Přehled o publikaci

Innovations provide businesses with opportunities for growth and increased competitiveness. However, SMEs operating in rural areas are often less innovative due to limited financial and human resources. Supporting the innovation capabilities of these enterprises is therefore crucial, as it strengthens their technological level and long-term viability in relevant markets. To this end, the Technologies for SME-CLLD call was launched under the Operational Programme Technology and Applications for Competitiveness 2021–2027. The call supports SMEs in acquiring new machinery, technological equipment, software solutions, IT infrastructure, and related services. These investments aim to promote digitalization and automation of production, streamline service delivery, or create the necessary conditions for such improvements. The specific focus of the call targets innovation implementation and the development of innovative potential in SMEs. In the Czech Republic, Local Action Groups (LAGs), which are key actors in community-led rural development, play a significant role in fostering these innovation capabilities. The aim of this paper is to use an empirical survey conducted through the national network of Czech LAGs to map the innovation capacity of rural SMEs implementing projects under the Technologies for SMECLLD call, and to determine the structure of supported projects according to CZ-NACE classification,substantive focus, and project activities. The collected data will be evaluated using descriptive statistics.