226 RESEARCH FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT 2022, VOLUME 37 IMPORTANCE OF INNOVATIONS FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT – VIEWS OF ENTREPRENEURS IN KURZEME REGION *Dace Stefenberga 1 , Biruta Sloka 2 , Baiba Rivza 3 1 Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Latvia 2 University of Latvia, Latvia 3 Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technology, Latvia *Corresponding author’s email: Dace.Stefenberga@venta.lv Abstract Innovation is one of the most infuential aspects for entrepreneurship development. Therefore, also academic researchers pay a lot of attention on diferent aspects related to innovations. Current research paper is devoted to evaluation of the views of entrepreneurs related to innovation practical applications and problems of introduction of innovations. Aim: evaluate the views of entrepreneurs related to innovation practical applications and problems of introduction of innovations. Research methods applied: previous conducted scientifc research results analysis, analysis of statistical data, survey of entrepreneurs. Survey data are analysed by most used characteristics of descriptive statistics: indicators of central tendency or location (arithmetic mean, mode, median) and by indicators of variability or dispersion using standard deviation, standard error of mean and range. Most important results by views of entrepreneurs are: innovations support increase of expert and increase of share in realisation of products or services. Key words: innovations, entrepreneurship, region, survey. Introduction Innovation is one of the most infuential aspects for entrepreneurship development. Therefore, also academic researchers pay a lot of attention on diferent aspects related to innovations. Current research paper is devoted to evaluation of the views of entrepreneurs related to innovation practical applications and problems of introduction of innovations. Aim: evaluate the views of entrepreneurs related to innovation practical applications and problems of introduction of innovations. Tasks: 1) analyse previously conducted scientifc research results; 2) analysis of statistical data on innovations development in Latvia; 3) analysis of good experience of Estonia and Lithuania for increase of innovations; 3) analysis of views of entrepreneurs on innovation for their entrepreneurship. Research methods applied: previously conducted scientifc research results analysis, analysis of statistical data, survey of entrepreneurs. Survey data are analysed by indicators of descriptive statistics: indicators of central tendency or location (arithmetic mean, mode, median), by most often used indicators of variability or dispersion (range, standard deviation, standard error of mean). Theoretical Findings Academic researchers have investigated in detail many important aspects of role of innovations in entrepreneurship, on innovation afecting growth of starting entrepreneurs where the researchers have indicated that culture and economic freedom has infuence (Saeedikiya, Ashourizadeh, & Temiz, 2022) where many innovative aspects are evaluated. Researchers have pointed out on aspects on linking non-fnancial motivators of women entrepreneurs with entrepreneurial satisfaction with use of multivariate analysis including cluster analysis (Yadav & Kumar, 2022) where practical usable conclusions are suggested. Researchers have analyzed entrepreneurs’ dreams that entrepreneurial ecosystems can promote sustainability (Raposo, Fernandes, & Veiga, 2022). Inspiring the entrepreneurial university in realisation of two experiments and with the development of proposal for aspects of innovation in higher education (Etzkowitz, Dzisah, & Clouser, 2022). Aanalysis of critique of innovation districts are covered for analysis of entrepreneurial living and the burden of shouldering urban development (Kayanan, 2022) where researcher has devoted special and deep attention on innovations for entrepreneurship development. Researchers have innovative approaches – like orchestrating entrepreneurial ecosystems in circular economy: the new paradigm of sustainable competitiveness (Castro Oliveira et al., 2022). Researchers have performed detailed analysis on emerging needs of social innovators and social innovation ecosystems (Audretsch, Eichler, & Schwarz, 2022) with conclusions that social innovations are becoming more and more important in diferent felds of entrepreneurship. Researchers have performed modelling (social) for intra entrepreneurship (Carvalho, 2022) for more detailed analysis of innovation for entrepreneurship. Aspects on relying on the engagement of others with detailed review of the governance choices facing social media platform start-ups (Reuber & Fischer, 2022; Fayolle & Gailly, 2008). Data management efciency is on deep attention with major opportunities for shared value innovation (Lichtenthaler, 2022). Cooperation and innovation are considered as key success factors for development in regions (Štefenberga, 2019). Researchers have analysed the impact of bankruptcy regimes on entrepreneurship and innovation and were ECONOMICS DOI: 10.22616/rrd.28.2022.032