nternational conference organized by the World Economy Research Institute, Warsaw School of Economics, Poland in cooperation with TuTech Innovation in Hamburg, Germany and the Interreg IIIC Project "European Learning Network". The conference is organized under the auspices of the Polish Minister of Economy.
Both literature and numerous empirical studies emphasize close relationship between the country’s ability to create and implement innovation and international competitiveness (Porter, 1990). The competitiveness of the economy is a result of a country’s performance in the field of science and technology, in particular its national innovation capacity, which is defined as long term ability to create and commercialize stream of new, earlier unknown solutions (innovations).

In this context it is worth analysing innovative processes in the Polish economy and their significance for Polish competitive position in European Union. The discussion will be preceded by presentation of the current edition of annual report “Poland. Competitiveness Report 2006. The Role of Innovation”. The book, published already for twenty years, assesses development processes in the Polish economy and its current competitive position in the European Union. This year’s edition, prepared in both Polish and English draws particular attention to the importance of innovation for competitiveness of the economy and enterprises, which is the main aspect of the Lisbon Strategy.