Cross-border cooperation is becoming an increasingly important factor in establishing a stimulating business environment. The aim of the article is to introduce factors that influence cross-border cooperation between businesses in the Alps-Adriatic region. A descriptive and analytical approach is used. On the basis of the results of empirical international research into cross-border cooperation in the Alps-Adriatic region between Carinthia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia (FVG) and Slovenia the article shows and analyses the barriers that businesses face in cross-border cooperation and the factors they consider to best stimulate cross-border cooperation. The results show that good personal relations, language skills and shared interests are the most important factors; the level of assistance and administrative/legislative barriers are the biggest barriers in cross-border cooperation. Different factors stimulating cross-border cooperation can be used to create a base for future strategies and training for business managers.

Innovation plays a very important role in the private sector in terms of competitiveness, and is the key to success for private businesses, helping to cut costs, improve products and open new markets. Nowadays, innovation is gaining in importance in the public sector as well, as it can improve the quality of service delivery as well as reduce costs. Innovation is an important driver of economic progress and competitiveness in all economies.Collaboration between public and private entities creates better and more effective public and private services and products. Collaboration enables the participants to exchange and share knowledge, experiences, know-how and expertise. Collaboration helps to bring a broader set of skills and talents and a more responsive work culture into public sector organisations, along with innovative thinking and creativity; it also helps private companies to innovate more effectively and to achieve their concrete goals in a more efficient way.The objective of this paper is to outline the differences and similarities between private and public sector innovation in terms of definition, driving factors, barriers and measurement; the paper also aims to examine the importance of cross-sector collaboration for private and public sector innovation, and demonstrate that collaboration can improve innovation.

The paper presents a literature review about local public services delivery mechanisms like: in-house provisions, privatization, and inter-municipal cooperation. The aim of this paper is to review the development of the studied field, to find out which delivery mechanism dominates in a certain period of time, and to review which economic research focus dominates in the studied field. Possible effects on the economies of scale, costs reductions, efficiency, and other economic-political-institutional-social factors in the provision of local public services are scrutinized, using a content analysis breakdown. Results show that most studies are country studies and empirical studies in increasing numbers in recent years. The choice of local public services delivery mechanisms are mostly influenced by the size of the local government, the efficiency of service provision, the resources available, and the institutional framework. Politics and market competition also play a role in the decision-making process.

The research project “Awarding Work to External Contractors” studied the practice of implementing public contracts in a significant selection of Slovenian local government bodies. Public procurement has become a permanent accompaniment to the business of central and local government and other public law persons with the private sector, and now goes beyond Slovenia’s borders. The public procurement system aims at dynamism, with the possibility of a rapid response to the needs of those using public funds. The principles of public procurement and its legal basis mean the system is rigid and complex, by its nature.

The global financial and economic crisis has resulted in large macroeconomic imbalances and a sharp strain on public finances. The negative effects and consequences of the crisis can be more easily and successfully overcome with the help of cross-border cooperation, particularly through the transfer of good practice, experience and knowledge across borders. The aim of this paper is to show that cross-border cooperation can help to overcome the global financial and economic crisis. Factors promoting and hindering cross-border cooperation play a pivotal role in the success of cross-border cooperation. The paper employs a descriptive and analytical approach. The results of empirical research into cross-border cooperation in the Alps-Adriatic region between Carinthia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Slovenia are analysed. These results highlight the factors which promote and hinder cross-border cooperation, suggesting that personal contacts are the most important factors in promoting cross-border cooperation, while the level of assistance provided and administrative/legislative barriers are the greatest hindrances to cross-border cooperation.