THE NEED FOR INNOVATION IN SMALL ENTERPRISES: ANALYSIS OF THE STRUCTURE AND MAJOR TRENDS OF CHANGE

Abstract

Innovations are becoming an integral basis for the development of modern enterprises and organizations. At the same time, small business sector is of particular importance in the structure of production and economic activity, where various changes in external and internal conditions are most clearly and quickly manifested. The purpose of the article is to identify key factors and assess their impact on the innovative activity of small enterprises taking into account these changes. The study analyzed the innovative activities of small enterprises of the subjects of the Russian Federation, described their role in this activity, highlighted strengths and problem areas caused, among other things, by the pandemic and measures to combat it. Based on innovation activity analysis data in Russian regions, which are sufficiently differentiated by the initial set of resources and abilities, identification of key factors determining the effectiveness of this activity implementation in the region was carried out. The degree of their influence on these changes in the spatial and temporal aspect is also considered, the main directions and parameters of changes are identified. The influence of region economic activities specialization structure on innovation activities effectiveness of small enterprises in terms of costs and the number of organizations involved is investigated.