Sector In Poland Research Articles

Digital transformation of energy sector enterprises in Poland. Rationale and practices

Purpose: With increasing digitalization, the debate on the direction of transformation in various sectors of the economy and their ability to keep up with the changes in this area is becoming increasingly complex. The energy industry is one of the key sectors in the economy, and as such it must follow trends and adapt to changing conditions. The aim of the paper is to diagnose and assess the level of progress in digital transformation among Polish energy sector enterprises. Design/methodology/approach: The research was conducted on a group of 110 entities, with a survey questionnaire. The gathered data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Findings: Although the level of employing Industry 4.0 tools in Polish energy sector enterprises is at a low level, managers recognize the importance of following the path toward digital transformation. The awareness of particular digital transformation prerequisites differs depending on the phase of the digital transformation process. Research limitations/implications: Among the limitations of the research procedure, issues such as the single respondent design and the exclusion of micro entities from the research should be noted. However, the exclusion of micro entities from the analysis was intentional, and this area deserves the attention of researchers. The specificity of the functioning and organization of the activity of micro enterprises may distort the image of the sector. Referring to the single respondent design, it was assumed that in this phase of the research it is reasonable to collect individual opinions specific to a given enterprise. It would be worth extending the analysis by conducting in-depth interviews or attempting more in-depth research at the level of individual entities. Originality/value: This article contributes to the knowledge of the energy sector in Poland in the context of Industry 4.0. Keywords: digital transformation, digital strategy, digital transformation strategy, prerequisites for digital transformation, energy sector companies.

Priorities for Research on Sustainable Agriculture: The Case of Poland

The need for sustainable agricultural sector is growing rapidly due to climate changes. As there are still knowledge gaps and the need for innovations that support farmers in the sustainability transition, there is a need for determining priority research areas that are vital for the sustainable development of agriculture. The aim of our study was to derive a long-term vision of the desirable agricultural sector in Poland and prioritize research areas required to make Polish agriculture sustainable. We applied the living lab approach and, by conducting a backcasting exercise with the lab members, we identified a desirable vision of agriculture in Poland and the research areas needed to realize this vision. Using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Cumulative Voting (CV), we prioritized these research areas. Our results show that adaptation to climate changes is the most important area of research, having 38.6% of the total possible number of points using AHP and 29.7% in the case of CV. The analysis of the Polish strategic documents related to agriculture and agricultural research shows that, to some extent, these key research areas are already part of the national policy, but there is not sufficient funding and coordination to tackle all aspects of sustainability in agriculture.

Humanistyka akademicka w dobie postnauki. Kilka uwag o filozofii reform szkolnictwa wyższego w Polsce

The aim of the paper is to discuss the current status of academic humanities (specifically philosophy) in the modern system of science and higher education. The recent structural reforms carried out in this sector in Poland had the ambitious goal of bringing the Polish universities in line with the current trends observed in academic education systems in developed countries, and improving the global competitiveness of Polish science. The article is an attempt at a critical confrontation of these strategic intentions with the actual effects achieved through the reforms, primarily in the context of the profound transformations of the very concept of science that has historically accompanied these changes. In particular, the paper presents a methodological analysis of the impact of the postulated new interpretation of research on the scientific status to date – and the prospects for further development – of traditional humanistic disciplines.

Społeczna percepcja energetyki jądrowej w perspektywie procesów transformacji energetycznej w Polsce

The article analyzes the attitude of the Polish society to nuclear energy as an important energy source in the future and emphasizes the social dimension of the processes, by relating them to the sociology of energy. The attitude to nuclear energy is presented in comparison to other conventional and non-renewable energy sources, such as coal, oil or gas as well as renewable energy sources (RES) obtained from the sun, air or water. The ways of thinking and fears of the Polish society towards nuclear energy are presented in relation to the processes of energy transformation in Poland. The author indicates the main assumptions of the energy transformation and presents social ideas about the future of the energy sector in Poland. In the empirical dimension, the article concerns the sphere of social awareness and uses the results of surveys conducted by the Public Opinion Research Center (CBOS) in the period from 1987 to 2021.

