Innovation policy and performance of Polish enterprises: in search for cluster cooperation additionality

Abstract

The aim of the study is to identify the effect of European Union funds for innovation activities on the cooperation of enterprises as well as to assess the impact of cluster and out of cluster innovation cooperation on the innovation performance of Polish enterprises. Possible indirect policy outcome is connected with the concept of behavioural additionality used to measure the changes in the processes within firms resulting from public support. This article proposes the concept of cluster cooperation additionality, defined as the influence of policy instruments on enhanced innovation cooperation in and between clusters. Path analysis was used to verify the occurrence of these variables in Polish economy, with sample covering data from a Community Innovation Survey for 2008–2010, including 7783 medium and large manufacturing firms, from which n = 2795 enterprises declaring the introduction of product or/and process innovation were extracted to the final study.

Keywords:

• Innovation policy
• cooperation
• clusters
• additionality
• path analysis
• cluster cooperation additionality

Notes

1 The selection of units for the survey was performed using a Polish Classification of Activities (PKD) 2007, consistent with NACE Rev. 2. In 2011, the study on innovation in the industry (Sections B to E) was conducted on the entire group of entities. For details, see: Innovation activities of enterprises in 2008–2010, Central Statistical Office, Statistical Office in Szczecin, Warsaw 2012, p. 15.