Typification of Polish regions based on human capital and innovativeness: a cluster analysis approach

Purpose This study aims to classify Polish regions using measurable indicators of human capital and innovativeness to assess regional disparities and development dynamics. It explores whether Polish regional development trends indicate integration or polarization and how variations in human capital relate to innovation and socioeconomic outcomes, especially after COVID-19, which has redefined regional development dynamics in Poland. Design/methodology/approach Hierarchical (Ward’s method) and nonhierarchical (k-means) clustering techniques were applied to regional-level data from 2009 to 2023 sourced from Statistics Poland and Eurostat. Eleven human capital indicators and six innovation indicators were selected. Standardization and Euclidean distance were used for robust comparability. Findings The analysis reveals significant regional disparities in human capital and innovation, with Mazowieckie voivodeship consistently ranking as the leader due to its capital city advantage. Regions featuring strong urban centers (e.g. Malopolskie and Pomorskie) exhibit higher levels of human capital and innovation, whereas eastern regions (e.g. Podlaskie and Lubelskie) remain in lower-performing clusters. The study confirms the polarization effect, where more developed regions attract greater human capital, thereby exacerbating inequalities. Research limitations/implications The study is limited by indicator availability and does not include qualitative factors such as governance quality or informal networks. Future research should incorporate sectoral and spatial dimensions and expand to a European comparative context. Practical implications The findings highlight the need for targeted regional policies aimed at reducing development disparities. Policymakers should consider smart specialization strategies, innovation hubs and talent retention programs to support weaker regions, and intensifying university-business cooperation and building multistakeholder partnerships and innovation clusters. Originality/value This study updates and deepens the typology of Polish regions by integrating both human capital and innovation dimensions over a longitudinal timespan.