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Innovative ideas for business - a well-forgotten old? Innovation in small business.

Innovative activity in small business, as a rule, is associated with the introduction of new competitive technologies in various fields of activity. Innovative solutions directly depend on quality management and are aimed at improving the structure of production.

Innovative activity in small business can be divided into the following areas:

on the introduction of new products that can be created in the sphere of production or consumption;

development of certain information systems, know-how;

use of innovations in the management and modeling of production processes;

new ways of personnel management;

innovations in the financial and accounting sphere;

changes in legal activities associated with the introduction of new regulatory legislative acts;

new directions in the social sphere related to optimal working conditions, aimed at improving the cultural, political and social aspects.

Before starting the introduction of innovative products on the Russian market, it is worth studying the competitiveness of a new product, enlisting the support of the state and other structures that contribute to the development of this business.

Forms and incubators of small business and innovative entrepreneurship

Business incubators can take the following forms:

virtual;
distribution type;
group;
specialized.

The main purpose of incubators is to create and develop business. According to world statistics, the survival rate of small innovative enterprises is now 80%.

In Russia, business incubators began to appear in the early 90s, now their activities are directly related to:

providing advice on various issues related to tax policy, legal and regulatory activities for doing business;

assistance in creating a business plan;

conducting various types of trainings that help improve the skills of small businesses;

provision of outsourcing services on preferential terms and access to the information databases of the incubator.

Thanks to the support of business incubators, an entrepreneur can start producing his products and promote them in the domestic and foreign markets. The purpose of this process is to help start-up companies grow.

According to Forbes magazine, in Russia, on the scientific platform of the country's leading universities, there are the best business incubators in the world.

These organizations include:

Business incubator of the Academy of National Economy. About 120 startups have already been implemented here. The most promising projects of this research center were the development of platforms for smartphones with the ability to link a task to a point on the map.

The HSE Business Incubator releases about 6 projects a year. The most famous programs of the incubator are pension navigator Pensiamarket.ru, interactive B2B flower sales system "b2b flowers" and "Skillopedia" - an Internet service.

The Ingria business incubator, which helps to lobby interests in business structures, conducts an examination of the project, assists in the development of a plan, promotes the protection of intellectual property and the organization of production. The most famous projects are "Biomedical Modeling", which introduced 3D plastic surgery and the development of "Texiks", associated with the cleaning of tanks from petroleum products.

The business incubator of Moscow State University directly expands the scope of molecular technologies and is engaged in computer modeling.

Problems of small innovative business

The main problems that arise in small businesses are directly manifested:

lack of own funds;

in the absence of financial support from the state;

too low demand for innovative goods and services;

in the high cost of innovation;

in the huge risk of economic losses, and the fear associated with the collapse of the introduction of the product;

in the low potential of self-organization of the enterprise;

in the absence of qualified workers;

lack of information about new technologies;

in the absence of information sources about the sales market and a logistics system that will help implement a particular venture business.

Small business development and support

In the Russian Federation, there are various programs of the Ministry of Economic Development related to the provision of subsidies from the Federal budget to assist small and medium-sized businesses. All sectors of the economy are involved in these programs. The government offers direct and indirect methods to support innovative small business ideas. The implementation of such programs is carried out by the authorized body in the subject of the Russian Federation.

In addition to the Ministry of Economic Development in Russia, a lot of work on the development of innovative activities in small businesses is carried out by the Fund for Assistance to the Development of Small Forms of Enterprises in the Scientific and Technical Sphere, which:

implements state policy to support small businesses;

provides financial, information assistance;

is engaged in the development of structures of small innovative entrepreneurship.

For more than 20 years of its work, the fund has supported about 12,000 young innovators. Thanks to this fund, 4,500 startups were introduced. There are representative offices in 68 regions of Russia. Now the fund is implementing new programs in the field of high technologies, which also help attract investment in the field of small innovative businesses and create new jobs.

