A multidimensional approach to the environment for entrepreneurship in selected CE countries

The research and innovation system in Central Europe (CE) has not been studied in sufficient depth, at either the theoretical or empirical level. The aim of this article is to describe the differences among selected Central European countries in order to demonstrate that efforts to build a single European innovation system are still far from complete. Selected composite indices such as the global innovation index (GII), the networked readiness index (NRI), and the global enabling trade index (ETI) show that countries in Central Europe need improvements in terms of competitiveness, innovation and technology development. Economies' performance as regards the environment for entrepreneurs was also analysed based on several composite indices with sufficient complexity to capture the multidimensional nature of entrepreneurship. The article concludes that an efficient use of European structural and investment funds (ESIF) and the application of smart specialisation strategies are promising mechanisms for European integration processes.