Uwarunkowania transferu technologii do małych firm przemysłowych (na przykładzie regionu łódzkiego)

A great importance played by innovations and technical standards of firms for their competitiveness and market position makes it necessary to ensure a constant inflow of new technologies and know-how by them. This situation concerns also small firms, which due to limited financial resources and research and development capacities cannot afford to introduce their own products or innovations. Hence, an effective transfer of technology becomes an important element in the growth strategy of small firms and it determines their competitiveness both in relation to large firms and other small firms. The article discusses main determinants of technology transfer to small firms operating in the Łódź Region. Various studies indicate that the main constraints in this field are: unavailability of sufficient information about places where new technologies are developed, lack of the adaptation of technologies to small business requirements, too high costs of developing new technologies, and shortage of funds for investments involving the introduction of new technology. For the technology transfer to small firms to be improved it is necessary to adopt a whole range of organizational, legal, informational and financial solutions such as establishing centres of information and counselling, intermediary institutions dealing with technology trade, business support and innovation centres, venture capital funds, and so on. I t seems that an important role in these activities should be played by the regional and municipal authorities.