The analysis presented in the following paper has been carried out for 234 trade partners of Poland in the period 1999–2013. We have selected the largest available dataset to obtain the most precise estimates possible. The technology gap has been measured by TFP and relative patentingperformance controlling for quality of institutions as well as technology and innovation indices of the Global Competitiveness Report. To obtain unbiased results, we utilize semi-mixed effects model using the Poisson pseudo-maximum likelihood (PPML) estimator. The gravity framework proves to be robust. The coefficients on technology gap indicators differ significantly between different groups of trade partners by the level of income and the level of technological sophistication. The role of the technology gap is evident and supports the principal theoretical postulates.
