Projects / Programmes
Entrepreneurship for Innovative Society
January 1, 2020
- December 31, 2027
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 5.02.02 |
Social sciences |
Economics |
Business sciences |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| S180 |
Social sciences |
Economics, econometrics, economic theory, economic systems, economic policy |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 5.02 |
Social Sciences |
Economics and Business |
Innovativeness, entrepreneurship, entrep. spirit, ambitious entrep., high-growth entrep., Global Entrep. Monitor, financing, sustainable development, social responsibility, environmental protection, welfare society, knowledge society, management, business models, economic policy measures
Data for the last 5 years (citations for the last 10 years) on
April 26, 2024;
A3 for period
2018-2022
| Database |
Linked records |
Citations |
Pure citations |
Average pure citations |
| WoS |
419 |
3,618 |
2,977 |
7.11 |
| Scopus |
471 |
5,449 |
4,646 |
9.86 |
Researchers (23)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
The previous research results of the programme show that Slovenia still lags behind a number of European countries in certain aspects of innovativeness and entrepreneurship. Many unexploited opportunities can, however, be enhanced by relevant measures adopted by economic policymakers.
The programme goals in the previous period were attained in full. At the same time, the obtained results have opened up a plethora of new research questions. The principal goals of the research for the next programme period are:
to develop and model research models which explain dependencies among multidimensional variables of different segments of entrepreneurial activity, innovation, growth, etc., on the one hand, and enterprises' performance and econ. growth on the other;
based on the above, to develop appropriate tools and concepts:
for evidence-based econ. policymaking, and
for making relevant econ.-business decisions in companies.
Our research is founded on three pillars. The first pillar is the multidimensionality of the research phenomenon and a dense network of interconnections among variables, which is important for the adoption of efficient evidence-based econ. policy measures. The second pillar reflects the need for international comparisons. The third pillar represents the integration of different fields in research and the interdisciplinary approach.
The first research area in the next period will be the entrepreneurial ecosystem, with the focus on the urban and regional context and on ambitious entrepreneurship as well as on the relationship between ambitious entrep. and the welfare society.
The characteristics of modern society, especially digitalisation, further enhance multidimensionality of entrep. activity, therefore, we will study the 'gig economy' phenomenon or on-call service provision as the entrep. activity which is the result of digitalization and the use of various digital platforms. We will also investigate the use of management tools and their impact on enterprise digitalization in relation to Industry 4.0 and Society 5.0 development.
The next area of research will be intrapreneurship, which is of key importance for a proactive and entrepreneurial culture in companies. This research will be upgraded with the investigation of the conditions for the growth of high-growth potential enterprises and for fast growing enterprises, with the emphasis on financial aspects.
We will also carry out an in-depth analysis of sustainable entrep. and the sustainability aspects of business operations. The principles of sustainable entrep. increasingly demand that innovative entrepreneurial ideas integrate the environmental component into product or service development, as well.
In our research, we will use reliable databases of primary data (GEM research, international consortia, questionnaire surveys) and of secondary data. Testing of our research hypotheses will be conducted with the use of quantitative research methods (especially multivariate) which will be supplemented with qualitative methods.
Significance for science
In the past period, in-depth research work, that has undoubtedly contributed to the development of science, had been conducted, since our research results are regularly published by quality and highly-cited papers. The past research results have also enabled the research group to become an important part of the "Global Entrepreneurship Monitor" world research consortium; members of the research group are also included in several international networks, which is extremely important for effective comparative research: network "Global Entrepreneurship Research Association", international network DIANA for female entrepreneurship research, project OECD and European Commission about the inclusive entrepreneurship, international network for research of values at individual level, level of organisation and level of society (SVS Schwarts Values Survey) and their impact on economic development, European Council for Small Business etc.
