Science and Business Cooperation. Barriers in Poland Within the Context of Selected European and North American Countries

This article focuses on the theoretical and empirical analysis of factors affecting the cooperation between science and business. The author will present the results of empirical research conducted in Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, France, Norway, the United States of America and Canada. The analysis will indicate how and which factors: structural, systemic, competence or awareness and cultural can be utilised in the commercialisation of knowledge and technologies. The analysis of research outcomes which underpins this study is also set on the following assumptions:

• Every country has different barriers to cooperation between scientists and entrepreneurs;

• Polish scientists and entrepreneurs should rely on proven and significant factors conducive to cooperation between science and business in Poland;

• Academic centres in Poland can benefit from the experience gained by other countries to intensify its model of cooperation with entrepreneurs.

The article will showcase the research results that relate to the identification of selected problems occurring in establishing and maintaining cooperation between Polish scientific research organisations and entrepreneurs in the context of selected countries whose respondents were subject to empirical research.