WBJ/PKPP Lewiatan Business Breakfast: Creating an economy for the 21st century

Igor Jeliński, expert from PKPP Lewiatan

On Poland's funds from the EU budget:

The 'Innovative Economy' program is to receive 11 percent of the funds - around EUR 7 [zł.28] billion. It is worrying that infrastructure programs received much more money. If the entrepreneur is not able to create a modern, interesting workplace then we will not gain anything from the funds. Infrastructure is important, but even more vital is the infrastructure of the 21st century.

Krzysztof Gulda, Deputy Director of the Department for Economic Development in the Ministry of Economy

On the government's strategy for 2007-2013:

We would like to use this time to change the awareness of the society. Polish society is very much afraid of taking risks, afraid of new things. That translates very much into the level of acceptance of risk that has to be taken in an economic initiative. It has to be solved by the education system, continuous education and training.

On implementing innovation strategy:

We have one body, one institution responsible for carrying out innovation policy. It is the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP). But innovation is not the priority for this institution. We either have to make PARP an agency for innovation or we have to create a separate body responsible for this matter. We are still in the phase of sowing ideas rather than reaping the effects.

Sylwester Grzebień, director of the public sector department in IBM Polska

Innovation is the only way to create a long-lasting, strategic competitive advantage. The traditional business model of planning for the next five to 10 years is a thing of the past. One who is not innovative has no chance to survive.

On modernization and innovation:

Modernization is not innovation. In terms of quality it doesn't change enterprises' competitiveness. It does help, but in the long run it doesn't make it more competitive ... The state is not concentrating on the right things. It is spending money on infrastructure, not concentrating on innovation.

Dariusz Drabiuk, managing director of APS Energia

On Poland's labor force:

In recent years at universities we are seeing a shift [in popularity] towards departments such as marketing, economy and management. As a result we have to get engineers from abroad - my company employs engineers from Kazakhstan and Ukraine.

On the education system:

Students at universities should be taught business subjects. The curriculum should include subjects such as finances or project management. We would like graduating engineers to have some knowledge of managing a project or an enterprise.

Michał Seweryński, Minister of Science and Higher Education

On EU funding programs:

The seventh framework program will make the funds available at the level of zł.50 billion over the next seven years. Unfortunately I must admit that Poland is not using the framework programs to the extent it should. The absorption level is low. The problem is that research centers cannot write the necessary applications for these funds correctly. We should launch an information and promotion campaign to make better use of the seventh frame work program.

On the education system:

We have to change the educational programs in higher education centers so that they will be open to the needs and demands of the economy. When we think about economic departments at universities we need to redefine certain values. After visiting a university in Texas I came to the conclusion that we are educating future employees whereas the Americans are teaching future businesspeople.

On existing R&D centers:

We should stop financing weak R&D centers which do not have real potential. It's just like in the Gospel according to Matthew - one who has will be given more. In other words, the powerful centers will get more money and the weak ones will get none. They will have to look for financial aid on their own.

Quotes compiled by

Michał Pakulniewicz