Eco-innovation and eco-innovation support: Summary of Existing situation analysis in South-East Slovenia region


 I. GENERAL REGIONAL INDICATORS AND DATA ON ECO-INNOVATION

Economy
Within the region economic development is dominant in Dolenjska - central part of the region (58% of companies, 66% employees, 59% of entrepreneurs) where the largest companies are located,
region has comparative to the other Slovenian regional relative good economic activity,
present are large internal differences in economic region activity,
predominant influence of large companies,
the deterioration of economic activity of small companies and entrepreneurs.

The region recorded in comparison with the average Slovenian company
  • above-average economic performance,
  • above-average productivity (revenue / employee),
  • above-average return on assets and capital,
  • greater economy,
  • average value added / employee,
  • is less well equipped with the means to work,
  • reduced labour costs,
  • has a high coverage of fixed assets to equity.

A special feature of the regional economy is large industrial companies sponsoring the economic and social development. These are export oriented and are responsible that the region is between the largest exporters among the Slovenian regions.

Although the region invests a lot in research and development (more than an average of Slovenia), the value of this fact is reduced because investments in of R & R activities are typical only in the small number of large companies.

II. PROBLEMS DEALING WITH (ECO)INNOVATION ISSUES ON REGIONAL LEVEL
  • Higher education in the region is at the beginning of the development path. Most research takes place in export-oriented enterprises. There are no major subjects of supportive environment.
  • In South East Slovenia are not established any strategic entities of supportive environment (apart of Javni sklad RS za regionalni razvoj in razvoj podeželja – Public Fund of Slovenia for Regional Development and Development of Countryside).
  • Missing are also some local secondary and primary types of supporting organizations, such as an well developed incubator and technology park, and the Society of innovators.
  • There are many barriers for the creation, management and growth of several enterprises (bureaucracy, low purchasing power, and lack of costly labour, poor infrastructure, limited access to financial resources, etc.).

 

 

 

 

 

III. OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEALING WITH (ECO)INNOVATION ISSUE ON REGIONAL LEVEL

·         The development of science and technology park and business incubator will support the gradual development of high-tech companies and the construction of appropriate business zones; this will contribute to greater added value and technological breakthrough (increased innovation) and the global competitiveness of the region.

·         Opportunity for the region is surely also achieving bigger independence of small and medium-sized enterprises and speed up their economic growth.

·         On the regional level is important opportunity achieving greater added value of outputs and technological breakthrough (increased innovation) and the global competitiveness of the region in establishing adequate support environment. The region needs science and technology park and business incubator. Fostering local innovation initiatives is surely another opportunity that needs to be stimulated in the future.

·         Clearly relevant (eco)innovation potential is in the greatest measure present in the sectors: automotive manufacturing (assembling of cars and production of parts for automotive industry), pharmaceutical industry of generic drugs, plastics, metal processing for construction and various B2B industrial markets, information and communication technology and development support of the industry.

 

IV. RECOMMENDED MEASURES FOR STIMULATION OF (ECO)INNOVATIONS IN THE REGION

·         Detection of business area’s with potential critical mass for development break-through in the South East Slovenia.

·         Wide range activities for support of SME’s in the region and promotion of entrepreneurship and innovation.

·         Increase the innovation culture of all innovation components of the region as a whole, create framework conditions for innovation development in the region and increase the quality of entrepreneurial environment.

·         Proceed from formulation of strategic objectives into their realization.

·         Support the branches, which can markedly contribute to regional development from long-term view.

·         Create on effective model of R&D and industry interconnection.

·         Execution of systematic rules for technology transfer.

·         Use institutions of research and development on the national level to support innovation in SMEs.

·         Eliminate barriers restraining formation of innovative business environment.

·         Support innovation activities applying European principles in intellectual property protection.

·         Public regional financial support towards innovation infrastructure and innovation processes of enterprises in South-east region.

·         Prepare students of all educational types to be in better way in-line with labor market demands.

·         Increase knowledge of employees and managers of enterprises and to widespread the (eco) innovation behaviour and culture.

 
 
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