Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, Minister of Funds and Regional Policy, powerfully criticized the fresh message by Sławomir Mentzen, leader of the Confederation, on investing in innovation. The Minister stated that the celebrated “Mentzen Friday” is now joined by the point “we do not want innovation”, thus creating the “Mentzen Six”. This fresh installment of political demands has sparked a stormy discussion in the Polish economical and political environment, calling into question the direction of the country's development. The debate, which started during the gathering “Beer with Mentzen” with the participation of erstwhile Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, is of crucial importance for the future of Poland, especially in the context of European funds and global competitiveness. The consequences of a possible departure from investment in innovation can be far-reaching, affecting citizens' standard of surviving and their economical position.
"The Six Mentzen": A fresh Dimension of Controversy
Sławomir Mentzen's message that "it is not worth investing in innovation" has become another political storm. Minister Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, referring to the loud 2019 “Mentzen Friday” with the postulates “We don’t want Jews, homosexuals, abortions, taxes and the European Union”, announced its extension to “six”. Adding a point of aversion to innovation is interpreted as potential threat to Poland's modernisation and economical development. The Minister of Funds and Regional Policy commented on this on Friday morning, stressing that specified an approach to innovation can consolidate in Poland the "model of the serf farm", where the wealth of nobility depends on minimising the income of peasants.
Investment in innovation: hazard or necessity?
The discussion on innovation started during the “Beer with Mentzen” meeting, where the Confederate leader debated with erstwhile Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. Morawiecki recalled that in 2015 R & D (R & D) was issued PLN 18 billion, which has contributed to "increased added value by promoting innovation". Mentzen reposted, claiming that "innovation is simply a risk" and "that's what money is usually lost on". According to him, states and companies should invest in innovation only “when they have no another choice”. In his opinion, lower labour costs represent a adequate competitive advantage. Nevertheless, the leader of the Confederation admitted that "if you look at the list of countries that spend the most on innovation and on the list of countries that are the richest, they are precisely the same countries", although he explained it with coercion alternatively than a strategical decision. Morawiecki described these words as unbelievable.
Medium income trap and expert warnings
The issue of innovation is closely linked to the concept of "average income trap", a situation where developing countries accomplish a certain level of prosperity, but are incapable to decision to the high-developed countries, frequently due to a deficiency of investment in advanced technologies and innovative solutions. Sławomir Mentzen firmly stated that the “average income trap does not exist”, which is contrary to the prevailing economical theories and experiences of many states. Minister Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, by means of his analogy to the "sanding farm", clearly points to the hazard of Poland becoming a country based on inexpensive labour, alternatively of striving for a knowledge-based economy and innovation. This informing has applicable implications for all Pole, from an worker to an entrepreneur.
Practical consequences for Poland and EU funds
The debate on innovation is of large importance for the future of Poland, especially in the 2025 and subsequent years. The European Union places large emphasis on innovative development, with crucial resources from structural funds and investigation programmes. Rejection of innovation as a precedence could consequence in failure of access to billions of euroswhich could support Polish companies, universities and investigation institutions. deficiency of investment in fresh technologies and solutions will weaken the competitiveness of the Polish economy in the global market, make it hard to make high-paid jobs and slow economical growth. In the long term, specified an approach could lead to stagnation and deepening of the distance to the most developed countries in Europe, affecting the standard of surviving of citizens.
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Minister Pełczyńska-Nałęcz beats the alarm. Polish economy can say goodbye to innovation and development
