in poland a number of governmentfunded programmes are focused on strengthening the capacity of businesssupport institutions to provide innovation and rdrelated services to smes these partners focus on building links between rd institutes smes and people who can be encouraged to start businesses to commercialise their knowledge and systems that connect incubators technology transfer offices and technology parks further detail on specific programme measures is provided in box at the end of this chapter financial assistance is offered to cover the costs of consultancy services to develop a development strategy for the innovation centre consultancy and promotion resulting from the centre s strategy eg databases coaching matching partners estimating costs of the implementation of a given project for production by client entrepreneurs the assessment of the market value of the rd results implementing expansion or modernisation of existing technical infrastructure and promotional activities resulting from the centre s strategy