Human Capital and Creativity in the Processes of Developing Innovative Projects in the Economy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15611/e21.2026.08Keywords:
project, creativity, human capital, innovationAbstract
Aim: The aim of this article is to present the role of creativity and human capital as key determinants in the process of developing innovative projects. In particular, it seeks to show how knowledge, competencies, experience, and the ability to think creatively influence the identification of new development opportunities, the design of novel solutions, and the effective implementation of innovation-oriented projects.
Methodology: The study applies the method of critical analysis of the subject literature, covering achievements in the fields of economics, management, innovation, project management, as well as the theory of human capital and creativity.
Results: Human capital and creativity play a crucial role in the processes of developing innovative projects in the contemporary economy. Their importance increases especially under conditions of growing market competition, which necessitates the continuous introduction of new products and services, as well as in the face of rising customer expectations for increasingly individualized and tailored solutions.
Implications and recommendations: Organizations should not only respond more quickly to changes in the environment, but also make more effective use of the knowledge, competencies, and creative potential of their employees.
Originality/value: The originality of the article lies in the interdisciplinary combination of the perspectives of human capital, creativity, and project management in the analysis of innovative project development processes, as well as in referring to co-financing from European funds, which takes the form of projects.
Downloads
References
Ali Ababneh, O. M. (2025). How Can Human Capital Promote Innovative Behaviour? Exploring the Attitudinal Dynamics of Employee Engagement and Mental Involvement. The International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 26(2), 108-122. https://doi.org/10.1177/14657503221123
Auerbach, P. i Green, F. (2025). Reformulating the Critique of Human Capital Theory. Journal of Economic Surveys, 39(5), https://doi.org/10.1111/joes.12675
Badwy, H. E., Qalati, S. A. i El-Bardan, M. F. (2026). Revolutionizing Sustainable Success: Unveiling the Power of Green Human Resource Management, Green Innovation and Green Human Capital. Benchmarking: An International Journal, 33(3), 907-931. https://doi.org/10.1108/BIJ-10-2023-0766
Barro, R. J. (1998). Determinants of Economic Growth: A Cross-Country Empirical Study. The MIT Press. https://ideas.repec.org/b/mtp/titles/0262522543.html
Barro, R. J. i Sala-i-Martin, X. (2003). Economic Growth (wydanie 2). The MIT Press. https://ideas.repec.org/b/mtp/titles/0262025531.html
Becker, G. S. (1964). Human Capital: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis, with Special Reference to Education. University of Chicago Press.
Brainard, L. (2026). What is Creativity? The Philosophical Quarterly, 76(1), 51-73. https://doi.org/10.1093/pq/pqae075
Chesbrough, H. (2003). Open Innovation: The New Imperative for Creating and Profiting from Technology. Harvard Business School Press.
Chesbrough, H. i Crowther, A. K. (2006). Beyond High Tech: Early Adopters of Open Innovation in Other Industries. R&D Management, 36(3), 229-236. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9310.2006.00428.x
Christensen, C. M. i Raynor, M. E. (2008). Innowacje. Napęd wzrostu. Wydawnictwo Studio EMKA.
Darmawan, D. (2025). Human Capital Development in Knowledge-Based Organization and Continuous Learning. International Journal of Service Science, Management, Engineering, and Technology, 7(1), 1-6.
De Barros, R., Resende, L. M. i Pontes, J. (2025). Exploring Creativity and Innovation in Organizational Contexts: A Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis of Key Models and Emerging Opportunities. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 11(2), 100526. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joitmc.2025.100526
Demircioglu, M. A., Audretsch, D. B. i Link, A. N. (2025). Innovation in Public Organizations: The Role of Human Capital. Public Management Review, 27(12), 2908-2933. https://doi.org/10.1080/14719037.2024.2381073
Dołęgowski, T. (2002). Konkurencyjność instytucjonalna i systemowa w warunkach gospodarki globalnej: Implikacje dla sektora usług. Monografie i Opracowania / Szkoła Główna Handlowa, (505).
