FACTORS DETERMINING INNOVATION ACTIVITIES IN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES – THE CASE OF SLOVAKIA
FACTORS DETERMINING INNOVATION ACTIVITIES IN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES – THE CASE OF SLOVAKIA

Summary/Abstract: To strenghten innovation activities is one of the main task of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) nowadays. It´s one of the 4 priorities formulated in the strategy of building knowledged based economy in our country. The aim of the article is to give the integrated view on the problems of developing innovation activities in SMEs sector in Slovakia. The article is divided into three parts. In the first part attention is given to the building of innovative business environment in Slovakia. Favourable innovative business environment is crutial to develop innovation activities in small and medium enterprises. Analysed are three most important frameworks determining the innovative environment: innovation policy framework, macroeconomy framework and institutional framework. In second part of article is analysed and evaluated situation in innovation activities conducted by small and medium enterprises in Slovakia, identified are main barriers to develop innovation activities and formulated are some recommendations how to overcome these barriers. In the last part of article is presented the importance of innovativeness, which is viewed as one of the prerequisites for successful innovation activity in small and medium enterprises.

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