The role of small innovative business in the Russian economy

In the modern economy of Russia, the mechanisms for the development of the national innovation system associated with the support of small businesses are being intensively promoted.

The innovation system is directly related to the development of ideas and the creation of an innovative product that brings together an innovative structure, developers and creators. Thanks to innovations, modernization is taking place not only in the economy, but also at the level of state power.

It is the development of small business that increases the number of enterprises, the development of which contributes not only to the economic growth of the regions, but of the state as a whole. Innovative small business is closely interconnected with the development of business incubators, technology parks, and innovation and technology centers.

Through innovation in small business, the economic system of the state develops, in general, information technologies are improved, the functioning of various types of structures is changing, conditions are created that are directly related to cost reduction in the enterprise. The introduction of small innovative business contributes to the development of competitiveness in the market of new products.

Innovative Business Ideas for Small Businesses

Before implementing a certain business idea, it is necessary to carry out a market review in the area where the innovative product will be implemented.

The most popular small business innovations that will justify the investment are in the following areas of activity:

agriculture and innovative ways of doing it;

business ideas related to the logistics distribution of goods and services. According to forecasts, the market for high-performance logistics will grow by 10-15% every year. It is the logistics sector that can be associated not only with transport interchange, but also, for example, with the correct distribution and warehousing of products;

implementation of new projects in the construction industry (new materials and technologies);

innovations in the restaurant and hotel business (accounting, organization of work).

Examples of innovative business at exhibitions

Examples of innovative developments of small businesses can often be seen at exhibitions at the Expocentre Fairgrounds. It is in the exhibition programs that the various types of innovative technologies presented in the exhibition exhibits are described in detail.

For example, at the Spring Country House exhibition, the exposition shows innovative products developed by small business entrepreneurs for modern construction. The emphasis was on the rapid and high-quality construction of country houses, baths, gazebos. During the exhibition, seminars, master classes on innovative construction and decoration of various types of houses are held.

The exhibition "Modern Bakery" demonstrates innovative equipment for small businesses, which is directly related to the production of fast food, pasta, pizza and much more. Entrepreneurs and research centers from different regions of Russia present their innovative products.

The Neftegaz exhibition demonstrates innovative equipment in the field of oil and gas production and processing of petroleum products.

The exhibition "Communication" demonstrates modern information and communication technologies and equipment.

At the exhibition "Electro": electrical equipment for power engineering, electrical engineering, industrial lighting.

Small business as the most important participant in the innovation process

Currently, developments in the field of innovation are widely carried out in all highly developed countries. As a rule, this most important function is assigned to small business.

Small innovative enterprises take part in the process aimed at applying the results of research developments or other scientific and technical achievements in practice when creating a new or improved product, technological process. They bring research and development to the finished product, which is released to the market in small batches. Thus, small innovative enterprises play a connecting role between science, production and the market, promote innovative developments on the market.

Remark 1

Recently, small innovative enterprises created on the basis of higher educational institutions (business incubators, educational, scientific and innovative complexes, etc.) have become widespread. In fact, such enterprises are the link between science and the real sector of the country's economy. Small innovative enterprises created by higher education institutions with the aim of commercializing the results of scientific research are often called "spin-off enterprises" (translated from English, spin-off means "unwind").

The significant role of small enterprises in the innovation process is due to their greater competitiveness and dynamism. They develop the most modern means of production and technologies, acting as a strategic tool for modernization and a catalyst for economic development.

Innovative small business products

Thanks to the activities of small businesses, potential scientific and technological progress is embodied in new products and technologies. In other words, the end result of the innovative activity of small enterprises is innovation.

Definition 1

Innovation is an innovation in the field of engineering, technology, labor organization or management, which is based on the use of science and best practices. Innovation is realized in the form of a new or significantly improved product.

Technical innovations include various product and technological innovations (the emergence of personal computers, mobile phones, various household appliances, various software, energy-saving technologies, etc.).

