THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC ON ATTITUDE TOWARDS INNOVATION AMONG SMES IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND POLAND

Abstract

The article's primary purpose is to determine the attitude of Czech entrepreneurs towards innovation by comparing data obtained before and during the pandemic. Moreover, to compare the perception of the risks associated with the pandemic among Czech and Polish entrepreneurs. The use of innovation helps transform and modernize products, thereby affecting a firm's competitiveness in the market. At the same time, the introduction of new technologies allows the company to gain an advantage in creating new products that can allow it to expand its activities abroad and, thus, open up new markets. It can play an essential role in the company's development during a difficult market situation in its own country. This article examines trends in SMEs' drive to innovate in a pandemic. It also compares the results of entrepreneurs from the Czech Republic and Poland. The data obtained revealed that despite the overall negative impact of the pandemic on the activities of SMEs, it had a positive effect on the attitude of entrepreneurs towards the introduction of innovations. The willingness of Czech SMEs to innovate in the near future has increased by almost 23%. Also, during the pandemic, the expectations of entrepreneurs for help and decisive steps from the state increased. In this way, entrepreneurs preferred to rely on government assistance in financing the company than on banks, and the percentage of expectations for advantageous conditions from banks decreased by 19%. A comparison of data between Polish and Czech SMEs indicated differences in the perception of the main risk of a pandemic, where Czech entrepreneurs have fewer problems selling products or services (32% against 48%).