Support For SMEs Research Articles

Sustained Growth and Competitiveness SME´s Within the Context of Intellectual Property

Due to the exponential pace of technological innovation, intellectual property is an important support for SMEs in innovation, growth and competitiveness of work. Licensing and cooperation open ways for SMEs to access complementary resources, expand their market reach, and accelerate product development. Our research consists of an analysis of 43 Slovak companies in the field of intellectual property, its licensing and the impact of IP partnerships on competitiveness and business growth. The aim was to point out the possible causes of low cooperation of companies in the field of intellectual property. The survey results provide information on opportunities to enter new markets using partnerships. These partnerships can mean a competitive advantage for SMEs, which can be achieved mainly by reducing the barriers that SMEs face when engaging in licensing agreements and cooperation in the field of intellectual property. The results lead to recommendations for successfully finding and maintaining partnerships.

Empowering Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: A Conceptual Paper on Exploring the Impact of Government Support on SMEs in Malaysia

SMEs continue to be a backbone for the development and growth of the economy in countries around the world. The success of SMEs depends on the effectiveness of EEs. One of the components of EEs that may contribute to the success of SMEs is government support. This paper proposes a conceptualization of the impact of government support (EE component), particularly on financial support and business support for SMEs in Selangor, Malaysia. This conceptual research provides important suggestions for researchers to assess the impact of government support on SME’s business performance and also offers valuable insight for policymakers and other stakeholders to effectively design the initiatives that could enhance the growth and development of SMEs.

Current state of development of innovation activity at the enterprises of manufacturing industry

The article "The current state of development of innovation activity in manufacturing enterprises" examines the level and dynamics of innovation activity in Kazakhstan, focusing on manufacturing enterprises. The authors analyse the existing theoretical approaches to the definition of the concept of "innovation activity", study the state support of SMEs in this area and analyse statistical data on innovation activity in medium- and high-tech sectors of the manufacturing industry in Kazakhstan. The study identifies a number of problems: low level of innovation activity of enterprises, inefficiency of innovation expenditures, as well as a number of factors limiting the development of innovation activities, such as lack of demand for innovation, lack of financial resources, market uncertainty and lack of qualified personnel. The article offers a number of recommendations to improve the situation: the need for a systematic approach to the technological modernisation of industries, open discussion of the results of state programmes, adequate assessment of enterprises' capabilities for innovative development and setting target indicators.

From Grassroots to Growth: Strengthening Communities through Financial Support for SMEs

From Grassroots to Growth: Strengthening Communities through Financial Support for SMEs

Направления государственной поддержки малого и среднего бизнеса на разных этапах экономического роста в условиях цифровизации

Introduction. Small and medium-sized businesses are a key engine of economic growth, especially in the context of the digitalization of the economy, where access to digital technologies and digital solutions is becoming increasingly important. The purpose of this study is to substantiate the directions of state support for small and medium-sized businesses, taking into account the specifics of the stages of economic growth in the conditions of digitalization of the economy. The development of small and medium-sized businesses goes through several stages, which can range from the creation of a new enterprise to its diversification and expansion. At the same time, each stage of growth requires an individual approach and special attention from the state.Methods. The research was carried out using a variety of general scientific methods, including a thorough analysis of the works of various authors, synthesis and comparison of information, the use of a system-functional and integrated approach. In addition, the study used data from official statistics, regulatory documents and the legislative framework of the Russian Federation and the DPR. The results of this study not only objectively reflect the theoretical data, but also systematize them for a better understanding.Results. In the course of this study, the dynamics of registered small and medium–sized businesses in the Russian Federation for 2020 – 2024 and new annexed territories – the DPR, LPR, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions for 2023 – 2024 were revealed; the laws of the Russian Federation and legislative acts of the regional level regulating the activities of SMEs were determined. The directions and types of support for SMEs of the DPR at different stages of economic growth.Conclusions. Thus, in the context of the digitalization of the economy, state support for SMEs should be justified and focused on the specifics of the stages of economic growth of this sector. It is necessary to include measures to ensure access to digital technologies, stimulate cooperation and cooperation, ensure financing and create a favorable investment climate.

