The research and development branch in Poland (also called B+R sector or R&D sector) was provided with new administrative regulations and substantial tax incentives. It is a promise of fast development, which is declared by almost 60% of large businesses.
Research and development
In the last innovation index, the European Innovation Scoreboard, which was published in 2017 by the European Commission, Poland placed 25th in the European Union. As a country we surpass only Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania in this regard.
Our economy reaches the level of almost 55% of the EU average innovativeness. Since 2010 we have managed to improve this result by almost 2 percentage points. In comparison, Swedes, who are the most innovative nation in the EU, have the economy which reaches 143% of the European average, and the European leaders, the Swiss, can boast a score of over 164%.
Poland’s innovativeness
Among the engines, upon which rests the general assessment of Poland’s innovativeness, over the course of the last seven years the greatest advances were made i.a. in the fields of:
- broadband internet penetration +44%
- amount of people with university degree +42%
- international research publications +35%
- enterprise development +35%
- companies’ R&D expenses +24%
Especially with regard to the last parameter we have reasons to be satisfied compared to other European countries. According to the data of European Commission, the development of this sector in Poland in 2010 surpasses the EU average by 24%. This gives us 7th place in the whole EU community. How these indicators translate to specific amounts of money? According to Polish Central Statistical Office, yearly B+R expenses in Poland amount to 18 billion PLN.
Report of Deloitte consulting company
The race has only just begun – according to last year’s report “Research and development in business” prepared by Deloitte consulting company:
- 33% of Polish businesses allocate over 3% of their turnover to development activity
- 17% of businesses spend over 10% of their turnover to this aim
- 56% of big companies implemented or are implementing the B+R+I strategy
- 59% predict increase in expenses over the next 3-5 years
Additionally, up until 2020 Poland can hope for almost 10 bln € of EU funds for the R&D activities. According to the estimates made by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the R&D expenses can reach approx. 2% of GDP.
Tax allowances and other benefits
According to the data of the Ministry of Development, as of January 2018 there were 35 institutions in Poland with a status of a research and development center. Naturally, there are many more research and development units without the R&D center status, and their overall number is around one thousand. According to the data provided by the governmental Polish Investment and Trade Agency, which were published in a report “B+R market in Poland”, the industry branches which have the strongest representation in this field include:
- automotive industry
- business services
- IT and telecommunications
- aviation industry
Conducting business in research and development
The Ministry of Development strongly encourages more and more businesses to establish R&D centers by tempting them with tax allowances. Businesses who have the R&D center status can look forward to:
- real estate tax exemption
- agricultural tax exemption
- forest tax exemption
New bill of November 2017 raises the level of tax exemptions for conducting the R&D business even up to 150%.
Opes. We combine science with business
OPES company has its headquarters in the Lubelski Park Naukowo-Technologiczny (Lublin Park of Science and Technology). It was established to connect Polish science with business.
Działamy dla branż:
- IT
- railway industry
- aviation industry
- automotive industry
- chemical industry
- machine industry
