The paper contains new knowledge about the expansion of technologies associated with Industry 4.0 and digitalization in selected companies including metallurgical companies in the Czech Republic and evaluates the intensity of business process innovation with a focus on internal processes implemented in companies. A probe was implemented which was purposefully focused on the analysis of statistical data on innovation activities in innovative companies including metallurgical companies in the Czech Republic in the period under study by. The processing of statistical data obtained by the CZSO by a survey made it possible to obtain more detailed overviews of the relative frequencies of enterprises that implemented individual types of process innovations in the period under study and that have introduced some of the elements or tools of Industry 4.0 and the digitalization. The importance of innovation for the continued existence and development of the company is recognized especially by large companies and companies under foreign control. Many of these companies are already applying technologies associated with Industry 4.0 and the digitalization and they are moving towards the creation of a digital enterprise. On the contrary, the implementation of innovation activities and the use of technologies associated with Industry 4.0 in small and medium-sized companies is low. The main obstacle is insufficient funding for new technologies and human resources.
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