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We present a simulation model of the technological innovations based on the former Guardiola's concept which relies on the notion of technological barriers. The central, novel feature of our proposal is the assumption that barriers can be reduced allowing public support to R&D. However, this can be applied under the different policies. The statistical treatment of the simulation results demonstrated that support of the elitist (super-threshold) innovating units yields higher innovation rate, but more profound variation of the technological levels. On the other hand, the favoring of innovators with sub-threshold technological levels may lead to the more integrated technological world. Simultaneously, we use the same model to study the effects of supporting knowledge sharing (that is to say, lowering sharing barriers) on average organizational knowledge. An interesting aspect of the model represents self-organized adjustment of the probabilistic parameters related to the social linkages.

The paper analyses public subsidies aimed to enhance development and innovation in the Slovakian private sector. The paper reviews theoretical approaches of the necessity of public support to research and development activities in order to increase private investment in research and development. An overview of research and development support tools in Slovakia is presented. The analytical part of the work is oriented on a comparative analysis of two granting agencies in Slovakia [Agency for Research and Development (ARD) and Agency of Operational Program Research and Development (OPRD)]. Special attention is given to direct public financial support. Logit analysis showed a relationship between success of grant applicants and their characteristics. We find that the following have impact on success of the application: Age of the company, amount of the grant required, legal form of the company, and the agency to which the application for grant was submitted. Applicants with legal form Ltd. (limited liability company) have a higher chance of receiving grant than other legal forms. The highest chance of success has a request for a grant of up to 500.000 €. According to the results of our analysis, the chance to obtain a grant decreases with each passing year.

Fundamental changes that occurred in Central and Eastern Europe (including Slovakia) in recent two decades have caused that regional policy as well as regional development has become one of the hottest national policy issues. If one connects this issue with the existence of regional disparities, there is no surprise that also the EU considers this topic an extra important one. Various scholars point out that innovation policy is the right path how to achieve sustainable regional development and how to improve competitiveness of less developed regions. This article is aimed particularly at the innovation policies of the Slovak self-government regions and their outcomes.