Business support institutions and innovation activities of the companies in selected regions of Poland

Abstract

The current innovation of companies is regarded as a complex process, due to this, it is necessary for local governments to stimulate company innovation potential so purpose orientated plans have been implemented to create institutions for business support. The aim of this article is to analyse the direction and strength of these institution’s impact on company innovation in peripheral regions of Poland. In order to verify this research objective, econometric probit modelling was utilised which relies on probability calculus. The examples shown below were based on a sample of 573 industrial companies from the selected peripheral voivodships of Opolskie, Warminsko-Mazurskie and Lubelskie. The results were then compared with the data from one of the most advanced regions in Poland- Wielkopolska. The main conclusions drawn apply for the following statements: 1) Support institutions achieved critical mass in a systemic stimulation of company innovation in the researched areas though the degree varies according to the institution, 2) The directions of the impact of the support organisation, while mostly positive and uniform, include unexpected divergences in the case of financial institutions, 3) more advanced voivodships receive stronger and more widespread help from support institutions.