Economic entities influence the environment significantly. Economic activity in the EU lacks skills, experience and financial and management
tools. Innovation is a key element of sustainable economic activity, but economic activity needs a complex approach to cover economic,
social and environmental aspects. The most common measure for environmental improvement is the reduction of energy and material
consumption. This article analyses the development of economic entities using the Innovation and Small Business Act (SBA) approach. The
research objective is to analyse how economic entities in EU countries develop their activities to achieve sustainability by reducing their
environmental impact. A comparison of the sustainability aspects of economic entities was carried out. The contribution of innovations was
analysed to assess the level of sustainability of economic entities in EU countries. The results show that the impact of the activities of economic entities needs to be assessed along the entire value chain, which assesses the social environment of economic entities. EU countries such as Finland, Germany, Slovenia and Sweden are leading the way in investing in innovation and sustainability measures. However, EU countries face challenges in implementing sustainability goals, because of the complexity of the system and a lack of attention from responsible institutions. Nevertheless, innovation is essential to reduce negative environmental impacts.
The presence of imbalances and asymmetries of the rural development form the need of harmonious development directions of the village that led to the choice of a researched topic. The aim of this work is to find and study areas and mechanisms for the orderly development of rural areas based on the principles of formation food and economic security, organic farming, and waste-free life and bio-adequate approaches in growing up and education. The study covers the period from 1991 to 2014. Evaluation of the results was based on sociometric and statistical methods. Theoretical and methodological basis of research was grounded on system-synergetic approach to the study and modelling of socio-economic processes. It was formed a model of dynamic ecological social and economic settlement system capable of self-sufficiency. Specificity of the organization and functioning of the environmental settlements in terms of global challenges was identified.
Journal:Tiltai
Volume 70, Issue 1 (2015), pp. 115–126
Abstract
In the article there are analysed factors influencing implementation of innovations in Klaipėda city tourism sector. There are discussed the global changes noticeable in Lithuania tourism sector as well. On the basis of conducted in-depth interview with experts there are identified factors, which impede the realization of plans of implementation of innovations in enterprises of the tourism sector such as the following: lack of funding; the problem of attracting investors; unfocused tourism policy, formed in Klaipėda city; not prepared city tourism strategy and its underlying goals; insufficient efforts to attract tourists from neighboring countries. Analysis of the findings showed that with all identified failings there are named technological factors (IT technologies) as the most influencing factors determining implementation of innovations in Lithuania tourism sector, on the basis of which working efficiency may be enhanced and service quality may be improved.
The aim of the article is the analysis of the innovative activity in the balanced development of regions and organizations in Poland and the EU. A state is responsible for the level of innovativeness transferring finances for the research and development as well as implementing proper financial and legal instruments stimulating innovative endeavours of enterprises according to the applied economy politics. An enterprise is the basic objective of the innovative politics in Poland and the EU as well as implementing innovativeness with the benefits for economy. Enterprises, especially the smaller and medium ones, try to cooperate within innovativeness with the companies from the same branches, other branches in the country and abroad, with universities, B+R institutions, including laboratories, intermediary companies in a transfer, financing innovativeness, with scientific and technical parks, local authorities representatives as well as other representatives of an innovative environment. Those include also advisor companies, organizers of fairs, exhibitions, conferences, seminars and trainings. In Poland, the finances of innovativeness is done mainly by the companies themselves and the development of intermediary companies within transferring the EU’s funds as well as the financial or credit ones that are the suppliers of the capital, e.g. venture capital.