The Aspects of Sustainable Development in Mineral Resources Management

Mineral resources provide a high standard of living for modern societies: satisfying electricity demand as well as demand for construction materials and they sustain the basis for industry and technological development. Now, modern societies are facing the challenge ofreversing the trend of the depletion of non-renewable mineral resources and sustainable development is intended to ensure the survivalof human civilization in the face of dwindling non-renewable raw materials (especially energy resources) and also increasing anthropopression and related environmental pollution. The amount of non-renewable mineral resources of the Earth's crust is limited. Underspecific conditions there is a possibility of their regeneration however over a period of several if not more than a dozen generations. Thearticle raises questions how societies can prevent mineral resources crises in future and whether this task is feasible.The article identifies the main aspects of the sustainable development in mining sector in Poland as well as environmental challengesrelated to the new CSR mechanism which are: the creation and implementation of sustainable and responsible business model whichthanks to reformed financial and economic system, will make creating a better future easier, more natural and more cost-effective.The crucial aspects of sustainable development as economic and social conditions, environmental challenges, safety of agglomerationlocated in the area of exploitation of resources or in its neighborhood were also presented in the article. The author highlighted thelegal conditions for the management of deposits and extracted mineral resources as well as work safety and research and developmentactivities in the sector.

The financial condition of selected enterprises from the Świętokrzyskie voivodeship during the COVID-19 pandemic – A survey analysis

Purpose of the study: This article aims to assess the financial condition of selected enterprises from the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: The article presents the results of proprietary surveys on the usefulness of the economic entities' cost accounting system to manage their costs in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. These studies were carried out using the Computer-Assisted Web Interview method. Economic entities from the Świętokrzyskie voivodship with an entry in the National Court Register were invited to the survey via email. They were commercial law companies, mainly limited liability companies, joint-stock companies, etc. Main Findings: The main conclusion from the conducted research is the statement that the difficult economic situation of the market sector in Poland does not always translate into the financial condition of enterprises. The common opinion about the financial problems of Polish companies caused by the COVID-19 pandemic turns out to be wrong. The examined economic entities do not struggle with the issue of losing financial liquidity at all. On the contrary, over 40% of them indicated an improvement in the financial result in 2020 compared to 2019. Applications of this study: The results of the conducted research confirm that the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland did not significantly worsen the financial situation of the surveyed business entities; on the contrary, the vast majority of them do not and have had no problems with maintaining financial liquidity. The originality of this study: The analysis of the literature on the subject showed that there is no data on the assessment of the financial condition of enterprises in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, taking into account at the same time the organizational and legal form of the studied entity and the area of ​​its operation.

Mining in Poland in Light of Energy Transition: Case Study of Changes Based on the Knowledge Economy

Implementing climate policy goals, such as achieving climate neutrality by 2050, requires significant transformation of the mining sector—which for some countries and regions where mining is still the basis of the economy and part of the identity is very difficult and results in significant social and economic costs. Focusing on regional aspects and characteristics of the mining sector in Poland and its impact on energy security, the paper provides insight into the noticeable process of mining modernization in the globalized world economy through its transition from the industrial era to a knowledge-based economy and the impact of these changes on regional development. The described process is directly related to implementation of innovative and new technical concepts and technological solutions for the mining industry. The indicated changes imply the need to redefine operating principles and organizational models in the mining industry in order to build responsive solutions based on innovations—shaping modern (intelligent) mining of the future—while at the same time being part of the transformation of (post-)mining regions into a multi-industry region. All the described elements are proposed as supporting elements of the transformation process—to ensure full use of the technological and infrastructural potential during the energy transition process.

