Title: A multidimensional approach to the environment for entrepreneurship in selected CE countries

Authors: Marina Dabić; Jadranka Švarc; Emira Bečić

Addresses: Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb, J. F. Kennedy square 6, 1000 Zagreb, Croatia; Management Division, Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University, Burton Street, Nottingham, NG1 4BU UK ' Institute of Social Sciencies Ivo Pilar, Marulićev trg 19, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia ' Ministry of Science, Education and Sports, Donje Svetice 38, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract: The research and innovation system in Central Europe (CE) has not been studied in sufficient depth, at either the theoretical or empirical level. The aim of this article is to describe the differences among selected Central European countries in order to demonstrate that efforts to build a single European innovation system are still far from complete. Selected composite indices such as the global innovation index (GII), the networked readiness index (NRI), and the global enabling trade index (ETI) show that countries in Central Europe need improvements in terms of competitiveness, innovation and technology development. Economies' performance as regards the environment for entrepreneurs was also analysed based on several composite indices with sufficient complexity to capture the multidimensional nature of entrepreneurship. The article concludes that an efficient use of European structural and investment funds (ESIF) and the application of smart specialisation strategies are promising mechanisms for European integration processes.

Keywords: Central Europe; entrepreneurship environment; composite indices; innovation policy; research policies; facilitating institutions; global innovation index; GII; networked readiness index; NRI; global enabling trade index; ETI; competitiveness; technology development; smart specialisation; European structural and investment funds; ESIF.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTIS.2015.077195

International Journal of Transitions and Innovation Systems, 2015 Vol.4 No.3/4, pp.131 - 149

Received: 23 Sep 2015
Accepted: 04 Dec 2015
Published online: 22 Jun 2016 *

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