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Positive, albeit slow changes can be observed in Poland in the area of eco-innovations. They do not immediately translate into a significant increase in the value of the eco-innovativeness index. Compared with 2011 Poland moved from the last place to the 25^th position. The increase occurred in the area of eco-innovation output.

Significant recent initiatives include:

• Publication of the document “Innovativeness and Efficiency of the Economy – Strategy for 2012-2020. Dynamic Poland” prepared by the Ministry of Economy. It draws attention to low environmental awareness and sees eco-innovations as a driver for increasing knowledge, competences and abilities.
• Agreement between the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management and the National Centre for Research and Development on the establishment of the programme GEKON – Environmental Concept Generator. It gathers various initiatives that support Polish research institutions and companies in developing environmentally-friendly technologies.
• Successful continuation of the programme Greenevo – Green Technologies Accelerator. This initiative of the Ministry of Environment supports Polish eco-innovators, mostly small and medium enterprises (SMEs) transferring their technologies all around the world. In 2011 alone, GreenEvo participants revenues increased by 31% on average, and their export revenues soared by 58%. What is more 86% of companies made a trade offer to foreign customers, and 50% of them have signed distribution agreements with foreign partners.
• Establishing a number of eco-innovation oriented clusters e.g. Silesian Cluster of Environmental Technologies, Baltic Eco-energy cluster and Clen Energy Cluster of Małopolska and Podkarpackie
• Participation of Poland in the Environmental Technologies Verification (ETV) Pilot Programme of the European Union – a scheme supporting market uptake of eco-innovative technologies. 

Despite these positive signals, development of eco-innovations in Poland is still hindered by a number of barriers. Eco-innovations still tend to be perceived as “end of pipe, environmental protection technologies” rather than a cross- cutting innovations. Transition to a low-carbon economy is perceived as a threat in companies and SMEs. Implementation of stringent environmental regulations is seen solely as a cost and not as an opportunity for building an innovative and competitive economy. Awareness on the benefits resulting from implementation of eco-innovative technologies among entrepreneurs and consumers in general is relatively low. Entrepreneurs tend to invest in cheapest technologies allowing them to achieve the commercial goal or meet the minimum legislative requirement. Many entrepreneurs and research organisation fail to see benefits from cooperation. Establishment of the National Centre for Research and Development and development of clusters should improve that situation.

In overall, Poland sill lacks an integrated support system for eco-innovations that would cover all institutions and subjects involved in the development of the green economy.