The use of external knowledge sources by Polish private-owned and state-owned enterprises in the internationalization process*

The article aims to compare the intensity of use of external knowledge sources in various types of businesses. It focuses on companies in the process of internationalization as they operate in diverse, demanding environment. Furthermore, the form of ownership of companies is also taken into account as effectiveness of private- and state-owned enterprises is the topic of ongoing debate in many countries. The results show that Polish private- and state-owned enterprises engaged abroad characterize with their own specificity in terms of knowledge sources they use. Nevertheless, they acquire external knowledge less intensively than foreign owned businesses.