In modern world the ability to innovate in terms of acquiring and utilizing new knowledge constitutes a fundamental factor for creating progress and economic development. Globalization and dynamic socio-economic changes as well as economic development based on knowledge lead to changes within both general education and higher education towards new forms of cooperation between science and economy. Openness to business ventures as well as building up abilities to release entrepreneurial potential among research workers, students and candidates for doctor’s degree, constitute an attractive way for growth of higher education institutions in many regions and countries. Scientists establishing new companies based on their inventions is a norm in the Western European countries. Thanks to so called spin off companies the profits coming out of inventions are shared between inventors and the university. Enterprises also get engaged in such studies. Knowledge transfer in the European dimension is currently one of the solutions creating economy based on knowledge. It also constitutes an integration pillar and effective way of internationalisation of scientific research. Therefore a cooperation of academic institutions and enterprises is one of the fundamental conditions for civilization advancement of Poland (its lack or inadequate usage will mean wasting a part of economic potential of the country). In this paper the author presents issues concerning cooperation between scientific research centres and enterprises, especially in the Kujawsko-Pomorski region, additionally seeking to answer a question why this cooperation is still insufficient?