The Relationship between Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Sustainable Development. Research on European Union Countries

AbstractThe nexus of entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainable development is a subject of great interest nowadays, as society is looking for solutions leading to sustainable development. Given this context, the paper aims to put in connection sustainable entrepreneurship and sustainable development from both the perspectives of conceptual reflection in literature and a research on the European Union countries. The methodology is based on methods of analysis and synthesis, of interpretation and relevant comparisons. The research results point out that sustainable entrepreneurship, seen through the perspective of innovative SMEs, as considered in the research, is part of the support system for sustainable development, as entrepreneurial enterprises are increasingly recognized as a driving force for innovation and competitiveness, as one of the keys to achieving sustainable development. The research may be particularly important for both researchers and policy makers and offers opportunities for future studies on the subject