A businesses with a green label is associated with resources that are sustainable. This business is linked to the green economy, which can be described as a form of economy that is responsible in relation to the environment and economic growth, and thus complementary. In this type of economy, viable products are created, but also solutions and practices that take the environment into account. It is well known that eco-innovation activities are closely linked to the development of an eco-business. The research sample consisted of 10 countries, namely the Slovak Republic, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Austria, Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, and Finland, which were selected by purposive sampling. In this article, we look at eco innovations in selected countries, specifically ranking them, where we have divided countries into different levels, from countries that are at the super eco-innovation level, to countries that are in the middle zone, to countries that are significantly lagging in this trend. To classify countries into each level, we looked at the following variables: eco-innovation inputs, eco-innovation activities, environmental outcomes, socio-economic outcomes, and the eco-innovation index itself. Taking these sub-results into account, we determined where countries are, in other words, which level they have reached. We found that there are significant differences between countries. As we conclude, there are several reasons for this, but one of them is the lack of communication, coordination, and synergy between institutions, government, and SMEs, which are the drivers of eco-innovation. The supporting quantitative data collection method was data collection and structured observation, which is more precise and therefore provides more detailed information about the reality under study. For the purpose of this thesis, data were obtained from the Statistical Office of the European Union, that is, Eurostat, which is responsible for publishing pan-European statistics and indicators that allowed us to compare countries. In the survey, we compared the five most recent years for which Eurostat data were available, namely 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. The overall score of a European Union member state is calculated as the unweighted average of 16 sub-indicators. It shows how well each Member State performs in terms of eco-innovation compared to the European Union average of 100.

This paper discusses analysis of the innovative activities of mining companies in the years 2016–2018 against the background of innovation active industrial enterprises. In addition, reference is made in the article to the previous findings and research in the field of the level of innovation of mining companies. Despite the fact that the mining industry belongs to traditional industries and is considered to be not very innovative, it undertakes innovation activities necessitated by the need to bring the coal-fired power generation to market competitiveness, ensure industrial safety of miners and environmental protection. In recent years, mainly process innovations have been introduced, which is due to ongoing industry-restructuring processes. Despite the risks, the industry should recognise the opportunities in the current situation and try to use them for further innovations. The main objectives of the energy sector included in the Program for the hard coal mining sector in Poland should be pursued particularly through building new knowledge and innovation intensive competitive advantages. The implementation of clearly defined directions of innovation strategy in accordance with the provisions of the documents governing the Mining of Hard Coal section in Poland will enable its later functioning, country's energy independence and competitiveness of the national economy.

Due to the dynamic development of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, also known as Industry 4.0, the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the operation of enterprises, and the increasing demands of customers, more and more companies have taken and continue to take action to increase the level of digitalization. The implementation of innovative solutions contributes to the sustainability development of enterprises in various areas (economic, environmental, and social), streamlining processes and increasing effectiveness, efficiency, and quality of work. Such activities also contribute to the effective use of new opportunities by companies and strengthen their competitiveness and market position. The use of digital technologies increases the capacity of companies to innovate and grow, which brings significant benefits in terms of efficiency and competitiveness. The authors attempted to analyze and assess the level of digital transformation in enterprises in Poland. This study aimed to review the current state of digitization of companies, which made it possible to diagnose the level of digital maturity of Polish enterprises and to identify areas that will determine the activities of companies to quickly increase their competitiveness or improve internal processes. Qualitative and comparable methods were used in the analysis. The results show that the degree of digitization of Polish enterprises is increasing, and, in particular, was influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly half of the companies analyzed declared that they are increasing their budget for digitalization. The presented study has cognitive value regarding the assessment of the level of digitization of Polish enterprises. Both managers and decision-makers can benefit from the results of the study because decision-making regarding the development of SMEs is crucial to the effectiveness of the industrial strategy.

The article presents one of the most commonly used approaches to management, namely process approach and process manage - ment. This problem is quite complex due to the number of processes carried out by hard coal mining enterprises. The classification of processes according to three categories such as: management processes, core processes and supporting processes is discussed. Attention is paid to the efficiency and effectiveness of the process and the measures used to manage these processes. The cognitive goal of this article was to gain knowledge about the use of process management in hard coal mining enterprises. The aspects selected by the authors concerned the analysis of the processes carried out by these enterprises. In particular, the process of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Management and “Environmental Protection” (EP) has been analyzed. Their input and output elements are presented, as well as exemplary measures of their effectiveness.

Deep tech is a broad concept encompassing scientifically and technologically advanced innovations, enterprises, and projects based on profound scientific and engineering knowledge. It addresses complex technological challenges while considering environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Ambitious R&D initiatives act as catalysts for innovative solutions and for transforming companies and sectors toward sustainable development. The literature review highlights the multifaceted nature of deep tech, particularly from diverse stakeholder perspectives—both those directly and indirectly engaged in this field. Fully utilizing deep tech’s potential requires strong scientific, infrastructural, regulatory, and financial foundations. Europe, including dynamically developing EU countries such as Poland, increasingly recognizes the need to build an ecosystem that supports the development and commercialization of frontier technologies grounded in scientific progress. This article clarifies key deep tech concepts and outlines current conditions for technological innovation in Europe. Drawing on desk research, participatory observation, and a survey, it presents an initial analysis of Poland’s deep tech ecosystem. The exploratory pilot study serves as a basis for more focused future research on key sectoral challenges. The findings offer a preliminary assessment of the potential and barriers related to science-based innovation and provide a clearer picture of Poland’s emerging deep tech landscape. This enables more accurate interpretation of results and insights into the sector’s future development. For Europe and the EU, enhancing global competitiveness in deep tech will require coordinated actions and stronger connections among local ecosystems at different stages of maturity, such as those in Poland.