Poland’s innovation challenges in 21st century

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the level of innovation in Poland in the 21st century and to identify key barriers limiting the country’s ability to create and scale pioneering projects on the international market. The study utilizes selected indicators related to research and development (R&D) activities, the education system, and the outcomes of innovation, including patent activity. The analysis covers the period 2021–2024, and to capture long-term trends, selected data were compared with the year 2014. The results confirm that Poland remains a country with an innovation level below the European Union average, which is reflected in both relatively low R&D expenditures and a declining number of patents per capita. Despite periodic increases in R&D spending, its level is characterized by instability and remains significantly lower than in leading innovative nations. Furthermore, significant systemic constraints were identified, including the misalignment of the education model with the needs of a knowledge-based economy, low salaries for teaching staff, and insufficient efficiency in the processes of commercializing research results. The conclusions indicate that increasing Poland’s innovativeness requires comprehensive actions, including the reform of the education system, stabilization of research funding, and the development of mechanisms supporting technology transfer and cooperation between science and business.