NNOVATIVE ACTIVITIES OF SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES IN THE EU: EXPERIENCE FOR UKRAINE

Abstract

The article analyzes the European practice of SMES' innovative activitiy with the aim
of substantiating the mechanisms and tools that are of importance for future introduction
into the Ukrainian environment of national SMEs' innovation activity. Certain trends in
the development of SMEs in the EU countries are identified. The research has
determined that the share of companies engaged in innovation processes is greater than the share of companies that work with product innovations. The main measures aimed
at stimulating the development of small business, with the goal of supporting research
and development in the unified economic space of the member countries, were
identified. It has been determined that, due to significant resource constraints that
prevent SMEs from going through the stages of the innovation process independently,
they are increasingly becoming the link between the largest industrial companies and
research institutions. It is substantiated that in Ukraine, the share of small and medium
enterprises in general corresponds to the European level, but the contribution to the
creation of added value of the national economy remains lower than in the EU countries.
It is proposed to focus on creating networks of partners involved in innovation
processes.