Impact of the Innovative Economy Operational Programme’s Funding on the Development of the Polish Scientific Sector

Abstract

Poland is one of the least innovative states among the EU members. Chronic underfunding of the scientific sector - with gross expenditures on R&D below 1% of the GDP - is the most important cause of such situation. The scale on private involvement in R&D activities remains similarly low. Also, focus on basic research, low commercialization and weak science-industry links are major obstacles for the growth of innovativeness. After Poland’s EU accession, European structural funding has given a chance of reducing the arrears in the financing of the scientific sector. The Innovative Economy Operational Programme (POIG), functioning since 2007, became the main tool for financing both R&D projects and scientific infrastructure development in national research centers, higher education and private sector. After almost 5 years of the Programme’s functioning and given the imminent end of the EU’s 2007-2013 financial perspective, one can try to summarize the main effects of the Programme. The aim of this paper is answering the question about the role of POIG in financing the scientific sector in Poland in both regional and sectoral approach. The amount of funding for basic and applied research and technology also remains an important question. The quantitative analysis of number, value and distribution of financing agreements is complemented by case studies, presenting the situation of major beneficiaries of EU funding among Polish higher education establishments. Finally, an attempt to identify the most important obstacles in using the EU funding for scientific sector is made.