STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF 2022 RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN THE KUYAVIAN-POMERANIAN VOIVODESHIP

Purpose: The purpose of the article is to analyze the state of 2022 research and development (R&D) activity in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian region, taking the structure of outlays, the sources of funding as well as the involvement of individual sectors and human capital into account. The study aims to assess the region's current standing, with reference to previous years, outlining its position relative to the entire country as well as identifying its R&D activity strengths and weaknesses. Design/methodology/approach: The study's objectives have been achieved through the use of descriptive statistics methods, including structure analysis of location and dynamics measures. The focus was mainly on research and development (R&D) expenditure and personnel data for the Kuyavian-Pomeranian region. The data published by Poland's Central Statistical Office and the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland were used. Findings: The analysis showed that R&D activity in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian region is characterized by increasing outlays, particularly in the business sector playing a dominant role both in terms of carrying out and financing R&D activities. Significant differences have been identified in the level of funding across individual fields of science, with the predominance of engineering and technical sciences accounting for over half of all outlays. The region, nevertheless, remains below the national average in terms of total R&D expenditures and the number of R&D personnel. What is more, the voivodeship has been noted to excel in its interdisciplinary approach to R&D activities, covering a broad spectrum of scientific fields, which presents an important advantage. High consumption of research equipment, however, as well as insufficient investment in such key areas as agricultural sciences and shortage of patent applications pose challenges to further innovation development in the region. Originality/value: The article uniquely integrates statistical analysis with qualitative assessment, showing the dynamics and structure of R&D expenditures in the Kuyavian Pomeranian region, within the context of its interdisciplinarity and innovation potential. One interesting solution consists in the synthetic presentation of changes in the voivodeship data on R&D workforce in 2016-2022, using positional measures of location, with reference to the Kuyavian-Pomeranian voivodeship data in this context.