Podnikanie na Slovensku: nadpriemerná podnikateľská aktivita v podpriemernom podnikateľskom prostredí

The innovation profile of Slovak entrepreneurs indicates that the early-stage

entrepreneurs achieve higher levels of innovation activity than established

entrepreneurs. Innovative entrepreneurs in both groups (TEA and established)

were dominated by men as well as by individuals that achieved higher levels of

education. Innovative entrepreneurs are more realistic than non-innovative

entrepreneurs in terms of the perception of their own abilities, but perceived

opportunities for starting a business more positively.

Slovak levels of innovative activities have increased slightly both for the early-

stage entrepreneurial activities and for the established entrepreneurs. The

share of innovative early-stage entrepreneurs increased from 21.2% to 27.3%

and the proportion of innovative established entrepreneurs increased from

8.4% to 10.7%. Despite the year-on-year increase, Slovakia remains below the

V5 + Austria averages for early-stage entrepreneurs (30.3%) as well as for

established entrepreneurs (14.5%). Slovakia also remains well below the

European averages (29.1% for TEA and 13.7% for established businesses).

In terms of participation in international markets, the proportion of of early-

stage entrepreneurs with more than 25% of foreign customers increased

slightly (from 18.3% in 2011 to 20.5% in 2012). On the other hand, the

proportion of entrepreneurs without any foreign customers increased more

significantly (from 29.9% to 35.1%). In the category of early-stage

entrepreneurs focused on international customers (over 25% of foreign

customers), Slovakia is below the V5 + Austria average (23.2%) as well as below

the European average (22.3%). The proportion of internationally oriented

established entrepreneurs increased in Slovakia from 15.3% in 2011 to 21.6% in

2012. Slovak values in this group are above the V5 + Austria average (16.6%) as

well as the European average (16.4%).

Entrepreneurial environment in Slovakia

Due to the generally rather negative and comparatively below average

entrepreneurial conditions, the entrepreneurial environment in Slovakia provides

insufficient support for entrepreneurial activity. Although selected areas of the

entrepreneurial environment are rated favorably, most still need extensive

improvements in order to provide the necessary support, especially for new and

growing firms. Hence, we conclude that the above-average entrepreneurial activity

in Slovakia takes place in a below-average entrepreneurial environment.

Finance

The overall situation in entrepreneurial financing can be characterized as

rather poor, but it does not substantially limit the entrepreneurial activity and

has slightly improved compared to last year.