CAPITAL SOURCES OF INNOVATION FINANCING IN POLISH FAMILY BUSINESSES (THE REPORT OF OWN RESEARCH)

Family business plays a significant socio-economic role in Poland, accounting for about 70% of the number of companies, offering more and more jobs, systematically increasing its share in GDP. Introducing a variety of ideas and solutions significantly contributes to the improvement of innovation of the economy. This article is empirical in its nature, presenting the results of research on innovation financing in Polish family businesses conducted in 115 entities from the list of "Forbes Diamonds 2016" (Polish version). The author formulates issues and research hypotheses in the context of the possibility of functioning and development of family businesses in the economy that aspires to be referred to as knowledge-based. The research is a questionnaire with the use of CATI and CAWI techniques. The empirical material obtained was analyzed using logistic regression and linear regression. The results of the study conclude that family businesses are able and willing to invest in innovation to meet the ambitions of a knowledge-based economy. The study adds to theoretical and practical knowledge in this field and is aimed at family entrepreneurs, central and local governments and business environment institutions. This article is particularly targeted at the potential successors of family ventures.