12.05.2016 change 12.05.2016

Gowin: We must make a transition from imitative to innovative economy

Photo: PAP 2016 / Maciej Kulczyński Photo: PAP 2016 / Maciej Kulczyński

A key task for the Polish economy is the transition from imitative to innovative economy. If we want to reduce unemployment, we must develop economic sectors based on new technologies - Minister of Science and Higher Education Jarosław Gowin said in Wrocław.

Last Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister visited Wrocław Technology Park and met with the team of Dr. Olga Malinkiewicz - Polish scientist who invented a cost-effective method of producing photovoltaic cells based on perovskites.

Malinkiewicz won the first prize in science competition Photonics21, awarded by the European Commission. Wrocław Technology Park is home to Saule Technologies, a company co-founded by Dr. Malinkiewicz. The company conducts research on the application of the invention in industry and everyday products.

Gowin emphasised that Dr. Malinkiewicz is an example of a young scientist who understands that the practice of applied sciences should translate into a business success. "Guarantee of success will be on the one hand the change of mentality of Polish scientists, as exemplified by Dr. Malinkiewicz, on the other hand the conditions which the state will guarantee" - said Deputy Prime Minister.

According to Gowin, today we need a new law on innovation, which will introduce real tax relief for entrepreneurs who want to invest in research and development. "We also need what many developed countries in the world have: financial support for start-ups, such as Saule Technologies. The company is successful, but it would be more difficult without a grant obtained from the National Centre for Research and Development" - said Gowin.

Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that Poland is implementing the Plan for Responsible Development. "The activities of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education will be in line with the priorities of the plan. A key task for the Polish economy is the transition from imitative to innovative economy. If we want to reduce unemployment, we must develop economic sectors based on new technologies" - he said.

He stressed that Poland still spends too little on science. "It is less than 1 percent GDP. Such low spending is a proof of enormous backwardness and one of the reasons why the Polish economy is stuck in what economists call a middle income trap" - the minister said.

Gowin also spoke about the importance of cooperation between science and business. "At the ministry we are making efforts to streamline the channels of this cooperation (...) One of the solutions that we want to introduce from next academic year is to create a new path of scientific career, so that doctorates, postdoctoral degrees and titles of professor could be awarded not only for theoretical work, but also for implementation and cooperation with the business sector" - said Deputy Prime Minister.

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