Robotics in the Context of Industry 4.0: Patenting Activities in Poland and Their Comparison with Global Developments (Robotyka dla Przemyslu 4.0: aktywnosc patentowa w Polsce i jej porownanie z tendencjami swiatowymi)

The article analyses patenting in the field of robotics in Poland as the key technological area supporting the Industry 4.0 transformation. The article answers six detailed research questions that unveil various aspects of robotics inventions in Poland and compare the situation in Poland with global trends in robotics patenting. The research is based on bibliometric techniques and the use of datasets regarding patent applications from the Polish Patent Office and the Derwent Innovation Index databases. The extent of robotic patenting in Poland is discussed, with distinctive tendencies observed among businesses, higher education institutes, individual inventors and public research organisations, as well as the phenomenon of inter-sectoral collaboration, geographical distribution and thematic diversity of patenting activities. Intersectoral and international comparisons are based on themes that coincide with the sub-classes of the International Patent Classification. The analysis reveals gaps in the adoption and development of robotics in Poland, the marginal popularity of the field, limited inflow of locally developed, innovative solutions and a small number of companies engaged in patenting activities. The present, unsatisfactory progress towards the Industry 4.0 model opens up opportunities for future developments, motivating private and public actors in the innovation system to mobilize intellectual and inventive resources and follow global trends in order to bridge gaps in the development and adoption of these important technologies.