EN
In the article the author discusses resuits of empirical research carried out among representatives of enterprise boards functioning in the member states of the former EU. An assessment of support given by certain institutions and groups to innovative efforts of enterprises is one of the chief aims of this paper. The research shows that managers of the examined companies were most satisfied with the support of their own personnel, then with a backup of financial institutions such as accountants or banks. The trade unions or EU institutions offered the least assistance in managers' opinions.