European Commission. (b.d.). The European Pillar of Social Rights in 20 Principles. Pobrano 27 sierpnia 2026 z https://employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies-and-activities/european-pillar-social-rights-building-fairer-and-more-inclusive-european-union/european-pillar-social-rights-20-principles_en
European Commission. (2025). Union of Skills. Pobrano 27 sierpnia 2026 z https://commission.europa.eu/topics/competitiveness/union-skills_en
European Commission. (2026). Panorama: Stories from Regional and Urban Policy. Place-Based, Future-Focused: Cohesion Driving Innovation. Directorate-General for EU Regional and Urban Policy. Pobrano 27 sierpnia 2026 z https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/whats-new/panorama/2026/02/11-02-2026-innovation-that-works-for-people-and-places-cohesion-policy-rtdi_en
Evers, G. i Østergaard, C. R. (2026). Graduate Hiring as a Human Capital Outcome of University-Industry Innovation Collaboration. Industry and Innovation, 33(2), 209-233. https://doi.org/10.1080/13662716.2025.2482040
Gassmann, O., Enkel, E. i Chesbrough, H. (2010). The Future of Open Innovation. R&D Management, 40(3), 213-221. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9310.2010.00605.x
Gitling, M. (2024). Kapitał ludzki w organizacji a rozwój nowoczesnych technologii. Polityka i Społeczeństwo, 22(3), 84-97. https://doi.org/10.15584/polispol.2024.3.6
Gomułka, S. (1998). Teoria innowacji i wzrostu gospodarczego. CASE – Centrum Analiz Społeczno-Ekonomicznych.
Haefele, J. W. (1962). Creativity and Innovation. Reinhold Publishing Corporation.
Hamad, F. i Al-Harrasi, N. H. (2026). Efficacy of Activity-Based Learning in Improving Students’ Soft Skills, Creativity and Innovation – Information Studies Students’ Perception. Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-07-2024-0431
Hanushek, E. A., Woessmann, L. i Zhang, L. (2011). General Education, Vocational Education, and Labor-Market Outcomes over the Life-Cycle. NBER Working Paper. https://doi.org/10.3386/w17504
Herbst, M. (2015). Regionalne stopy zwrotu z inwestycji w edukację w kontekście migracji międzyregionalnych. Studia Regionalne i Lokalne, (1), 5-22.
Hrabovska, I. (2025). Innowacje organizacyjno-zarządcze jako konieczny warunek efektywnego zarządzania biznesem w oparciu o kreatywność. W: P. Jarosh, L. Cherchyk i W. Włoch (red.), Managerial Practices and Challenges in Various Economic Sectors. Wyższa Szkoła Społeczno-Gospodarcza w Przeworsku. Pobrano 27 sierpnia 2026 z https://www.wssgprzeworsk.edu.pl/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Monograf-2025-WSSG-poprawiona-15.05.25-r.pdf
Huang, L., Sun, Y., Zhang, C., Shao, Y., Yuan, Y. i Shen, W. (2026). Navigating the Paradox of Creativity: Pathways to Fostering Talent and Innovation. Behavioral Sciences, 16(1), 129. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16010129
Isabirye, A. K., Moloi, K. C., Lebelo, R. S. i Khan, S. (2025). Cultivating Creativity and Innovation in the School Curriculum for the 21st Century: Opportunities and Challenges. Journal of Ecohumanism, 4(3), 334-348. https://doi.org/10.62754/joe.v4i3.6647
Iwanowicz-Pałka, A. (2024). Kapitał ludzki Polski na tle państw Unii Europejskiej. Przedsiębiorczość – Edukacja, 20(1), 11-27. https://doi.org/10.24917/20833296.201.1
Kask, J. i Linton, G. (2025). Navigating the Innovation Process: Challenges Faced by Deep-Tech Startups. W: P. Aaltonen i E. Kurvinen (red.), Contemporary Issues in Industry 5.0: Towards an AI Integrated Society (s. 197-219). Springer.
KEA European Affairs. (2006). The Economy of Culture in Europe. Culture Action Europe. Pobrano 27 sierpnia 2026 z https://cultureactioneurope.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/1.-the-economy-of-culture-in-Europe.pdf
Klich, J. (2012). Koncepcja open innovation i perspektywy jej wykorzystania przez polskie szkoły wyższe. Ekonomiczne Problemy Usług, (93), 43-67.
Kline, S. J. i Rosenberg, N. (1986). An Overview of Innovation. W: R. Landau i N. Rosenberg (red.), The Positive Sum Strategy: Harnessing Technology for Economic Growth (s. 275-305). National Academy Press.
