High Risk Research and Development Projects as an Opportunity for Polish Start-Up Enterprises
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26881/prog.2025.17.10Keywords:
start-up, R&D, project riskAbstract
The aim of this paper is to present the possibility of using high-risk R&D projects as an opportunity for Polish start-ups to succeed. Start-up organisations, alike R&D projects, are characterised by uncertain or non-existent demand and extremely limited internal resources. These projects are a system of activities defined by their scope, deadline and resources; they are subject to a high degree of risk, which directly affects the subsequent phases of their development. Polish start-ups engaging high-risk R&D can turn it into a genuine lever of advantage when they combine portfolio discipline, rapid iterations coupled with risk metrics, integration with requirements processes, and a supportive, predictable institutional environment. The research methods used included a critical review of literature on the subject (compact books, scientific papers, thematic press, specialised reports) and a case study (selected examples of Polish start-ups that implement high-risk projects).
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