We continue the research program with topics, with which we wish to study multidimensional associations and dependencies among constructs (entrepreneurship, innovativeness, development, cultural and social norms, values, knowledge, digitalisation, sustainable entrepreneurship, social responsibility etc.) and their components, with the purpose of analyzing factors influencing the innovative entrepreneurial activity in the economy and building of an entrepreneurial, innovative welfare society. We are aware of mutual interactions, meaning that the development stage of the society also has an impact on innovative entrepreneurial activity of individuals and organizations. Existing theoretical concepts have to be supplemented, which will represent an important contribution to the development of science. In the past, the research of entrepreneurship and research output has greatly increased, as well as knowledge of the entrepreneurial phenomenon, which enables even more in-depth research in the next programme period. The emergence of new enterprises is a complex process that is both inerative and interactive in nature, is very diverse in time, and as a rule it is also time consuming, which points to the importance of longitudinal monitoring of the process. Because it is a heterogeneous and contextually dependent phenomenon, we will devote more research efforts to studying the entrepreneurial context and the changes brought about by the fourth industrial revolution.
The research approach is designed very interdisciplinary, combining elements of economics, finance, management, marketing, operations research, psychology, environmental protection etc. (the composition of the research groups corresponds to this completely). This interdisciplinary approach enables us to reveal new aspects of research in the Slovenian as well as in the integrated international environment. Research studies combine theoretically diverse platforms and a multidimensionality of approaches.
An important scientific development is also expected in the field of the development of a methodological instrumentarium, especially in the field of structural equation models and inclusion of multidimensional variables into models, as well as in the field of multi criteria decision making, including multidimensional model of factors influencing economic development and wellbeing.
One of the important contributions of the research programme to science is the analysis of financial resources for companies (and also countries), especially in the periods of instability or turmoil in economies and on financial markets. Our research is focused also on the financing of high-growth enterprises.
We believe that theoretical models that were and that are to be formed will be successfully implemented in practice, which is directly related to the achieving of goals of this research program.
Significance for the country
Direct relevance of this research programme for the socioeconomic development arises from the fact that research results ensure evidence-based recommendations for policy makers in Slovenia, for transition from the post-industrial society to the knowledge society, as described and defined in strategic documents of the European Union and Slovenia (Horizon 2020 The EU Framework program for research and innovation, COSME 2014-2020, the EU programme for the Competitiveness of Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs), The Resolution about research and innovation strategy of Slovenia 2011-2020, the Strategy of smart specialisation 2014-2020, Slovenian Development Strategy 2030). This transition is a challenge, an opportunity, as well as a potential danger for individuals, organisations, enterprises and for the national economy. The cruxes of the success of the creative society are talent, technology and tolerance; for economic success in the knowledge society the innovative ecosystem teemed with the possibilities of access to financing and other sources, is also needed. It enables the talent to flourish and produces conditions needed for high quality and high impact entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship. This is also the objective of this research programme - to contribute to the preparation of the necessary bases for economic policy of the country, which will be able to place high-tech and knowledge based startups with growth potential to key positions in the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem, taking into account the principles of sustainable and socially responsible acting.
The results of our research are also important for the economic policy, namely for preparing the measures for greater availability of capital for companies, as this is one of the main barriers for growth and development of companies, not just in Slovenia but also for other, even the most developed, ecosystems. The results of our analysis will also be important for monitoring the changing conditions for small and medium sized companies (SMEs) financing, including the development of adequate support for the sources of financing, that are important for the high-growth SMEs.
Indirect relevance of this research programme is multifaceted. In terms of promoting our country, the relevance is evident by the intense publishing of achievements of research group in the international environment as well as with cooperation in influencing international research networks, where the excellent entrepreneurial, system theory and innovative society research and applied projects are taking place.
The relevance of the research project for the professional field is also evident from the fact that the research group has established itself as the leading group in the entrepreneurial research in Slovenia and has gained reputation in a broader region, among others also by publishing series of scientific monographs in the "Slovenian entrepreneurial observatory" series. The research group has established itself also as the leading group for enhancing and fostering entrepreneurial education and training.
