A Comparative Analysis of Various Financing Methods Available to Support Innovative Activities of SMEs in Poland

Innovation plays a critical role in ensuring sustainable economic development. It is a fundamental element in the success of companies, corporations, and industries, but the process of innovation is an expensive endeavor that requires significant financial re-sources. The objective is to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different financing tools, including government grants, bank loans, self-financing, crowd-funding, seed financing, and venture capital by analyzing case studies and results of research surveys. The first part of this research will explore the concept, types, and classification of innovation. The empirical part is based on a discussion of survey results obtained from 59 SMEs, including the factors that influence SMEs' decisions to seek financing for innovation. The research method used in this study is qualitative research in terms of applied and descriptive approaches; various resources were used including library materials, research papers, survey data, and questionnaires with entrepreneurs and business owners. The objective was to analyze obstacles and opportunities as well as the most suitable financing method required by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to support their innovation. The results show that the choice of the financing method depends on several factors, including the type and stage of innovation, the scope of the company, the particular industry, and the risk involved for both the innovator and the investor.