An example of economic innovation is the emergence of microfinance as an alternative to bank lending.

Organizational innovations include the introduction of new management methods in the economic activity of an enterprise, or in intra-corporate relations or relations of an enterprise with contractors. Such innovations include various activities aimed at improving the efficiency of the economic activity of the enterprise by reducing administrative costs, the cost of supplies, improving the psychological climate in the team or training it. For example, the emergence of outsourcing, recruitment agencies, various training centers, etc.

Advantages and disadvantages of creating small innovative enterprises

The following advantages of creating small innovative enterprises can be distinguished:

flexibility and speed of making managerial decisions;
fast adaptation to changing market requirements;
possibility of direct contact with consumers of innovative products;
the possibility of realizing the creative potential of employees;
increase in employment of the population and increase in tax collection, etc.

The disadvantages of creating small innovative enterprises are:

high level of risk;
competition from large firms;
difficulties in obtaining financing and lending;
focus on small groups of consumers, etc.

Thus, there are certain barriers in the innovation activity of small enterprises. Obviously, in order to stimulate active innovative entrepreneurial activity and the successful functioning of small innovative enterprises, state support is needed.

The concept of "small business" can apply not only to kiosks and small service establishments. Despite the fact that businessmen are not used to investing in scientific development, innovations can be a great way to increase their own capital. In this article we will talk about innovative small business ideas that can be implemented in Russia.

Innovative small business in different countries

In order to understand how developed innovations are in a particular state, we propose to consider several major powers from this point of view. How small businesses are organized in different parts of the world:

1. In Germany and other European countries, there are many small companies that innovate together with large corporations. They produce individual parts or bring their own designs to market. Small firms take the lead and create new products. After the products go on sale, small businesses can count on the support of the "parent" corporation. The reason for this success is simple: states actively support start-up entrepreneurs and create the most favorable conditions for their development.

2. In China, small organizations are considered the main source of innovation. A special entrepreneurial culture allows you to improve productivity, reduce the amount of defective goods and create new products. Since 2003, the Chinese government has established two long-term programs to help start-up entrepreneurs. Due to this, the share of small business in the state economy has exceeded 60%.

3. Small business sectors in Russia are not developing so rapidly. Most of the firms are engaged in trade, or rather, the resale of imported goods. Innovative technologies within small enterprises are used extremely rarely. There is not enough investment and professional staff to create a new product. A narrow sales market for products and low demand for high-tech goods also play a role. Entrepreneurs are afraid to invest their savings in innovations, because it is not known how the population will react to the appearance of this product.

Is innovation necessary for highly profitable small businesses in Russia?

Surveys among managers of enterprises of various sizes have confirmed that work optimization reduces the cost of production and allows significant savings in its production. Innovations not only improve the work of the company, but also lay a good foundation for the development of the country. The creation of innovations improves the life of the population and raises the general standard of living.

At the same time, experts argue that innovations should be directed to solving specific problems. A product that satisfies the needs of the population or makes life easier will always be in demand.

Small businesses are most interested in introducing new products to the market. Through innovation, even a small firm can quickly gain popularity and earn a decent income.

Ideas for organizing a profitable small business in Russia

It must be understood that not every innovation will be in demand among the population and will bring income. To organize a truly profitable business, you need to study consumer demand and sensibly assess your ability to meet it. Below are real business projects that a small business entrepreneur can successfully bring to life:

1. Robot gardener. The unique device allows you to forget about weeds and small pests. A smart machine independently destroys everything that interferes with the proper growth and development of crops. Human intervention is not required, the robot itself performs its task throughout the day. The car is charged by solar panels, in most cases it does not require additional maintenance.

2. Service for space planning. Free online resources for renovation planning are far from ideal. They poorly reflect the design idea and give only a rough idea of what awaits a person in the future. Creating a full-fledged website where people can realize their ideas will certainly attract customers. A huge selection of furniture and decoration for rooms will delight visitors, and a professional consultant will tell you how best to equip your home.

