Polish Firms are Looking to Bring (new) Ideas to the Market

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Polish Firms are Looking to Bring (new) Ideas to the Market
In Poland, high-tech firms declare that there is no shortage of ideas but innovative companies run into trouble when it comes to turning knowledge into products.
Tadeusz Golonka of BDP Poland said the innovation is about "idea, implementation and infusion – the three 'I's". "We have no problem with the first one – ideas. We are intelligent, shrewd and we have a good education system and a solid background in science. Polish students, over the past 10 years, have succeeded in many international competitions, especially in computer science and mathematics," he said.
However, the second "I" – implementation – is a different story. While EU funds and the development of technology parks can help more an idea to the product stage, Poland lacks management experience in the innovation sector.
"There are no differences in the modern technologies used by young innovators in the USA, Brazil, China, or Japan compared with Poland. The problem area is management. Even with a robust education system and MBA courses - the manager of the typical innovative company is still an engineer, with a lack of management skills and training. This problem is so significant that many companies have chosen to cooperate with consultants in the company management and project management sectors. It is exceptionally important for a business to move from the initial idea to the end product whilst keeping quality, being on time, and within budget and specification," Golonka says.
The last “i” – infusion – refers to the way the product enters the market. For managers with an engineering background, marketing and selling does not always come naturally. Again, external consultants are often necessary.
"Market success is the beginning of a new set of problems: to safely protect the company’s ideas, products and rights. In that sense, a stronger intellectual property (IP) system will be very much welcomed by Polish entrepreneurs, who sometimes shy away from seeking protection due to the excessive red tape and high costs associated with applying for a patent," explains Golonka.
He affirms that completing the internal market is also essential to the ultimate success of innovative Polish firms keen to expand beyond their borders.