Innovativeness of the SME sector in Poland: problems and perspectives

Abstract

Among the challenges of the Polish economy, it is particularly important to ensure high dynamics of development. One of the most important factors affecting this growth is the innovation of the economy. Poland belongs to countries with a moderate level of innovativeness, for which, according to the results of research carried out, innovation has a greater impact on GDP growth than for countries that are leaders of innovation. For a number of determinants of innovation, the involvement in innovative activity of small and medium enterprises plays a significant role. As far as generating innovation, and the support for innovative activities, especially at the R & D stage,are concerned, SMEs have certain advantages over large companies. In the Polish economy, the share of small and medium-sized enterprises is quite large. However, the use of their potential for the growth of innovativeness of the economy faces certain barriers. Reading the scientific literature and reports from surveys leads to the conclusion that these are usually external barriers of a macroeconomic, institutional and administrative-legal nature. On the other hand, pro-innovative attitudes of entrepreneurs should be created. Due to the radical increase in innovativeness of small and medium enterprises it is necessary to create and implement an effective national innovation policy in order to create favorable conditions for innovative activity and introduce changes in the education and higher education system. It is particularly important to look for effective forms and mechanisms to use the potential of universities and build their business cooperation by launching small medium-sized companies with their participation. Apart from that, for Polish small and medium-sized enterprises, the priority directions of innovation growth are: creation and development of a cooperation network with the participation of SMEs, development of an information and innovation promotion system, and infrastructural support; application of platform solutions.