Abstract:

The challenges of the modern world and the development of individual economies require the implementation of various types of innovations based on knowledge and technology resources. For this reason, the role of research and development activity – carried out by various entities – has grown significantly in Poland as well. Due to the nature and scope of its research activities, the academic sector plays a specific role in this group. The aim of the article is to identify the scope and primary conditions for the patent protection of the research results of scientific units in Poland, with particular emphasis on the situation of higher education institutions. The research undertaken, indicating selected phenomena accompanying the patent protection of the research results of scientific and research entities, highlights some of the existing problems and dilemmas which must be solved i.e. still insufficient knowledge and experience of the scientific community in the relevant area, variable legal and regulatory conditions, costs and finance-related problems.

The study was based on an analysis of domestic and foreign literature, analyses based on data provided by the Central Statistical Office in Poland, Eurostat, Polish Patent Office, European Patent Office and the use of deductive and inductive reasoning.