Vol. 14 No. 3 (2026)
September 2026

Articles

The impact of enterprises’ internationalisation on their innovation activity

Published 2026-09-30

  • Marcin Salamaga

Marcin Salamaga
Krakow University of Economics

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the article is to verify the impact of internationalisation processes on the innovativeness of companies in the Małopolska and Silesian Voivodeships.

Research Design & Methods: In the study of the impact of different ways of internationalisation of companies on their innovation activity, I used structural equation modelling (SEM), which I estimated using the partial least squares method (PLS). I obtained data for the study from a survey conducted in 2024.

Findings: The greatest innovation activity is demonstrated by companies that expand into foreign markets through export. Companies oriented towards export or import are more prone to innovation than companies oriented towards foreign direct investment (FDI). The moderating variable representing market conditions significantly increased the strength of the influence of internationalisation through export on innovation, while in the case of companies oriented towards FDI there was no such strengthening.

Implications & Recommendations: The article indicates which paths of internationalisation of enterprises activate innovation activity to the greatest extent. Innovation advantage was most often gained by companies that engage in foreign trade, and especially undertake export activity. This information may be useful for managers planning expansion into foreign markets.

Contribution & Value Added: The article presents an original analysis of the impact of various internationalisation methods on enterprise innovation. What is new is the broad research perspective adopted, which considers various forms of internationalisation and types of innovation, allowing for the examination of multidirectional relationships between these categories. The use of SEM is also unique in this approach. The study was conducted on a sample of companies from Southern Poland, a region with a high density of technology parks and economic activity zones. The studied region can serve as a reference point for comparative analyses of other regions of Central and Eastern Europe with similar economic profiles.

Keywords

internationalisation, innovation, export, foreign direct investment, structural equation modelling, partial least squares

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Author Biography

Marcin Salamaga

Professor at the Department of Statistics at the Krakow University of Economics, Poland, and a member of the Section of Classification and Data Analysis of the Polish Statistical Society. He holds a PhD in economics and the title of professor in the scientific discipline of economics and finance. His research interests include the application of statistical methods in economic research.

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