Biotechnology Clusters in Poland

Biotechnology is an area of strategic importance for Europe. It is widely considered a technology of key importance for strengthening the competitiveness and development of the European economy. European biotechnology companies are located in life sciences and biotechnology clusters in the northern and western regions of Europe, which has a long tradition of research in this field. Biotechnology clusters, being typical ‘intellectual’ clusters based on knowledge flow, research generation and commercialization, enjoy a large interest from businessmen, politicians and scientists. They are perceived as innovation-boosting initiatives which stimulate growth of the local economies and draw investors. If they achieve their desired maturity, they constitute an effective platform of cooperation; information exchange and knowledge transfer, enabling the creation of innovative products and services. Ensuring their efficient operation requires a particular configuration of resources and operating conditions as well as proper management thereof. In the last ten years 12 biotechnology clusters have been established in Poland. In the majority of cases their creation was aided by European Union funds. The purpose of this article is to analyze the development process of the biotechnology clusters in Poland and to compare it to the development of similar organizations in Europe and worldwide. The analysis will include cases of Polish life sciences and biotechnology clusters which emerged in the last decade. The analysis will cover their structures, management models, strategies, business models and achieved results. Cluster initiatives are usually taken by the local governments, which want to demonstrate their active part in creating an environment facilitating entrepreneurship and innovation. However, ambitions and political will are not always sufficient to form cluster organization which are able to operate efficiently and effectively.