Bezpośrednie inwestycje zagraniczne w działalności B+R w Polsce jako kanał transferu technologii

Abstract

The constant pursuit of competitiveness brings about that countries consider knowledge creation and high value-added activity very welcomed. Accordingly to it, FDI in R&D as one of the sources of increase those factors are strongly desired by any host country. The aim of this paper is to show the involvement of foreign investors in R&D activity in Poland. Analysis concentrates on three problems connected each other, namely: methodological issues of technology transfer related to R&D activity; size, state of affairs and utilization of polish research potential by foreign investors and legal issues related to encouragements in R&D activities. Empirical analysis indicates that since nineties last century transnational corporations took part relatively low in the sector of R&D and only now it is changing. Analysis of expenditures on R&D, structure of governmental R&D, employment in R&D activity and submitted patent applications in Poland and in Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) mode suggest strong connections of foreign affiliates with their parents companies. However, emerging recently brand new centers for R&D and increasing employment in the already existed one suggest that the earlier situation is changing. Gathering together issues related to research potential and legal aspects facilitating R&D activity this paper concentrates thus on explanation of this problem.