Reaching for net zero: The impact of an innovative university‐led business support programme on carbon management strategy and practices of small and medium‐sized enterprises

AbstractSmall and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) are at the heart of the economy, representing the majority of businesses in the United Kingdom and the European Union, and employ a high percentage of people. With this positive impact comes an environmental footprint. SMEs account for around half (43–53%) of the greenhouse gas emissions, yet typically, they lack the support that larger organisations have in‐house and are often hard to reach in terms of engagement, policy and practical interventions. SMEs face a range of barriers to implementing carbon management and are still a misunderstood sector both in their approach to carbon management and how best to provide business support for change. This research addresses that challenge by investigating the impact of an innovative university‐led business support programme to help SMEs develop a carbon management strategy and practices. The research adopted a quantitative approach with a pre‐ and post‐intervention survey to gather data from 101 SMEs in the context of the Sustainability in Enterprise (SiE) programme at Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom. The study shows that universities have an important role, and the SiE programme had a significant impact on SMEs' transition to net zero through policy and strategy development, resource monitoring, carbon footprinting, target setting and carbon management maturity. The research highlights the importance of business support for SMEs, specifically in carbon management, while segmenting based on size and sector to meet ambitious local, national and global net zero targets.

Is Indirect Taxes Bad for the Poor? Examining the Determinants of Poverty in Pakistan

This study investigates the determinants of poverty in Pakistan from 1985 to 2023, focusing on unemployment, inflation, indirect taxes, secondary school enrollment, and total population as key variables. Employing the Augmented Dickey-Fuller unit root test, the analysis finds that while many variables exhibit non-stationary behavior at levels, they become stationary at first difference, ensuring the reliability of time series analysis. The ARDL Bounds Analysis confirms the significant relationship between poverty and its predictors, indicating that changes in these variables markedly impact poverty levels. The estimated long-run and short-run results highlight the significant roles of inflation, secondary school enrollment, total population, and unemployment in influencing poverty, with diagnostic tests affirming the model's robustness. The study underscores the positive relationship between secondary school enrollment and poverty reduction, advocating for increased investment in education. The analysis reveals that indirect taxes do not significantly impact poverty levels, yet suggests a review of the tax structure to ensure it does not disproportionately burden low-income households. A progressive tax system could aid in wealth redistribution and support poverty reduction efforts. The positive correlation between total population and poverty levels indicates that rapid population growth strains resources and infrastructure, highlighting the need for effective population management strategies, including family planning programs and investments in healthcare and education. Unemployment's significant impact on poverty calls for targeted interventions to create job opportunities. Policymakers should promote economic diversification, support SMEs, and implement active labor market policies such as job training and placement programs. While higher inflation rates are associated with lower poverty levels in this analysis, maintaining inflation within a manageable range is crucial to avoid eroding purchasing power and harming economic stability. The study advocates for continuous and comprehensive data collection to enable timely and evidence-based interventions, enhancing the effectiveness of poverty reduction strategies. Prioritizing inclusive economic growth, fostering an environment conducive to investment, innovation, and entrepreneurship can create jobs and reduce poverty, ultimately supporting sustainable socio-economic development.

ASSESSING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SUPPORT FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES

The article assesses the effectiveness of state support policies for small businesses in conditions of federal budget deficit in the Russian Federation. The subject of the study is a methodology to assess the effectiveness of supporting small and medium-sized businesses. The purpose of the study is to develop a system to evaluate the effectiveness of state support for SMEs. The objectives of the study: to analyze the approaches to assess the effectiveness in Russia at large and abroad, to assess the effectiveness of state support measures for SMEs in Russia and abroad, to propose their own options for assessing the effectiveness of support measures, to present the practical application of the proposed methods. Research methodology: methods of system analysis, generalization, systematization, methods of statistical, dynamic, structural and comparative analysis. Research results: the article develops a system to evaluate the effectiveness of state support for small businesses, which includes several main indicators for evaluating the effectiveness (survival rate of recipients of state support by year; dynamics of average income; dynamics of the average number of employed; dynamics of the average amount of taxes paid by SMEs), as well as an algorithm to conduct an assessment based on a comparison of selected indicators for a group of SMEs that received support with indicators of small and medium-sized enterprises that were not participants in the relevant government programs. Using the proposed assessment system based on the statistical data of the Federal Tax Service of the Russian Federation, an analysis of the effectiveness of state support measures for SMEs in general and in the context of individual forms of support in the period 2019- 2022 was carried out. Based on the significant deviation of the selected indicators of SME recipients of support from the average values in the whole SME sector (and/or in relation to SMEs that did not receive support), a conclusion is made about the high efficiency of state support for SMEs. It is also established that the impact of various forms of state support on the functioning of SMEs is different.