The Health Impact and External Cost of Electricity Production

The use of fossil fuels, which still dominate global primary energy consumption, results not only in emissions of greenhouse gas but also in emissions of pollutants such as SO2, NOx, and PM. Damage caused by air pollution can be expressed in monetary terms in the form of external costs to society. The goal of this paper is to answer the following questions: How much will the energy sector’s emissions change as a result of decarbonization? What is the estimated level of external costs related to human health in future energy scenarios? How large are the estimated external costs compared to the planned investments in this sector? The study conducted for the period 2018–2050 used the impact pathway approach and covered the centralized power and heat generation sector in Poland. The reported values of the concentration–response functions that relate human exposure to air pollution with health impact were reviewed. The results show that external costs decrease from an estimated annual level in the range of EUR 782–1911 million in 2018 to EUR 36–876 million in 2050. The cumulative value of avoided external costs between 2018 and 2050 is significantly lower than the planned capital expenditures in the energy sector in Poland.

Process Maturity Assessment in the SME Sector in Poland

Process Maturity Assessment in the SME Sector in Poland

Situation of the R&D Sector in Poland in the Face of the Current Crisis

Abstract How has the current crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic affected R&D and innovation in Poland? Numerous international studies conducted after the Great Depression in 2008–2010 show a strong procyclicality of investments in R&D and innovation in companies: investments rise during the economic upturn and fall sharply during the crisis. This procyclicality is driven within firms both by internal financial resources and by differences in market incentives to innovate. It seems likely that the COVID-19 crisis caused financial weakness for many actors, having the most significant impact on the willingness or ability of smaller firms to support R&D and innovation. However, where firms are able to sustain these investments, evidence from the crisis a decade ago suggests that they will be more likely to survive, grow more strongly, and have higher profitability. Based on the analysis of the literature and macroeconomic data, this paper presents several recommendations that, if implemented by R&D actors, could help increase the efficiency of operations, even in times of crisis.

No Chance of Success. State Agrarian Real Estate 1946–1949. A Contribution to the Research on the History of the State Agricultural Sector in Poland

Abstract The years of activity of the PNZ (Państwowe Nieruchomości Ziemskie – State Agrarian Real Estate) fell into the period of post-war agricultural reconstruction and management of Recovered Territories. Initially, their main task was to prepare for the parceling out of large landed estates, which was important for the settlement campaign. The target task was to run specialized farms that would supply the entire agriculture with seed and breeding material. After the escape of S. Mikołajczyk, the communists changed the priorities of PNZ activity, which from then on were to deal with large-scale production, and above all, manage about 1,200 hectares of agricultural land. The vast majority of the area used by PNZ was located in the western and northern regions of the country. The best conditions existed in those areas for establishing a state sector in agriculture. In spite of many achievements, PNZ was liquidated because the communists wanted to get rid of the prewar staff of specialists, mostly landowners, from the enterprise. This decision was political in nature. State farms were then created to replace PNZ.

Effects of COVID-19 Infection Control Measures on the Festival and Event Sector in Poland and Norway

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a strong impact on the functioning of the event industry. This article aims to present the impact of infection control measures on the event sector. In addition, the article compares the infection control measures implemented in Poland and Norway. The COVID-19 infection measures analysis is the first stage of a project to build the resilience of the event sector. The study was conducted based on secondary data (analysis of documents and public statistics, with the support of the literature). The research used the descriptive method and comparisons. The results of the study confirmed the following research hypotheses according to which: (1) uncertainty is conducive to overreactions, both of the government and entities from the event sector; (2) mutual trust between government and society reduces the need for restrictions; and (3) the lack of mutual trust between government and society increases uncertainty. Furthermore, the inability to meet people, limited access to culture, and the need to work from home contributed to the deterioration of societies’ quality of life and mental health. This means that the pandemic has an adverse impact on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3 and 8).

