Prokom Software heads list of domestic innovators says CASE

Prokom Software S.A. is the most innovative domestic company, according to the ranking prepared by CASE, Fundacja Naukowa, CASE-Doradcy and Rzeczpospolita. The leader spent in 2002 just zł. 25 million on research and development and some zł. 104 million on general innovation purposes, nevertheless left all the competitors - including aircraft producer PZL Rzeszow in second place and GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals well behind in third. The research also shows that Polish companies' expenses on R&D are considerably decreasing - among the most innovative firms the reduction of 15%, compared to the last year, was recorded. These results are startling, as in 2001, private expenses on R&D in Poland amounted to just 0,15% of GDP, nine times less than the OECD average. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B3) M.K.