Výběr potenciálních partnerů ze sklářského odvětví ČR pro zapojení do RP EU

The aim of the article was to map the innovation potential of selected commodities produced by the glass industry. Those selected are domestic glass (beverage glasses, kitchenware, decorative glass, artistic glass, etc.) and jewelry. These are commodities that were identified in the available studies as causes for concern. The identified characteristic of these commodities was an insufficiently innovative approach throughout the business process of the companies. The intention of the authors, based on their own assessment of the innovation potential of the mentioned commodities, is to propose a procedure for the companies' possible involvement in innovative projects within the activities of the RCO (Regional Contact Organisation) Liberec. The present study was conducted from January 2001 to April 2012. First, an analysis of selected economic indicators was carried out for individual commodities produced by the glass
industry of the Czech Republic. According to the results, commodities were selected for the evaluation of their innovation potential. The survey was preceded by a summary of the CSO survey for the period 2008–2010, focused on the innovative activity of firms (by sector) of the Czech Republic. To evaluate the innovative activities for selected glass commodities in the Czech Republic, according to industrial classification, the following sectors were selected: the manufacture of glass CZ-NACE 231 and jewelry CZ-NACE 321 (source of input data – Czech Statistical Office). Valuable information was obtained about the type of innovation and how it was funded.

The authors’ survey of the innovation potential of glass companies engaged in manufacturing domestic glass and jewelry was focused on companies in the Liberec Region municipalities with a high concentration of these businesses. 84 questionnaires were distributed, and 30 completed questionnaires were evaluated. Based on the survey results, it was found that respondents mostly showed low innovation potential. In this case it would not be effective to provide assistance in projects involving all companies in the EU framework programs. Therefore, a smaller number of companies were chosen to be offered cooperation with RCO Liberec, namely companies in which at least a moderate potential for innovation had been identified.