Eco-innovation and eco-innovation support: Summary of Existing situation analysis in Inner-karst region
Inner-karst region is a statistical region in south-west of Slovenia. The region has a total area of 1.456 km2 (stands for 7,2 % of total Slovenian area) and a population of 52.083 inhabitants (data from 2007. This makes the region one of the smallest in Slovenia in regards to its geographical area. Being almost five times less populated than the most populated region in Slovenia, it is also one of the least populated areas in Slovenia. Inner-karst region is economically relatively poor developed. In 2006, it contributed only 1,9 % of Slovenia’s GDP. The majority of companies dealing with secondary and tertiary activities are craft enterprises (46,4 % in 2006). The region is strongly represented by wood processing, furniture industry and metal processing industry. These traditional economic sectors have been strengthened with other perspective industrial sectors like the production of electric and electronic components as well as chemical industry. Another relatively untapped area in the industry, but of great business interest, is the development of tourism industry. Namely, the region is famous for its natural heritage that is extraordinary concentrated on a relatively small area (Postojna Cave, Lake of Cerknica, Plateau of Bloke) and high biodiversity.
With an average of only five persons in paid employment, companies in this region were among the smallest in the country. Even though the employment rate in 2007 was the highest in the country with 64,5 %, a large number of people from Inner-karst region worked in the neighbouring regions. This is also a reason for a relatively high economic strength of regional population.
In general, current economic situation in region is not encouraging and would require the following:
· The industry needs a new push, which is to a great extent related to the critical mass of human resources with an adequate level of knowledge for the development break-through of regional economy.
· It is necessary to reach a higher level of connections between local economies and centres of knowledge in the creation of an adequate support environment (technology centres, industrial zones, development of support services,...), in which the companies would be able to develop effectively.
Nevertheless, the region has comparative advantages in several economic sectors, in the Republic of Slovenia and in the world, for it sustainable economic, social and environmental development. Inner-karst region is developing the concept of eco-region and managing the eco-region, which is also included in regional developmental programme as a horizontal priority, implemented in all economic, social and environmental activities that are directed to an ecologically healthy way of residing and living. This is present in every aspect of living and is included in all measurements and most of the development projects.
From the perspective of the analysis of current situation in regional (eco)innovation, the following applies:
· there is a modest presence of innovation culture, especially in SME's;
· there is only a small rate of in-house innovation, consequently the innovation is modest;
· the collaboration with R&D institutions is undernourished and needs a significant push-up in the future, using a disposable national or/and EU aid to start new projects;
· government funds are almost not exploited (usually these fund are subsidies or other national aids to companies, which in most cases are not refundable and assigned revenue);
· ecology-driven investments in the region are low, the funds invested in Inner-karst region were the smallest among all the regions of Slovenia (only 0,9 %), the majority of those investments used for wastewater management;
· due to high rate of highly educated population there are knowledge potentials in the region to exploit if labour opportunities are set-up;
· the logistic business opportunities are very baldy exploited even though the road and rail connections are good, mostly in the west part of the region;
· although the region is not agriculturally intensive, this could be a good business opportunity to develop more eco farms.
Regional potential is in attracting and employing highly educated workforce, in collaboration within companies and R&D institutions and finally, in wealthy natural heritage and well-preserved natural environmental that offers a good foundation for new business opportunities.
For details on existing situation analysis on eco-innovation and eco-innovation support in Inner-karst region see Project results.
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