The purpose of the paper is to analyse the relationship between innovation cooperation with domestic and foreign science-based partners (research and scientific institutions), and the innovation efficiency of Polish firms, as well as the role that firms’ size and absorptive capacity play in this relationship. The analysis covered 7,783 large and medium-sized manufacturing firms (CIS survey PNT-02). 2,795 of them declared the introduction of process and/or product innovation in the years 2008–2010, and among them 745 showed cooperation with institutional partners. The results of the structural model (SEM) indicate that both the absorptive capacity and size are important determinants of cooperation with those partners. The study revealed a statistically significant relationship between innovation cooperation and innovation efficiency, measured as the percentage of sales of innovative products in total sales.

The purpose of the paper is to analyse the relationship between innovation cooperation with domestic and foreign science-based partners (research and scientific institutions), and the innovation efficiency of Polish firms, as well as the role that firms’ size and absorptive capacity play in this relationship. The analysis covered 7,783 large and medium-sized manufacturing firms (CIS survey PNT-02). 2,795 of them declared the introduction of process and/or product innovation in the years 2008–2010, and among them 745 showed cooperation with institutional partners. The results of the structural model (SEM) indicate that both the absorptive capacity and size are important determinants of cooperation with those partners. The study revealed a statistically significant relationship between innovation cooperation and innovation efficiency, measured as the percentage of sales of innovative products in total sales.