Kompanets, K., Ilchenko, V., Spitsyna, A., Petrovska, S., Ovchar, D., Horodetskyy, M. i Reznik, N. (2026). Innovation Models for Management of Human Capital in Conditions of Instability. W: R. El Khoury (red.), Business Models of the Future: How AI and Advanced Digital Transformation Are Reshaping Industries (s. 807-822). Springer.
Kubielas, S. (2009). Innowacje i luka technologiczna w gospodarce globalnej opartej na wiedzy. Strukturalne i makroekonomiczne uwarunkowania. Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego.
Marcisz, J. (2025). Wybrane metodyki zarządzania projektami we współczesnej organizacji. Studia Ekonomiczne. Gospodarka, Społeczeństwo, Środowisko, 15(1), 27-40.
Marrone, R., Cropley, D. i Medeiros, K. (2026). How Does Narrow AI Impact Human Creativity? Creativity Research Journal, 38(1), 150-160. https://doi.org/10.1080/10400419.2024.2378264
Mincer, J. (1958). Investment in Human Capital and Personal Income Distribution. Journal of Political Economy, 66(4), 281- -302. https://doi.org/10.1086/258055
Misztal, J. (2025). Lider 2.0. Jak cyfrowa transformacja i innowacje kształtują nową erę zarządzania projektami. Management i Quality/Zarządzanie i Jakość, 7(3). https://zij.edu.pl/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025_3_13.pdf
Niedzielski, P. i Rychlik, K. (2006). Innowacje i kreatywność. Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu Szczecińskiego.
OECD. (2012). Better Skills, Better Jobs, Better Lives: A Strategic Approach to Skills Policies. OECD Publishing.
OECD. (2015). Building Human Capital Across Borders. OECD Publishing, Asian Development Bank Institute, International Labour Office.
Psacharopoulos, G. i Patrinos, H. A. (2004). Returns to Investment in Education: A Further Update. Education Economics, 12(2), 111-134. https://doi.org/10.1080/0964529042000239140
Raj, M. W. Z. (2025). The Role of Data Science in Optimizing Project Efficiency and Innovation in U.S. Enterprises. International Journal of Business and Economics Insights, 5(3), 586-600. https://doi.org/10.63125/jzjkqm27
Rothwell, R. (1992). Successful Industrial Innovation: Critical Factors for the 1990s. R&D Management, 22(3), 221-240. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9310.1992.tb00812.x
Schultz, T. W. (1961). Investment in Human Capital. The American Economic Review, 51(1), 1-17. https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/1818907.pdf
Schumpeter, J. (1960). Teoria rozwoju gospodarczego. Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe.
Schumpeter, J. (2009). Kapitalizm, socjalizm, demokracja. Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN.
Shah, S. M. A., Ahmed, N., Haq, A. U. i Saba, S. (2025). Leadership for Innovation: Fostering the Culture of Creativity in Organization: A Systematic Literature Review. Journal of Asian Development Studies, 14(2), 945-957. https://doi.org/10.62345/jads.2025.14.2.72
Shao, H., Jin, Q., Guo, Y., Zhou, F., Wider, W. i Lu, L. (2025). The Relationship between the Structure of Firms’ Human Capital and Corporate Innovation Performance. PloS One, 20(4), e0321388. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0321388
Shatila, K., Aranega, A. Y., Soga, L. R. i Hernández-Lara, A. B. (2025). Digital Literacy, Digital Accessibility, Human Capital, and Entrepreneurial Resilience: A Case for Dynamic Business Ecosystems. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 10(3), 100709. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jik.2025.100709
Smith, A. (2013). Badania nad naturą i przyczynami bogactwa narodów (t. 2). Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN.
Swałdek, T. (2022). Zarządzanie projektami w startupach – przegląd literatury. Przegląd Organizacji, (6), 19-29. https://przegladorganizacji.pl/artykul/2022/10.33141po.2022.06.03
Trott, P. (2008). Innovation Management and New Product Development (wydanie 4.) Prentice Hall.
Walia, C. (2019). A Dynamic Definition of Creativity. Creativity Research Journal, 31(3), 237-247. https://doi.org/10.1080/10400419.2019.1641787
World Bank. (2011). Learning for All. Investing in People’s Knowledge and Skills to Promote Development – World Bank Group Education Strategy 2020: Executive Summary (English).
Wößmann, L. (2008). Efficiency and Equity of European Education and Training Policies. International Tax and Public Finance, 15(2), 199-230. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10797-008-9064-1
Wysocki, R. K. (2018). Efektywne zarządzanie projektami (wydanie 7). Helion.
