TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY AND KNOWLEDGE TO ENTERPRISES IN POLAND'S LUBLIN PROVINCE

The authors analyze the ongoing transfer of technology and knowledge to enterprises in Poland's eastern Lublin province. They are particularly interested in the conditions and scope of the process. For the needs of the study, they have conducted a survey on a sample of 443 firms. In the survey, data were obtained from companies via the internet. To analyze the data, different statistical methods were used, including statistical inference procedures. The analysis showed that the surveyed companies most often used free and generally accessible sources of technology transfer, such as publications, the internet, and free conferences. Only businesses from industry derived substantial benefits from a transfer of knowledge and innovation from universities while working to implement ideas resulting from their own research and development. Most of the surveyed companies declared their willingness to work with university-level schools. The study confirmed that cooperation with universities and R&D centers encourages firms to look for the most advanced knowledge and technology. Other factors include participation in business clusters, and cooperation with innovation and technology transfer centers in implementing marketing and organizational innovations. The research done by Sagan, Zalewa, Gorbaniuk and Jozwik complements the existing body of knowledge on the transfer of knowledge and technology to less well-developed regions, the authors say. It could thus help various Polish regions create new development strategies and use European Union funds under the bloc's financial perspective for 2014-2020.