Katarína Petríková

The role of creative economy in Slovak Republic

The aim of the paper is to analyse and evaluate the situation in the field of creative economy in the Slovak Republic on the level NUTS 3. The analysis is based on the Euro-creative index calculation for year 2009. Based on the discussion of the research results, the weaknesses of the calculation and current state of the Slovak creative economy were identified. Conclusions include the proposal of activities how to attract and maintain the talented, creative people, so-called creative class in the regions. In the theoretical part of the paper, we characterise the creative economy and its importance in the current global world based on knowledge of the most famous experts dealing with the issue of creative economy and its measurement. In the research part of the paper, based on the analysis results (Euro-creative index calculation), we characterise the current position of creative economy in Slovak regions, the regional disparities among Slovak regions in context of creative economy and the possibilities for increasing the exploitation of creative potential in the Slovak regions.

Nostalgic Sentiment And Cultural And Creative Industries In Regional Development: A Slovak Case Study

Abstract In Slovakia, there are three unique, historical mining towns, Banská Bystrica, Banská Štiavnica and Kremnica, that have been successfully turned into creative cultural centres. The historical and cultural values of those towns have stood the test of time and become a magnet for a new and creative class of people looking to escape the brutality of high modernity (modern urban centres) and find a source of inspiration based on historical nostalgic sentimentalism — the basis for a new creative and cultural industry for rural areas. The main objective of this paper is to analyse the cultural and creative industries of these three unique historical mining centres with an eye to replicating their knowledge in other communities in economic stress. The paper will first explore concepts relating to cultural and creative industries with an eye towards nostalgic sentimentalism that is an important antithesis to high modernity, and even post-modernity. The second part will analyse the cultural and creative industries of the three centres based on primary data collected from several research projects in this area. The final part will provide some recommendations for the facilitation of creative and cultural enterprises in regional redevelopment. It also contains policy recommendations for the self-government of the region for a more effective and rational exploitation of the existing potential hiding in plain view.

From Tourism Space to a Unique Tourism Place through a Conceptual Approach to Building a Competitive Advantage

Abstract The main aim of the chapter is to propose a conceptual approach for the creation, exploitation and building of a competitive advantage through which it would be possible to create a unique place from tourism space. In the chapter we present theoretical basement for the issue of competitive advantage at the level of places, its types, factors and approaches for its creating, building and exploiting. In the chapter we specify one main hypothesis and one research question. They are verified through several scientific, statistical and mathematical methods. These methods are used for the evaluation of primary and secondary research results. In the final part of the chapter, a conceptual approach for identification and exploitation of competitive advantage aimed at building unique and competitive places was proposed.

Industrial symbiosis in European policy: overview of recent progress

The aim of the paper is to explain the cooperation and processes realized within the industrial networks based on the principles of industrial symbiosis in Denmark, Russia and Slovakia. The identified examples can be characterized as best practices in the field of industrial symbiosis that influences importantly the development of regions, where they are localized. Industrial symbiosis as a voluntary cooperation of enterprises with the aim to optimize production costs and improve the environment could influence positively the development of areas where the companies are operating. The paper includes three examples of ‘best practices’ from Denmark, Russia and Slovakia. The examples refer the wide range of benefits that this kind of cooperation brings.

Case 8: Relationship Marketing in the Local Authority

Relationship marketing is used mainly in the private sector and focuses on the customers. In the public sector, directly in the local government, it is applicable too, but it has own specifics. It is influenced by the structure of stakeholders, available marketing tools of local government, laws, the obligations of local government, the structure of the public administration and so on.