Innovation, inter-organizational relation, and co-operation between enterprises in Podkarpacie region in Poland

Abstract

Abstract Research background: Innovation of enterprises continues to be conditional upon many exogenous and endogenous factors among which of crucial importance are inter-organizational relations understood as the relations of enterprises with other entities from the business environment. The aforementioned relations have become the subject of interest in numerous scientific areas, including management sciences. The issue of creating innovations by inter-organizational cooperation is of top importance. Cooperation with business associates could become an answer to challenges of an enterprise facing the need to possess resources and to develop potential in order to implement new business solutions.Purpose of the article: The purpose of this article is to present connections between inter-organizational relations, innovation and cooperation between enterprises operating in Podkarpackie region in Poland.Methodology: The paper uses empirical studies, carried out among enterprises from SME sector in the Podkarpackie region in Poland. It presents the intensity and level of cooperation between these firms and external entities in terms of the implementation of innovative practices.Outcome: the article points to possibilities of sharing experiences and implementing innovations based on cooperation between enterprises. It proves that the effective innovative operations is a tool of increasing the level of innovation of enterprises from SME sector in the Podkarpackie region in Poland.