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Poland lagging in EU innovation rankings

PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge 28.03.2013 12:06
Poland has emerged in 24th position out of the EU's 27 member states in the European Commission Innovation Union Scoreboard 2013.

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Image: Glowimages

“Innovation performance in the EU has improved year on year in spite of the continuing economic crisis, but the innovation divide between member states is widening,” the EC reflected in a press release published on its official web page.

Poland belongs to the bottom rung of “Modest Innovators”, beating only Latvia, Romania and Bulgaria.

According to the EC, Poland's “relative strengths are in human resources,” while “relative weaknesses are in linkages and entrepreneurship and innovators.”

Dr. Malgorzata Starczewska-Krzoszotszek from the Polish Confederation of Private Employers Lewiatan told Polish Radio that more could be done to back development.

“This government, just like all previous governments, is doing nothing to improve the situation when it comes to innovation and the willingness of companies to invest in research and development,” she said.

However, Jerzy Majchrzak, head of the Department of Innovation and Industry at the Ministry of Economy said that change is afoot.

“We will increase expenditure of public funds very significantly, because there will be money from the EU,” he said [Poland is due to receive 160 billion euros as a result of the EU's budget for 2014-20].

He said that combined with the quota of private investment that must accompany EU handouts, “Poland should make a great leap forward.”

Sweden, Germany, Denmark and Finland are in the top group of “Innovation Leaders” in the ranking.

The EC concluded that “the most innovative countries in the EU share a number of strengths in their national research and innovation systems, including a key role for business innovation efforts and those of the higher education sector.” (nh)

Source: IAR, europa.eu

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