Innovation conditions of enterprises in Slovakia and its state and regional public support

Abstract

According to the OECD, innovation is thriving in a skilled workforce, in an environment that is adaptable to technological and structural changes, in an entrepreneurial environment conducive to investing in knowledge-based capital, in an environment of strong and efficient knowledge creation and diffusion, with policy support (pro-innovation, entrepreneurship), which is mostly the sphere of public sector activity. In our contribution, we are discussing innovation as a public good and the need for public support of innovation. We summarize the views of economic theory on the need to support innovation (based on theories of market failures, institutional failures and system failures). We evaluate strategies for supporting innovation activities of enterprises from state and regions and their instruments. In analytical part we present the results of the survey on innovating activities of Slovak enterprises and on conditions for their implementation. Finally, we will try to suggest possible ways to improve the current state and forms of public support of enterprise innovating activities.