3. Rain rooms as a business originated in China. Numerous attractions have already opened on the territory of the country, due to which people can enter a room with an impromptu downpour and not even get wet. This service helps to relieve stress and relax, it is in great demand among both children and adults.

4. An unmanned mobile store can become a simple and profitable source of income. Mobile retail outlets are already in demand in China. Sooner or later, the trend will reach Russia. The mobile store is a mobile kiosk on automatic control. It can grow food around the city or serve as a mini-supermarket. Payment is made by bank cards, buyers can purchase the necessary products or place an order.

5. The smart dressing room mirror was invented by Labs. The gadget is installed in booths of branded clothing stores. It allows you to see yourself under different types of lighting, complete the outfit with accessories and instantly pay for the purchase. This eliminates the need to hire a large staff of service personnel and makes life much easier for both the buyer and the owner of the chain of stores.

When choosing an idea for your business, pay attention to the demand in the region. The best option would be to conduct a social survey about the desire to use a particular product. After a competent analysis of the market, the entrepreneur will be able to engage in the most promising activities.

In this video you will see some ideas for starting a business.

The use of the term "innovation" or "innovative" should be quite careful. After all, many consumers no longer perceive this word properly. They subconsciously send all offers to "spam", without even considering. Innovation is not just something new. It is also a discovery in a certain area. Therefore, starting from scratch projects to introduce innovations in small businesses is difficult.

There is no single answer to what an innovative business idea is. But separating innovative ideas from ordinary ideas is not difficult. Firstly, the innovative idea must be recent, and secondly, it must be confirmed by research, experiments or tests.

Innovation and small business with them and with us

In the West and the Far East, the phrase "innovative business idea" is not an oxymoron. And most often it is the companies that fit the category of “small business” that become the generators of ideas. Large enterprises do this less often by buying projects.

For example, Germany is a country where giants like BMW and Daimler cooperate with engineering companies. And this is not only in the industrial sector. The same engineering company can be engaged in the creation of new technologies in the field of IT, biotechnology, etc.

The global market for engineering services is constantly growing. In 2012, it was $750 billion, and today it is about $1 trillion. What is most interesting is that Russia practically does not participate in these processes.

Germany is not an isolated case in Europe. A large amount of innovative business ideas are created in Finland, Denmark, and Ireland. In these countries, as early as the 1970s, active support for firms involved in the implementation of innovative ideas began.

This alignment is a consequence:

Insufficient funding.
Low qualification of the staff.
The presence of a narrow market for the sale of products.
Insufficient understanding of the essence of innovative ideas.

Recently, the country has been thinking about changing this trend. It is planned to increase the spending of state-owned companies on the purchase of innovative ideas. A list of companies has already been created that are required to use ideas purchased from small businesses.

But all this is still on paper and does not receive due attention from the management. The disadvantage of this method is the maintenance by the wearable method. First of all, it is worth considering for everyone who is just starting their own business. Why not create engineering companies. Moreover, the state has already paid attention to this problem.

The reluctance of large and medium-sized businesses is due to the fact that it is not always profitable. For example, cloud accounting is an innovative idea that has been used in Europe for a long time, but not here. It will not be possible to introduce it from scratch in our country. Due to insufficient turnover, it makes no sense to use it. Moreover, there is not always sufficient confidence in this product.

With regards to small businesses, it is simply necessary to use innovative solutions. New technological solutions help to stay afloat and get their customers. Future economic development largely depends on the use of innovative ideas. They help to significantly increase the standard of living, the quality of the product and create fairly strong communications with customers.

Back in 2004, Ewan McGregor went around the world with an ordinary paper map, and just a couple of years later he was happy with the latest invention - the navigator. So every day we can find something new in our lives, in one way or another bring innovations into it and improve our life. And each new development or technological discovery gives us the opportunity to earn money by opening our own business.

