The place of innovation-driven project management in the life of Hungarian and Slovak enterprises 1

The advance and growth of nations and national economies is now inconceivable without innovation. Innovation activities take place in successful projects, for which a project approach is essential. Project management ensures that these innovation efforts are carried out efficiently and effectively. It is clear that both concepts are important in the SME toolbox in a competitive market environment. Both innovation and project management are not new concepts, but the accelerated digitalisation processes of the 21st century have given them a new impetus. Project thinking helps to define the purpose of an initiative, its stakeholders, helps to choose the right project methodology and drives detailed planning, implementation and monitoring. However, this has not been the same in all economies. The aim of this paper is to present the project approach and project orientation of Hungarian and Slovak SMEs, including innovation projects, in order to reveal the specificities and differences between the two countries along the results of a primary research.