European companies low on research and development (R&D) intensity struggle with skilled worker availability, organizational problems and lack of innovation expertise. While ensuring staff engagement across functions is crucial for small and medium size enterprise (SME) innovation, non-R&D SME staff present significant lack of innovation understanding. On the other hand tech-innovation introduced widespread risk of automation, which is no longer limited to manufacturing and agricultural industries, but is accelerating fast across industries, especially in service, craft and other low-tech sectors.
