Impact of the 4 Helix Model on the Sustainability of Tourism Social Entrepreneurships in Jalisco and Nayarit, Mexico

Given the uncertain outlook caused by COVID-19, it is important to carry out a review of the conditions in which the collective enterprises are influenced by the four helix model, specifically those dedicated to the sector most affected by the pandemic, tourism, for which raises the question: What have been the results of the four helix model in the social tourism entrepreneurships (STE) of Jalisco and Nayarit? In addition to: the participation of the actors of the four helix model has contributed to face the repercussions of COVID-19? The objective is to identify stakeholder input from the core elements of the four helix model and sustainability to the STEs during COVID-19. The methodology used was qualitative and involved the comparison of information from 12 key stakeholders from the government, social, academic and private sectors through Atlas.ti-8. Some results indicate that from the perception of the participants interviewed, the COVID-19 crisis has promoted innovation, support, and incentives among the four helixes, in which the STEs have benefited. As conclusions, the four helix model is functional to face the adversities of COVID-19 as long as there is planning within the entrepreneurships and the link with said model helix participants.

Competencies for Agricultural Advisors in Innovation Support

The expectation that agricultural advisors will facilitate Interactive Innovation is accompanied by novel expectations for their competency profile. In addition to their traditional technical basis, advisors are now expected to organise multi-actor processes, facilitate learning, mediate conflict, etc. Innovation support services are inherently diverse. To date, no precise list of competencies required by agricultural advisors to support Interactive Innovation has been defined. To form the basis for a competency profile, we examine the competencies currently being expected from an agricultural advisor. This suggested profile, developed in the context of the H2020 i2connect project, is based on a literature review, semi-structured interviews with co-creation experts, and an online validation workshop. We explore five themes: (a) basic disposition and attitude, (b) content competence, (c) methodological competence, (d) organisational competence, and (e) reflection, learning, and personal development. In practice, the profile can be used as either a tool for setting up co-creation processes or as the foundation for the development of new training materials. We conclude with a recommendation to create teams of advisors rather than relying on individuals, as a team is more likely to comprise the diversity of required competencies.

The Influence of Public Support for Innovations on the Economic Performance of Enterprises

The paper aims to assess how public support for innovation activities influences the economic performance of Czech companies. In the framework of the research, attention was paid to more than 600 Czech companies that received support to start their innovation activities. The analysis was performed on the case of the Innovation Program, which was co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund. The Innovation Program is the largest Czech program for innovation support and mainly supports the launching of technological innovations in practice. The detailed analysis included 214 defined enterprises, for which all necessary information was available. The research analyzed the turnover of companies before obtaining support and after the implementation of the project. The research results show how the grant affects different size categories of enterprises and how the effect of the aid varies across sectors of the national economy. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Priorities of the state policy of expanding the mechanisms of financing science and innovation in Kazakhstan

В статье исследованы приоритетные направления государственной политики расширения механизмов финансирования науки и инновации в Казахстане. В условиях стабильного снижения финансово-инвестиционной базы развития научно-инновационной сферы Казахстана, о чем свидетельствует неуклонное снижение коэффициента наукоемкости ВВП Казахстана, необходимо реализовать первоочередные меры государственной политики по расширению механизмов привлечения дополнительных финансовых ресурсов в данную сферу. Ключевыми механизмами, предложенными в рамках данного исследования, выступают, меры по развитию инновационного предпринимательства, создание специализированных финансовых посредников и повышение эффективности работы институтов поддержки инноваций. Инициирование и реализация коммерчески привлекательных научно-инновационных проектов позволят реально повысить финансовый потенциал национальной инновационной системы. Чтобы обеспечить более эффективную коммерциализацию и стимулировать инновационное предпринимательство, заинтересованные стороны в странах с формирующейся рыночной экономикой должны поощрять отраслевые и научные связи. Пути и средства достижения цели коммерциализации инновации включают развитие сотрудничества в наукоемкой сфере через открытые инновационные проекты. Предложенные механизмы детально рассмотрены с позиции влияния на расширение финансовой базы национальной инновационной системы Казахстана, а также возможных перспектив развития взаимодействия университетов, бизнеса и академической науки. The article examines the priority directions of the state policy of expanding the mechanisms of financing science and innovation in Kazakhstan. In the context of a stable decline in the financial and investment base for the development of the scientific and innovative sphere of Kazakhstan, as evidenced by the steady decline in the science intensity coefficient of Kazakhstan's GDP, it is necessary to implement priority state policy measures to expand the mechanisms for attracting additional financial resources to this sphere. The key mechanisms proposed in the framework of this study are measures for the development of innovative entrepreneurship, the creation of specialized financial intermediaries and improving the efficiency of innovation support institutions. The initiation and implementation of commercially attractive scientific and innovative projects will really increase the financial potential of the national innovation system. In order to ensure more efficient commercialization and stimulate innovative entrepreneurship, stakeholders in emerging market economies should encourage industry and scientific ties. Ways and means of achieving the goal of commercialization of innovation include the development of cooperation in the knowledge-intensive field through open innovation projects. The proposed mechanisms are considered in detail from the position of influence on the expansion of the financial base of the national innovation system of Kazakhstan, as well as possible prospects for the development of cooperation between universities, business and academic science.

MECHANISMS FOR IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF SOCIAL WORKERS’ TRAINING

In the context of the environment approach, the social professionals’ training is seen as a holistic system, the components of which are interconnected. It has been found that improving the quality of social professionals’ training, in particular social workers, can be ensured by developing and introducing strategies for building the educational environment of the university. Social innovations are presented as an important resource for developing the social workers training that contribute to the innovative educational environment development of the university. The article notes that the values of the innovative educational environment of training are the norms of all participants interaction in the educational process, and strategies become the basis for improving the social workers’ training. A critical analysis of the possibilities of highlighting strategies for building an innovative educational environment of the university was carried out: partnership between all participants in the educational process and specialists in social institutions; engaging teachers in innovation; support the process of mainstreaming the future social workers’ innovative potential. The article presents the professional training should be aimed at the social specialist development capable of introducing innovations of social work, taking into account the clients’ needs and the realities of modern practical activities. Emphasis is placed on the importance of developing appropriate scientific and methodological support for the social workers training.