Expenditures on research and development (R&D) in Poland doubled between 2010 and 2022. However, this increase has not been matched by a proportional improvement in the level of innovation. Poland’s economy remains significantly less innovative than the European Union average. Enhancing innovation is essential for successfully closing the development gap with the rest of Europe.
How have R&D expenditures and the innovativeness of the Polish economy evolved over the past decade? What opportunities and threats lie ahead for innovation in Poland? What actions should be taken to ensure that increased expenditures lead to tangible results? These questions are addressed in the first analytical report by Łukasiewicz Research Network.
The innovation rate of the Polish economy remains below the EU average. In recent years, only marginal improvements have been achieved. Our economy will not develop unless we make progress in innovation. R&D investments and the relationship between science and business play a crucial role. “It is highly doubtful whether further convergence of the Polish economy is possible without convergence in its level of innovation,” emphasizes Hubert Cichocki, CEO of the Łukasiewicz Research Network.
According to Marcin Wroński, economist and lecturer at the Warsaw School of Economics, who authored the report commissioned by the Łukasiewicz Center, the level of innovation will be critical for the future development of Poland’s economy.
In 2010, Poland was among the countries with the lowest share of business sector investment in R&D. Today, this share has reached levels typical of developed European economies. Between 2010 and 2022, R&D expenditures increased from 0.74% to 1.46% of GDP. Public sector spending remained relatively stable at 0.3–0.5% of GDP. The key driver was the business sector, whose investment rose from 0.23% to 0.96% of GDP.
However, the increase in R&D spending has not translated into a corresponding improvement in innovation. Poland’s score on the European Innovation Scoreboard has been improving very slowly.
The report from the Łukasiewicz Center recommends urgent implementation of initiatives aimed at enhancing innovation in Poland. Proposed measures include: focusing resources on research and development projects with commercialization potential, supporting high- and medium-tech industries, increasing R&D spending by state-owned companies, and linking defense expenditures with R&D activities in this area.
The report, titled “Innovativeness of the Polish Economy in 2010–2022: Rising Expenditures, Limited Results,” was prepared at the Łukasiewicz Center by Marcin Wroński and Karol Bąkowski.
