“Innovation Activities in Polish Industry in 1998-2000:Main Results from the GUS 2001 Innovation Survey”

The paper analyses results of GUS innovation survey in manufacturing for 1998-2000and innovation survey in services for 1997-1999. Innovation activities in 1998-2000reflect downturn in Polish economy of this period. A number of innovative enterprisesfell from 37.6% (1994-96) to 16.9% (1998-2000). Also, innovation expenditures, whichwere continuously growing until 1999 have fallen for the first time. There is notsignificant difference in number of innovative firms between manufacturing and services.Innovation expenditures as percent of total turnover are still high when compared to theEU but they have also fallen significantly from 1999 to 2000. Objectives of innovationactivities of Polish firms are similar as in the EU. Obstacles to innovation are also similarexcept very high importance of interest rate as an obstacle to innovation in Poland. Onethird of innovative firms cooperate in undertaking innovation activities but within this theshare of small firms is very small. A share of sales due to technologically new andimproved products has been continuously growing until 2000 when this share alsodropped....