Promoting Innovation and Creativity: The Case of Human Factor in Romanian SMEs

Abstract

Innovation has become the central engine of economic well-being, competitiveness, employment and long-term income growth for most economies. As the European Union Innovation Scoreboard shows, Romania is part of the modest innovators group. The situation of innovation in Romania has worsened so much that since 2015 it occupies the last place in the EU. The deterioration of the innovation condition in Romania is confirmed by The Global Competitiveness Report. There is a direct link between state measures and performance in innovation, as shown by the "Contributors and Detractors: Ranking Countries’ Impact on Global Innovation” report. The process of innovation itself involves a concerted effort of economic agents and the state, the latter having the role of facilitating, consolidating and supporting innovative activities. The innovative potential of an enterprise can be strengthened by the human factor through the use of creative methods and techniques.