Upgrading Biogas from Small Agricultural Sources into Biomethane by Membrane Separation

The agriculture sector in Poland could provide 7.8 billion m3 of biogas per year, but this potential would be from dispersed plants of a low capacity. In the current study, a membrane process was investigated for the upgrading biogas to biomethane that conforms to the requirements for grid gas in Poland. It was assumed that such a process is based on membranes made from modified polysulfone or polyimide, available in the market in Air Products PRISM PA1020 and UBE UMS-A5 modules, respectively. The case study has served an agricultural biogas plant in southern Poland, which provides the stream of 5 m3 (STP) h−1 of biogas with a composition of CH4 (52 vol.%), CO2 (46.3 vol.%), N2 (1.6 vol.%) and O2 (0.1 vol.%), after a pretreatment. It was theoretically shown that this is possible to obtain the biomethane stream of at least 96 vol.% of CH4 purity, with the concentration of the other biogas components below their respective thresholds, as required in Poland for gas fuel “E”, with methane recovery of up to 87.5% and 71.6% for polyimide and polysulfone membranes, respectively. The energetic efficiency of the separation process is comparable for both membrane materials, as expressed by power excess index, which reaches up to 51.3 kWth kWel−1 (polyimide) and 40.7 kWth kWel−1 (polysulfone). In turn, the membrane productivity was significantly higher in the case of the polyimide membrane (up to 38.3 kWth m−2) than those based on the polysulfone one (up to 3.13 kWth m−2).

The Role of Social Media in the Enterprise’s Communication with Its Stakeholders

The aim of the article is to present the role of social media in the process of communication between the company and its stakeholders, with the use of new tools. ICT tools enable rich and unlimited communication of each organization with each stakeholder. From the point of view of enterprises, this leads to a dramatic reduction in transaction costs, an increase in the effectiveness of managing contacts with interest groups, as well as spatial development and range of operations. In order to minimize marketing and promotional costs, enterprises look for all possible communication tools to reach the largest group of recipients of their message. A prime example is the phenomenon of social media, or internet “creations” that allow users to create and exchange user-generated content in order to create “crowd wisdom” used by businesses. The considerations contained in the article are an element of research on the role of social media in communicating with its stakeholders. The article is both in theoretical and practical knowledge. The subjects of the research are medium and large enterprises from the high technology service sector in Poland.

Bank Guarantee Fund – a new public finance sector entity

This paper is devoted to a change in a catalogue of entities of a public finance sector in Poland. The change was made by adding a new body – the Bank Guarantee Fund. The author indicates which entities belong to the public finance sector in Poland and what is a ratio legis of including the Bank Guarantee Fund in it. The paper also indicates the legal status and tasks of the Bank Guarantee Fund.

Towards Climate Neutrality in Poland by 2050: Assessment of Policy Implications in the Farm Sector

Climate neutrality achievement in the European Union assumes the necessity of efforts and transformations in most economic sectors of its member-states. The farm sector in Poland, being the second largest contributor to the country’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and in the top fifth of farm sectors in the EU-27 countries, needs to undergo structural and technological transformations to contribute to the climate action goals. The article assesses the potential impacts of Poland’s climate neutrality achievement path on the domestic farm sector in terms of its structure, output, income, and prices of agricultural products. The approach is based on complex economic modelling combining computable general equilibrium (CGE) and optimisation modelling, with the farm sector model consisting of farm, structural, and market modules. While the modelling results cover three GHG emission-reduction scenarios up to 2050, to understand the transformation impact within varying policy approaches, the study for each scenario of farm sector development also outlines three policy options: carbon pricing, forced emission limit, and carbon subsidies. Results in all scenarios and policy options indicate a strong foreseeable impact on agricultural output and prices (mainly livestock production), shifts in the production structure toward crops, as well as changes in farm income along the analysed timeframe.

The Impact of Corporate Governance on the Capital Structure of Companies from the Energy Industry. The Case of Poland

The energy sector is expected to face fundamental challenges in the near future. On the one hand, it is experiencing a rapidly increasing demand for energy. At the same time, it is subject to the pressure of the climate policy due to environmental issues. For the same reason, the energy sector is forced to undertake costly investments to transform production from black to green energy. The issue of financing has become one of the key problems of the energy sector, especially in those countries in which energy production traditionally is based on fossil fuels, i.e., coal. The paper aims to investigate the impact of corporate governance on the capital structure of companies from the energy industry. We use three proxies of corporate governance quality: institutional investors, the board size, and state ownership and investigate their impact on capital structure. Our findings suggest that the latter two negatively impact debt levels. In our model, we control for financial factors and CEO personal characteristics. We use a Polish setting since transformational problems of the energy sector in Poland are especially visible. At the same time, energy companies in Poland are subject to the strict EU climate policy.