Impact of Innovations on SME Performance in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)

This study aims to refine the broad idea of innovation by focusing on four specific types: product innovation, organizational innovation, process innovation, and R&D. These four categories will be used to measure the extent of innovation. The statistical model is used to examine the association between such innovations and business performance. The model is based on a sample size of 7,788 enterprises, with data provided by the Vietnamese General Statistics Offices. The findings validate the presence of product innovation, organizational innovation, and R&D as factors influencing SME success. Among these factors, organizational innovation has the highest influence, followed by product innovation and R&D. The causal link between process innovation and SME performance remains unestablished, as SMEs, comprising 95% or more of the market, primarily allocate their investments towards organizational innovation, product or service innovation, and R&D. This discovery serves as a valuable point of reference for both businesses and policymakers. It highlights the importance of considering potential forms of support for SMEs in order to foster innovation and achieve success.

Evaluating Women's Economic Empowerment During COVID-19 Pandemic in South Sulawesi, Indonesia

The factual condition resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has changed and impacted various aspects of Indonesian society. It also made women one of the vulnerable and affected groups, requiring them to face various challenges, including loss of livelihoods as family breadwinners, and gender-based violence. Outside of Java, the region with the highest number of COVID-19 cases is South Sulawesi Province, with a total of 62,672 cases. This had an economic impact on communities and families, particularly affecting women, especially domestic workers, and female heads of households. This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of government policies and programs in South Sulawesi Province regarding domestic workers and female heads of households. It directly conducted interviews with stakeholders from the government, women's organizations, and domestic workers and female heads of households. It found that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted women who are heads of households and female domestic workers. The situation for women leading households worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic as they had to navigate the crisis on their own. The situation and conditions of female domestic workers during the COVID-19 pandemic were also dire. Some of them were unilaterally terminated, while others were forced to work daily at their employers' homes, risking virus transmission during their commute due to inadequate personal protective equipment. Those who were laid off by their employers faced a crisis, as they had no income, especially when their spouses, who also worked in the informal sector, stopped working simultaneously. It revealed that both the government of South Sulawesi empowered female heads of households by distributing productive business capital assistance and providing support for female SMEs to access people's business credit. However, in contrast to the reality faced by female domestic workers, this group of women did not receive any social and economic assistance from the government during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Potential of pension funds and insurance companies for investment in resources: Policies for sustainable transition

This study extensively explores the complex relationship between environmental investments made by pension funds and insurance companies and their influence on expenses associated with fossil fuels. Analyzing data from 2015 to 2020 across ten OECD economies, the research employs the Fully Modified OLS technique to extract meaningful insights. The results reveal that a 1% increase in environmental investments propels practices focused on energy conservation and increased efficiency by 0.49%, underscoring a dedicated commitment to sustainability. Additionally, a 1% increase in IT expenditures is associated with a 0.10% improvement in energy efficiency. Conversely, heightened green tax payments exhibit a negative correlation with energy usage, emphasizing the impact of regulatory incentives. To bolster sustainable investments, the paper advocates for robust ESG reporting, support for SMEs, the adoption of green corporate management practices, and improved access to green financial markets.

О НЕКОТОРЫХ МЕТОДОЛОГИЧЕСКИХ ВОПРОСАХ УПРАВЛЕНИЯ РАЗВИТИЕМ МАЛОГО И СРЕДНЕГО ПРЕДПРИНИМАТЕЛЬСТВА В РОССИЙСКОЙ ФЕДЕРАЦИИ

The article examines certain issues of the system of state support for SMEs, including financial support provided by microfinance and regional guarantee organizations. The proposals on the formation of information on the basis of a Unified register of SMEs are substantiated, which is necessary to assess the effectiveness of managing the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as sales revenue, which is a criterion for distinguishing SMEs.

