COMPETITIVENESS AND INNOVATION CHALLENGE IN CROATIA

Abstract

Competitiveness is a concept we all want to achieve, but it is very difficult to define, and even harder to implement. An important feature of competitiveness is its dynamic nature, because sources of competitiveness are not permanent. Competitiveness is a matter of growing interest for every country, which is concerned about the success of its industries and nations. For understanding the current economic situation, it is necessary to know he historical background because it affects the current situation and competitiveness of the economy. Competitiveness is the most commonly defined economic concept in the last 30 years. It is in the interest of every country to be competitive and that the industry is export-oriented. To be competitive in the demanding EU market and on the global market is the task of both enterprises and the economy of the Republic Croatia. The purpose of this paper is to link international competitiveness with the lack of innovative activity in Croatia. Innovation capacity and sophistication of production technology are one of the main problems of business competitiveness in Croatia. This paper researches the indicators of competitiveness and innovation index parameters that determine the position of the Republic of Croatia on the regional and the global level. The aim is to show the influence of the national competitiveness and innovation standard on entrepreneurship in Croatia.Alternate abstract:Konkurentnost je koncept kojeg svi žele postici, ali ga je vrlo teško defi nirati, a još i teže provesti. Važna znacajka konkurentnosti je njezina dinamicna priroda, jer izvori konkurentnosti nisu trajni. Konkurentnost ima sve veci znacaj za svaku zemlju, koja želi razvijati svoju industriju i gospodarstvo. Za razumijevanje trenutne ekonomske situacije potrebno je poznavati povijesnu pozadinu jer utjece na postojecu situaciju i konkurentnost gospodarstva. Konkurentnost je najcešce defi niran ekonomski koncept u posljednjih 30 godina. Interes svake zemlje je da bude konkurentna i da je industrija izvozno orijentirana. Da bi se postigla konkurentnost na zahtjevnom tržištu EU i na globalnom tržištu, zadatak je oboje - i poduzeca i gospodarstva Republike Hrvatske. Svrha rada je povezati medunarodnu konkurentnost s nedostatkom inovativnih aktivnosti u Hrvatskoj. Inovacijski kapaciteti i sofi sticiranost proizvodne tehnologije jedan su od glavnih problema poslovne konkurentnosti u Hrvatskoj. Radom se istražuju indikatori konkurentnosti i parametri indeksa konkurentnosti i inovacija koji odreduju položaj Republike Hrvatske na regionalnoj i globalnoj razini. Cilj je pokazati utjecaj nacionalne konkurentnosti i standarda inovacija na poduzetništvo u Hrvatskoj.