Let's take a look at the innovations of this and past years and choose one of the 10 innovative business ideas.

Equipment you can carry

Glasses from Google, electronic bracelets for measuring blood pressure, glucometers for monitoring sugar levels ... Maybe not everyone on the street talks to Siri or measures their pulse yet, but more and more of them appear on our streets. People who talk “to themselves” with the help of the most convenient thing “Hands free” can no longer surprise anyone, and very soon all other devices will firmly enter our lives.

These devices can be used to monitor your condition, monitor the dynamics and help the doctor to establish the correct diagnosis. Many of them are already almost invisible under clothes and do not cause inconvenience when worn. The field of helping people with disabilities is especially relevant: the Foot Mouse, a beautiful and original Bradley watch for the visually impaired, was invented. It is useful, important and necessary, it brings recognition and gives excellent advertising to the business.

Water desalination

Clean, and most importantly, fresh water is disappearing from the face of the Earth every day, and in some places it has almost disappeared. This is especially noticeable in African countries, but after a few decades, we can also think about the lack of fresh water.

And while this process has not yet acquired a global trend, experts are already predicting an imminent boom in water desalinators and a new trend in business. After ridding the water of salts, a lot of waste remains, which can become a wonderful source of important substances: calcium, uranium, magnesium and lithium.

Carbon and nanotechnology

Cars pollute the air and the ground - this is no longer news, but a very serious problem that auto manufacturers are trying to solve by improving the efficiency of the car. The less the car spends, the less waste it throws out and the less harm it brings to the environment. All this is possible thanks to carbon tubes, which both make the car lighter and can protect its passengers.

Technique without a screen

On small gadgets, the screen can be either very small or completely unnecessary. It is unlikely that copywriters will write huge canvases of articles on smartphones or super-smart watches. It's time to go back to the future and get a hologram screen or even a keyboard that will be projected onto a table, wall or any other plane. And even (you won’t believe it) on the retina of the human eye - Kickstarter is already raising money for this project with might and main!

Alternative batteries

Semi-liquid. Super high. New generation energy cells should solve most of the energy problems of our planet. But solid batteries do not lose ground and continue to develop: graphene capacitors have been developed and are being used, which are capable of conducting several tens of thousands of charges and discharges.

Ribonucleic acid in medicine

This acid is the most valuable element of cells, which recreates the genetic programs of protein synthesis encoded in DNA. Many drug treatments are simply not able to cope with diseases, but if you influence the RNA (ribonucleic acid) itself, then there is a great chance to cure many diseases, for example, cancer. And the most interesting thing is that interest in this area appeared quite recently, literally, a year or two ago.

Nanotechnology in lithium battery cells

Scientists from Stanford University conducted a study and informed the world that they had found a way to increase the capacity of the most common lithium batteries dozens of times! They promise that soon mobile phones and smartphones will be able to work a week on a bottom charge - like in the good old days of black and white phones. Just a few years and telephone batteries will become nanoconductor. We can only wait.

Biotechnology for health

American scientists from the Institute of Health gathered to carefully study the bacteria that live in symbiosis with our cells. And if the project is successful, soon the bacteria will help us to be treated for a variety of diseases.

Technology + brain

RoboCop, Avatar... For a long time, scientists have been able to influence the human brain through electrical impulses, and vice versa - by the power of practically one thought (and nerve impulses) to move prostheses. But Duke University went further and connected the brains of two mice ... with an Internet connection. And then at Harvard they even began to control the rat tail through the human brain.

log of your life

You can look at the logs of a computer, but what if you look at the logs of a human life? Collection of data from different devices (glucometer, heart rate monitor, mood counter and financial counters, and so on), then their integration into a single platform and a report on the dynamics of a person's condition. And then a forecast for the future. Convenient, isn't it?

Innovations do not stand still and they must be introduced into our lives: gradually, but surely. Bring value and joy, apply the achievements of others to synthesize your unique innovative business.