PKM Pembinaan dan Pendampingan Sustainability Reporting bagi UMKM Bakery di Surabaya

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a global action agreed by world leaders, including Indonesia, to end poverty, reduce inequality and protect the environment. SDGs aim to balance the 3Ps in business activities, namely planet, people, profit. With the balance of the 3Ps, it is expected to realize sustainability or business sustainability. Business sustainability is the dream of all entrepreneurs. The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is the most widely used sustainability reporting standard globally, providing comprehensive reporting guidelines for various business sectors. Indonesian SMEs go International! By making sustainability reporting in SMEs, it is hoped that it can improve the reputation of SMEs and support SMEs to go international. This community service activity was carried out with SME partner Bakery Glory in Surabaya in collaboration with the Melati Nusantara activity series. With the aim of accelerating the understanding of sustainable production to develop the potential of SMEs so that their products can be accepted in the international market.

A new perspective for European SMEs’ innovative support analysis: Does non-financial support matter?

Most of the previous research focused on the effects of public support for SMEs' innovative activities dealt with the effects of financial incentives, while non-financial support was considered a kind of “black box”. This research therefore aims to fill this gap by exploring the role non-financial support systems play in triggering SMEs' collaborations and innovativeness in Europe. We show that non-financial support (framework condition) significantly facilitates collaboration and innovation of European SMEs, by using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) and 216 sampled datasets of the 27 EU countries from 2012 to 2020 European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS). Our expectation was confirmed about the SMEs' collaboration significant effects on their innovative activities, which subsequently translate into innovative outputs. We also found indirect significant effect of the non-financial support on SME's innovation output. This study serves several practical implications and contributes to the ongoing debate on the effects of non-financial support for cooperation and innovation activities of European SMEs.

Post-Pandemic Assessment of COVID-19’s Impact on Tourist Accommodation Businesses in Tamale Metropolis, Ghana

The study was carried out to ascertain the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourist accommodation businesses in the Tamale Metropolis. Simple random sampling techniques were employed to select 30 tourist accommodation facilities for inclusion in the study. Qualitative data were sourced using semi-structured interview guides and thus analyzed through putting same into themes and sub-themes. The findings revealed that the pandemic had “damming” impacts on tourist accommodation businesses due to travel bans and border closures. In order to control the effects of the pandemic, many hotel managers decided to cancel external contracts, ‘slash’ employees’ pay, terminate some employee appointments and raise or lower service prices to cut down costs. It was also revealed that hotels were often concerned with issues of health and safety and took several precautions to avoid viral infections. The study recommends the adoption of recent technologies such as facial scan, self-check-in and check-out including the use of automatic door technologies to improve safety. Government also needs to swiftly provide financial support for SMEs operating within the tourism and hospitality value chain aimed at revamping the industry.

Enterprise policies and R&D support for high-tech SMEs: a multi-perspective approach

ABSTRACT This article examines the role of enterprise policy and R&D subsidy schemes in supporting high-tech Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises, by examining a case study of South Korea. A qualitative approach is used to analyse the perspectives of three stakeholder groups, entrepreneurs, national policymakers and policy-practitioners (including street-level bureaucrats working in bodies directly supporting the SMEs), based on semi-structured interviews with 35 participants. The findings suggest, first, that there was a mismatch in the conceptualizations of entrepreneurship, with policymakers and policy-practitioners focusing on entrepreneurship as the event of starting-up a business and entrepreneurs more on innovation. Second, while all groups feel the policy was beneficial, policymakers and policy-practitioners argue it was necessary to have a strict implementation process so-as-to deliver the subsidy fairly across many SMEs. In contrast, entrepreneurs considered such stringent and complicated policy implementation, and policy discontinuities, as impeding the R&D performance of SMEs. Third, although perspectives varied, all believed that flexibility in the policy implementation process is required to improve policy efficacy. The study highlights the critical role of “bottom-up” policy approaches to improve policy efficacy; especially policy-practitioners’ interactions and networking with entrepreneurs in the policy development and implementation processes. This study contributes to understanding the roles and perspectives of stakeholder groups in developing and implementing enterprise policies.

