Author: Viorel Cornescu

Introduction. The innovative potential of a nation is determined by its members’ creative capacity, as well as by the design and implementation of strategies and policies that are meant to support the devise,  experimentation and application of new ideas, respectively the transformation thereof both into tangible goods (products and services) and intangible ones (knowledge).

Aim of the study. The present paper approaches innovation as a vector of the new knowledge-based society, which consists of the main actions undertaken by the EU within the context of the “European Year of Creativity and Innovation”, as well as of the actions promoted through the Initiative known as “A Union of Innovation”, comprised by the Europe Strategy 2020. The final part of the paper illustrates the essential role of universities in developing knowledge-based and innovation- based society.
Keywords: innovation, knowledge-based society, intelligent growth, community actions, university.

Introduction. Innovation is an integrating part of the re-vitalization plan of EU economy and it is one of the seven initiatives comprised in the 2020 Europe Strategy. The European Union supports through active policies the creative-innovative processes, as illustrated by the Cohesion Policy Program for 2007-2013 and by the ”Horizon 2020” Program for Research and Innovation.

Aim of the study. The present paper presents, from an organizational perspective, relevant aspects related to the question of innovation and innovation management, while pointing out the most important internal and external factors that favour the introduction of innovation into the sphere of processes that are run by organizations, as well as into the sphere of products and services provided by organizations. At the same time, the paper briefly presents the essential attributes of organizations which obtain competitive sustainable advantages through innovation.
Keywords: organization, innovation, management of innovation, contextual factors, intraorganizational factors, competitive advantage.
JEL Classification: D83, L21, L25, O31, O32.

Introduction. On a long term Romania’s economic and social development potential looks quite promising thanks to the potential that SMEs pose and that must be encouraged and stimulated to capitalize current and potential business opportunities.

Aim of the study. The present paper gives an overview of Romanian SMEs within the European context, while analysing the number and proportion of firms and their employees, as well as the added value that the SMEs sector brings to economy. Similarly, the present paper analyses demographic evolution of SMEs and their density, regarded as a strategic indicator that reflects, from a quantitative perspective, the development stage of SMEs in Romania and in relation to the EU. The last section of the paper illustrates various aspects regarding the position that Romania occupies in the EC as to the implementation of the Small Business Act for Europe.
Keywords: SMEs, number of employees, added value, demographic evolution, density of SMEs, SBA for Europe.
JEL Classification: L25, L26, M10, M21, O10.