GIPH in the nationwide KIGNET network - Supporting the competitiveness of Polish enterprises

From 2007 to 2012, the Mining Chamber of Industry and Commerce participated in the KIGNET Project – a chamber-based system supporting the competitiveness of Polish enterprises. This project was co-financed by European Union structural funds. On September 30, 2007, the implementation phase of the co-financed activities was completed. Subsequently, in accordance with the project’s objectives, the follow-up and development phase of its results was implemented.

Equipment and infrastructure improvement

One of the key planned activities of the KIGNET project was to provide participants with computer and office equipment, office and specialized software with appropriate licenses, and to equip offices and training and conference rooms, essential to increasing the reach, scope, and quality of services for businesses.

The KIGNET project created opportunities to improve the infrastructure of the facilities of the organizations that participated in its implementation. In addition to improving staff qualifications and providing the necessary equipment, improving the facilities, office, training, and conference facilities was essential to achieving the KIGNET project’s objectives.

As part of the project, renovations, repairs, and adaptations were carried out in the premises used by the organizations. The renovations and adaptations included both office spaces and training and conference rooms.

Project goal

The main goal of the KIGNET project – a chamber-based system supporting the competitiveness of Polish enterprises – was to increase the competitiveness of Polish enterprises by improving the availability of high-quality services provided to entrepreneurs by business support organizations.

This goal was achieved by establishing and launching the KIGNET network, which generates and distributes high-quality services for businesses. The KIGNET network was based on business support organizations, particularly chambers of commerce in Poland, and covered all regions of the country. Membership in the network was contingent on meeting the standards adopted for participating organizations.

KIGNET network and accreditations

As a result of the Project’s activities, by the end of the project, 86 organizations, including GIPH, had obtained accreditation and were entered into the Register of Accredited Organizations in the KIGNET network.

The network included regional, sectoral, and bilateral chambers of commerce, local units of the Polish Federation of Engineering Associations, and other organizations working for the business sector.

It is important to emphasize that the KIGNET network was built on organizations formed by entrepreneurs. Activities implemented by the organizations participating in the Network during the Project were evaluated by entrepreneurs (chamber members) for their usefulness, and were frequently reported directly by them as necessary for implementing the chamber’s operations. The project’s results were verified directly by the project’s final beneficiaries, i.e., the entrepreneurs.

Project results

The creation of the KIGNET network resulted in improved access to services, expanded the scope of services provided by business support organizations, primarily chambers of commerce, and improved their quality.

As part of the project, 210 new services were developed and prepared for businesses to provide. These services were posted on the KIGNET Internet Service Catalog, an integrated, publicly accessible online platform for businesses. This was a web application that served as a platform for online display of services developed within the project, as well as other services provided by network participants.

Using IT tools, services offered locally, regionally, sectorally, or industry-specific by organizations within the network were offered and could be provided nationwide, regardless of the location of the business.

Broad reach of businesses was possible thanks to the integration of the Catalog with the websites of all organizations participating in the project. The KIGNET Service Catalog, as a platform integrating all network participants, was available at www.kignet.kig.pl. Chamber members of the KIGNET network independently and systematically supplemented the Catalogue with newly developed services, thus increasing the network’s offer.

Benefits for GIPH

The Mining Chamber of Industry and Commerce used the funds raised through the project to launch new training and information services. Simultaneously, the quality of the training services offered was improved by enriching them with multimedia media.

In summary, entrepreneurs, including GIPH members, gained greater access to affordable training and consulting services provided at a high level by specialized staff thanks to the KIGNET network.