Title: Programmes supporting small- and medium-sized enterprises in the Czech Republic

Authors: Jan Poucek, Vladimir Wilda

Addresses: MIT, Na Frantisku 32, 110 15 Prague 1, Czech Republic. ' MIT, Na Frantisku 32, 110 15 Prague 1, Czech Republic

Abstract: The paper is dedicated to problems of the development of small- and medium- sized enterprises (SME) in the Czech Republic. This paper shows that the transformation processes taking place in the Czech national economy after 1989 have led to significant growth in the number of small- and medium-sized enterprises and to their important share in the Czech national economy. The paper analyses details of the ongoing programmes of support of SME within the competence of the individual central administrative bodies of the Czech Republic. Programmes of support are established to eliminate problems of SME that result from their low economic strength and with possibilities of raising funds to develop their businesses. The second part of the paper deals in more detail with the opportunities for small- and medium-sized enterprises in electricity and heating segments in the Czech energy economy.

Keywords: European Charter for Small Enterprises; SMEs; small and medium enterprises; legal framework; SME support; energy economy; Czech Republic; transformation processes; electricity sector; transition economies.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEIM.2006.008212

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, 2006 Vol.6 No.1/2, pp.110 - 123

Published online: 23 Nov 2005 *

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