Formation of an innovative region in the development axis Maribor-Celje

Evropska unija je kmalu spoznala, da je ključ uspešnega izhoda iz gospodarske in finančne krize v ustvarjalnem razmišljanju in inovativnih sposobnostih. Pri tem je predpostavila, da regije lahko s pomočjo razvoja lokalnega potenciala razvijajo lastne inovacijske sisteme in tako pridobivajo na konkurenčnosti v svetovnem gospodarstvu. Namen diplomskega dela je bil preučiti dejavnike, ki spodbujajo ustvarjalnost in inovativnost v regiji ter možnost vzpostavitve inovativne regije v prostoru med Mariborom in Celjem. Raziskovalno območje je zajemalo prostor med Mariborom in Celjem ter zaledje teh dveh mest, torej razvojni regiji na nivoju NUTS 3, Podravsko in Savinjsko regijo. Za obravnavani regiji je značilna slabša gospodarska razvitost, ki je posledica prepočasnega prestrukturiranja in prenizke konkurenčne sposobnosti gospodarstva. Proces širitve Evropske unije je za obravnavano območje pomenil nove izzive, predvsem v obliki spodbujanja gospodarskega in družbenega povezovanja. Razvoja ustvarjalnega okolja in nastajanja inovativne regije pa se ne da načrtovati zgolj od zgoraj, ampak morajo možnosti za takšen razvoj obstajati že v regijah samih. Glede na kazalce ustvarjalnosti in inovativnosti se v obravnavanih regijah kažejo znaki spodbujanja ustvarjalnosti in inovativnosti predvsem na področju razvoja lokalnega potenciala, saj se delež prebivalstva z doseženo višje ali visokošolsko izobrazbo veča, delež odraslih udeleženih v vseživljenjskem izobraževanju pa celo presega povprečje v EU-27. Tudi na področju inovativnosti se kažejo pozitivni trendi. Rast produktivnosti v industriji in storitvah se veča, rast pa je izrazitejša kot v EU-27. Prav tako je opazna rast bruto domačih izdatkov za raziskovalno-razvojno dejavnost, kar nakazuje, da gospodarstvo v Podravski in Savinjski regiji prehaja iz gospodarstva, ki temelji na »stari industriji«, v gospodarstvo visokih tehnologij. Na obravnavanem območju torej nastajajo zametki inovativne regije, vendar so možnosti razvoja še velike, zato je bistvenega pomena, da spodbujanje ustvarjalnosti in inovativnosti postane prioriteta regionalnih razvojnih programov.European Union soon realized that the key to successfully emerging from the economic and financial crisis is to think creatively and develop innovative abilities. EU assumed that with developing local potential, regions can develop their own innovative systems and therefore gain competitiveness in global economy. The goal of this paper was to inspect the factors which encourage creativity in a region, and the chances of establishing innovative region in the space between Maribor and Celje. Research area included the area between Maribor and Celje and their outskirts, otherwise known as the developmental regions NUTS 3, Podravje and Savinja region. Both regions are marked by poor economic development which was caused by too slow restructuring and economy\u27s too low competitive abilities. The process of broadening European Union presented new challenges for the above-mention regions, mostly in the form of encouraging economic and social connection. Development of creative environment and creation of innovative region cannot be planned only from the topchances for this kind of development have to already exist in regions themselves. According to the indicators of creativity and innovativeness, signs of encouraging creativity and innovativeness can be viewed mostly in the area of local potential, because share of population with attained college degrees is increasing, while the share of adult participants in education surpasses the EU-27 average. There are positive trends in the field of innovativeness, too. Growth of productivity in industry and services is increasing and is more pronounced than in EU-27. Growth of gross home expenses for research and developmental activity is also visible. This points to the fact that economy in Podravje and Savinja region is transitioning from old-industry based economy to high-technology economy. Therefore, there are beginnings of innovative region in the area discussed. But there are still many chances for development, and encouraging creativity and innovativeness should become a priority of regional developmental programs