The latest data from the Central Statistical Office (CSO) shows that only 26.3 % of industrial companies and 22.2 % of service companies were innovatively active in 2019- 2021. Compared to the previous measurement covering 2018-2020, the share of innovatively active companies fell by as much as 10.4 % among industrial companies and 10.8 % among service companies.

However, the Polish Economic Institute convinces that 2020 was an exceptional year in terms of the percentage of firms reporting innovative activity or implemented innovations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, entrepreneurs had to comply with the prevailing restrictions and innovate their operations in order to continue operating.

The latest figures are worth comparing with those for 2017-2019, when the innovation-active rates were 21.7 % and 13.7 % for industrial and service companies, respectively. In this perspective, it is possible to speak of a positive change and an increase in indicators. Similarly, the rate of companies implementing innovations increased compared to 2019.

The total expenditure on innovation activities increased by 6.7 % and amounted to PLN 41.4 billion. For the first time, service companies overtook industrial companies in terms of outlays. Outlays incurred in 2021 by industrial enterprises were 6.6 % lower than in 2020 and reached PLN 19 billion. Among service enterprises, outlays were 21.5 % higher year-on-year and amounted to PLN 22.3 billion.

Among industrial enterprises, pharmaceutical companies were the most active in terms of innovation – as many as 70.5 % of them introduced innovations or implemented innovative projects. Among service companies, the rate of innovative activity was highest in the field of scientific research and development works – 82.6 %.

Adrian Andrzejewski