
LODZ
SPECIAL
ECONOMIC
ZONE
One of the best rated
by investors Special
Economic Zone in
Poland in years
2009-2012
* KPMG Report „Specjalne Strefy Ekonomiczne.”
Edition 2012.
LODZ SPECIAL
ECONOMIC ZONE
3rd place
in Europe
18th place
among Special
Economic Zones worldwide
Taking into account Lodz SEZ’s results, incentives,
marketing tools and investment potential
*„Financial Times” fDi Global Freezones of the Future 2012/13
LODZ
SPECIAL
ECONOMIC
ZONE
1st place
in Europe
4th place
among Special
Economic Zones
worldwide*
Taking into account Lodz SEZ’s marketing
tools used to attract potential investors
* The fDi Digital Marketing Awards 2012, Financial Times
WE INVITE YOU TO
Lodz Special Economic Zone
Joint Stock Co.
22/24. Tymienieckiego St.
90-349 Lodz, Poland
Tel.:
Fax.:
+48 42 676 27 53,
+48 42 676 27 54,
+48 42 676 27 55
www.sse.lodz.pl