Increasing absorption capacity of the EU structural funds, on regional level in Slovakia, by improving decision tools, with focus on innovation

Problem of the absorption capacity of the structural funds is on high importance between public administrations on all levels (regional, national and also EU level). Research organizations within whole EU are also very active in this field. Most of the studies and analyses are focused on issues like managerial capacities, problems with co-financing, macroeconomic situation or problems with quality of projects developed by the applicants. These issues are analysed in detains with aim to find the best ways for increasing the absorption capacity of the EU structural funds throughout the EU member states. This article is not focused on such issues and even through this; the main aim of the article is absorption capacity of the EU Structural funds, focusing on innovation. First part of the article is focused on analysis of the absorption capacity definition and its relationship to issues or problem that should be analysed regarding to increasing the absorption capacity. Second part of the article is dealing with R&D and innovation impacts on economy – with aim to analyse possibilities to measure these impacts. Third part of the article offers some solutions (tools) how to increase the effectiveness of EU structural funds in the field of innovation and therefore to increase the absorption capacity of structural funds. Last part of the article presents the results of the analysis dealing with possibilities of implementation of selected tool for innovation impact measuring on regional level in Slovakia.