Globalne banki systemowo istotne i ich znaczenie dla polskiego sektora finansowego

The purpose of the article: The aim of this paper is to demonstrate relevance of global systemically important banks (G-SIBs) in the context of Polish financial sector. This aspect is often overlooked, as there are no G-SIBs based in Poland. Methodology: Abovementioned aim is fulfilled by aims of providing an overview of the international characteristics and regulation of G-SIBs, describing the interrelations between these entities and institutions operating in the Polish market, and by showing how these connections can change the financial sector in Poland both directly and indirectly. The analysis is based on international standards on G-SIBs published by the Financial Stability Board and the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, as well as on EU legal acts implementing these documents. Additional sources on the „indirect” functioning of G-SIBs in Poland encompass annual reports of the entities linked to them, management reports on their activities, as well as articles and Internet data. Results of the research: G-SIBs influence Polish financial sector in several different ways. First, G-SIB-oriented regulation and supervision has an impact on Polish entities that are linked to them. Second, even indirect presence of G-SIBs is economically significant.

Responsible Lending Policy of Green Investments in the Energy Sector in Poland

The paper concerns the issue of responsible involvement of commercial banks in Poland in green financing of the energy sector. The main reason for undertaking this topic is the observed increased interest of domestic banks in green financing of investments on the energy market in Poland. Therefore, the main objective are to explore the determinants of changes in the level and structure of bank loans under the influence of green investments in the energy sector in Poland. The article verifies the research hypothesis which assumes that an increase in financing green investments by bank loans in the energy market in Poland requires strengthening the synergy of responsible financing of sustainable development of the economy. For this purpose, a two-stage concept of the empirical research was adopted. On the first stage, questionnaire surveys were conducted among the largest Polish commercial banks to examine the respondents’ acceptance degree of the concept of sustainable financing and greening the loan portfolio. On the second stage, case studies were analyzed along with the analysis of selected secondary quantitative data. It was proven that commercial banks in Poland increase their commitment to sustainable financing, which is observed in the sectorally progressing process of “greening” the credit offer. There is also a noticeable change in their approach to social responsibility, especially in the context of the energy market, where financing of traditional, ecologically harmful projects is still dominant. However, this trend is slowly being reversed, towards supporting investments in the area of modern, environmentally-friendly energy solutions. However, “greening” of loan portfolios in the native banking sector requires a responsible lending policy based on various complex business decisions. Increasing their pro-ecological awareness of financing the economy is only a prerequisite, albeit inadequate, of further energy transformation in Poland.

The North-South Gas Corridor in the Context of Poland’s Gas Transmission System—A Perfect Opportunity to Diversify Gas Resources

The energy sector in Poland is currently calling for dynamic redevelopment and cleaner energy. This country is world famous for its high level of coal production, from which it does not want to retreat in the next two decades. For this reason, it is safer to gradually reduce the use of coal while increasing the consumption of gas and simultaneously developing green energy. However, the Polish gas sector is still dependent on Russian gas supplied through the Yamal gas pipeline. Taking into consideration Polish geopolitics, this state of affairs poses a huge challenge and a threat to Poland’s energy security. That is why the concept of the North-South Gas Corridor was introduced. It is intended to be a network of gas pipelines that connect the countries of Central and South Europe to two gas terminals (in Poland and Croatia), which will supply gas from a chosen source. This article presents the current condition of the gas sector in Poland. It focuses on the North-South Gas Corridor project and its impact on the energy security of Poland. An analysis of documents and field research shows that the North-South Gas Corridor provides Poland with an opportunity to diversify the sources and directions of gas supply over the next few years.