THE STATE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN POLAND AND THE POSSIBILITIES OF USING THE EUROPEAN FUNDS

This article is an attempt to answer the question about the efficiency of using European funds, which are assigned to the Polish R&D sector. To achieve this goal the author analyzes the situation of the R&D sector focusing particularly on expenditure for basic and applied research, human resources and innovation. Besides, the author introduces specific European funds including structural funds and instruments of R&D policy. Regarding the low efficiency of using European funds by the R&D sector in Poland, the paper presents also the most important tasks, which have to be undertaken to increase the absorption of European grants to develop Polish R&D activities.