Government proposals to encourage innovation

A statement by the government claimed: “The purpose of the proposed changes is to support innovation in the Polish economy, which will be the deciding factor in enabling GDP growth.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of Science and Higher Education, Jarosław Gowin, commented: “If we want an innovative economy, we must further encourage cooperation between the worlds of science and business.”

The legislation focuses on enabling the commercialisation of research results, requiring research institutions to spend 0.5 percent of their subsidies on this. Gowin explained: “An inability to commercialize is the Achilles Heel of Polish science.”

The proposals would also remove the current five-year time limit on how long inventors can claim a share of commercial revenue from their inventions.

“If we remove this five year limit it will without doubt be an incentive for scientists to engage themselves in the commercialisation of results,” the minister said.

Under the legislation as of 2017 there will be reduced tax on revenue from intellectual and industrial property, as well as additional financial incentives for R&D.

In addition, universities and other research institutions will gain more flexibility in deciding how to engage their assets in business.

One of the stated aims of the legislation is to create a “knowledge economy” in Poland and therefore help the country’s economy develop into a high income one. (sl/rg)

Source: PAP