Business Networks of Small and Medium Enterprises - a need or just an option? Evidence from Belgium and the Czech Republic

audiovizuální tvorba

angličtina

The academic literature and the official documents of the EU institutions, as well as of several global organizations frequently deal - directly or indirectly - with business networks and other forms of cooperation. We have devoted our paper to the examination of the importance of these networks to small and medium enterprises. Our concept lies on the following basic assumptions: firstly, innovations are created through interactions; secondly, network cooperation (representing several forms of interactions) can boost innovation; and finally, innovation centres and other organizations encouraging innovation may have experiences with various business networks. We assume, that the degree of the importance of network cooperation for small and medium enterprises partly could be observed through the practise of these organizations. The first part of the paper deals with the theoretical background of the topic by defining networks, motives of their foundation and the possible forms of networks. The next section attempts to give a brief overview of science, technology and innovation in the EU, Belgium and the Czech Republic - the countries where the organizations subject to our research work. Finally, we investigate the network initiatives, the business sectors involved in these processes and the kinds of cooperation amongst the enterprises through four case studies.

Business network of small and medium enterprises, technology transfer office, science park, technology park, innovation centre

ESTÉLYIOVÁ, K.

3. 9. 2009

Sarajevo, Bosnaia and Herzegovina, University of Sarajevo

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http://emnet.univie.ac.at/uploads/media/Estelyiova_01.pdf