Implementation of state business support programs: current situation, analysis and proposals

Object: To determine the factors affecting the development of medium and small businesses, as well as to investigate the degree of influence of state support on entrepreneurship in the Republic of Kazakhstan.Methods: The study used statistical methods of analysis, including multiple correlation-regression modeling.Findings: The authors put forward and tested hypotheses about the presence of a relationship between the dependent variable “Share of SMEs in GDP” and such factors as “The amount of funds for support for SMEs”, “Employed in the SME”, “Number of able-bodied population”, “Index of prices for food products”, “GDP per capita”, “Level of youth unemployment”. To prove or refute these hypotheses, a correlation and regression analysis was carried out. A check of the variable model for multicollinearity has been checked and the determination coefficient is calculated. The value of the r-quadratic determination coefficient for the dependent variable “SME share in GDP” is of high value (0.96), which suggests that the factors included in the model are well described and have a high degree of influence on it. In general, the regression analysis showed that the resulting model is adequate and reliable. Statistically significant coefficients were determined for the variables “Able-bodied population”, “GDP per capita”, “Youth unemployment rate”, that is, the listed indicators play a significant role in changing the “Share of SMEs in GDP”. At the same time, the factors “Number of working-age population” and “Unemployment rate among youth” have an inverse relationship with the indicator “Share of SMEs in GDP”.Conclusions: regression analysis showed that in Kazakhstan there are certain problems in the implementation of state policy in relation to the development of entrepreneurship. This fact is confirmed by the results of the study. The main hypothesis about the impact of the “Amount of funds to support SMEs” on the indicator “Share of SMEs in GDP” was not confirmed. The presence of problems in the distribution of state resources requires constructive state measures to solve the existing problems.

Development of Chinese Industries under COVID-19

The year 2020 saw a global outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. The world economy was hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak. As China was the first country to experience a major outbreak of the New Coronavirus, its economy was severely affected. In response to the crisis, the Chinese government decided to impose a nationwide closure of the city and restrictions on outbound and inbound travel. As a result, the majority of enterprises within China are affected by COVID-19 to varying degrees. This paper focuses on the impact of COVID-19 on Chinese companies and how Chinese industries are addressing their own existential crisis in this environment. Through methods such as finding data and market research, this article draws out some responses. Companies can increase their digitalisation and integrate it with industry. In addition, companies can respond to unexpected epidemics by partnering with influencers for live streaming and opening online shops. Entrepreneurship is important for business development. The government should also strengthen its support for SMEs.

Analysis of Financial Support Policies for SMEs in the Context of the COVID-19 Taking Shanghai as an Example

The COVID-19 virus, which emerged in the early 2020s, is now present on every continent. Small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) face significant hurdles as a result of the global epidemiological situation and the drastic changes in the global economy and trade. After implementing a number of groundbreaking financial regulations, China has seen impressive growth. Using Shanghai as an example, this research combines public policies with financial support for SMEs in order to cope with the negative economic changes caused by the COVID-19 to SMEs. The methods used in this research include investigation, literature review, and a case study. This research intends to stimulate legal reform and development as well as improve the quality of financial supervision in addition to fostering an environment that is more favorable for businesses who have been adversely affected by the COVID-19.

Citizens’ Perceptions of Research and Innovation Dilemmas: Insights from a Large-Scale Survey in Four European Regions

This study presents a valuable dataset supporting regional research and innovation systems in four European regions: Vestland (Norway), Kriti (Greece), Galicia (Spain), and Overijssel (Netherlands). It focuses on understanding citizens’ perceptions of research and innovation dilemmas within these regions. The dataset comprises 14 questions aligned with the Responsible Research and Innovation framework, evaluating stakeholders’ techno-moral attitudes towards technological change and socio-economic outcomes. A survey conducted between April and July 2020 gathered responses from 7,729 individuals, ensuring broad age and gender representation. This dataset is highly valuable for regional policymaking and policymakers’ engagement strategies, enhancing equity and effectiveness in addressing grand societal challenges. Research outcomes reveal citizens’ aspirations for developmental trajectories prioritizing quality-of-life, renewable energy, and support for innovative SMEs in their regions. The study contributes to existing research by highlighting limited citizen trust and expectations of effective government actions in addressing societal challenges at the regional level.