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An environment of turbulence in the market in recent years and increasing inflation, mainly as a result of the post-COVID period and the ongoing military operation in Ukraine, represents a significant financial risk factor for many companies, which has a negative impact on managerial decisions. A lot of enterprises are forced to look for ways to effectively assess the riskiness of the projects that they would like to implement in the future. The aim of the article is to present a new approach for companies with which to assess the riskiness of projects. The basis of this is the use of the new Crystal Ball software tool and the effective application of the Monte Carlo method. The article deals with the current issues of investment and financial planning, which are the basic pillars for effective management decisions with the goal of sustainability. The article has verified a methodology that allows companies to make effective investment decisions based on assessing the level of risk. For practical application, the Monte Carlo method was chosen, as it uses sensitivity analysis and simulations, which were evaluated for two types of projects. Both simulations were primarily carried out based on a deterministic approach through traditional mathematical models. Subsequently, stochastic modeling was performed using the Crystal Ball software tool. As a result of the sensitivity analysis, two tornado graphs were created, which display risk factors according to the degree of their influence on the criterion value. The output of this article is the presentation of these new approaches for financial decision-making within companies.

To solve problems in business practice, the manager needs to have a wide range of skills. The contribution evaluates the use of managerial skills in the selected EU companies to find what managerial skills managers consider important, which of them they use and how much time they devote to them. A questionnaire survey provided the necessary data. The target respondents were randomly selected managers at all levels of management. The results of the survey show reserves in managerial skills using in the company and can be used to suggest potential improvements for managers, based on the results of a questionnaire survey. Management of the companies can use the results of the research to prepare the necessary training skills for their managers and by this way to provide long-term sustainable competitiveness.

The article deals with current issues of finance and investment planning with a selective focus on financial decision-making processes using sophisticated software tools. The article has a special significance in this period when it is necessary to re-evaluate and consider ways of appropriate and effective investment and financial policy in view of the restrictions in enterprises in Slovakia, which brings with it the global pandemic COVID-19 or another crisis in enterprises. The aim of the article is to propose a methodology as a tool for streamlining the investment activities of companies. The proposed methodology combines the usability of traditional and modern economic methods, making it an important tool for the sustainability and competitiveness of enterprises. Three variants of investment decisions in the enterprise were simulated using simulation in terms of two approaches. The first approach focuses on mathematical–economic calculations of deterministic modeling through traditional software tools. The second stochastic modeling uses the simulation of financial risks using a modern software tool using the Monte Carlo method. The output is the creation of a graphical management model in the form of an algorithm.

The European Commission has established a Critical Raw Materials List (CRM) for the European Union (EU), which is subject to regular review and updating. CRMs are needed in many key industries such as automotive, steel, aerospace, renewable energy, etc. To address this issue, we studied publicly available data from databases developed by the EU for monitoring the progress of individual countries in key areas for the development of society. The paper analyzes indicators of import reliance, net additions to stock, domestic material consumption (DMC), resource productivity, and circular material use rate. Prospective products and technologies, in electromobility, digitalization, Industry 4.0, and energy transformation, are changing and increasing the demand for raw materials. The aim of this article is to look at the ways forward in order to use critical raw materials as efficiently as possible while at the same time ensuring the optimal economy of the countries. From the sources and databases of data available for the EU, we analyzed a number of variables and suggested options for future developments in the efficient use of critical raw materials. We defined what we believed to be the optimal management means in relation to critical raw materials and worked backwards to find a path to efficient use of critical raw materials. Web of Science 14 11 art. no. 6554

The article focuses on the field of innovative trends for efficient data processing in the conduct of research of organic soil pollution using a soil air analyzer for surveys of soil contamination in situ at industrial enterprises in Slovakia. The content of the article is a discourse of theoretical knowledge from the field of the geological environment; the authors’ own survey to monitor the processing and evaluation of the measured values obtained (e.g., CO2, CH4, NEL, BTEX). Currently, standard data processing procedures using the software that is supplied have basic or limited functionality, and the processing time is several hours, including manual and repetitive tasks. As we present in the article, the new Windows PowerShell tool is being used more efficiently, reducing the data processing time which represents an 86% time saving. There is currently no suitable or faster way of evaluating the measured data in Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

The use of geothermal energy (GE) and the green economy in the environment of Slovak municipalities and towns is significant, due to the reduction in the negative influences and impacts of human society’s constant consumer lifestyle. The authors highlight the use of modern scientific knowledge, practical experience, and ever-improving technologies in the field of renewable energy sources RES. The aim of this contribution is to draw attention to the under-utilization of GE’s potential in Slovakia. Given the country’s commitment to meeting emission limits under EU carbon neutrality agreements by 2050, the use of this resource is very pertinent. Slovakia has significant geothermal resources that are not currently sufficiently utilized. The article suggests using GE to heat housing units of the housing estate near the geothermal source. Three scenarios (60 °C (pessimistic), 65 °C (conservative), and 70 °C (optimistic)) were considered in our energy balance and economic advantage calculations. The green economy offers a sustainable way of using the earth’s resources. The financial calculations regarding the amount of investment, the expected financial return and the possible values of the saved emissions confirm the possibility of the further use of GE technology. The information under consideration can be used in other significant territories, which may be a theme for further research in this field.

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.

Investments are a demanding and, at the same time, threatening indicator for enterprises not only in the time of depression such as the current coronavirus pandemic but also under normal market conditions. The goal of this article is to propose a methodology for assessing financial risks and investment development. The proposed methodology integrates the use of new modern and classical economic-statistical methods, which makes it an effective tool for the sustainability of enterprises. At the same time, the methodology can be used as an auxiliary tool for enterprise management in the investment decision-making process. In the first step, a methodology was created using a commercial software tool where the pdevelopment of the cash-flow indicator and the accumulated cash flow were modeled in order to calculate the net present value (NPV). The statistical modeling was performed using the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The normality was monitored using the Shapiro–Wilk test, and the Kruskal–Wallis test was chosen as the non-parametric test. The deliverable of the applied methods was the creation of a mathematical model in the form of an algorithm that is applicable in different enterprises in Slovakia.

There are two important territories in Slovakia with functioning gas well operations: the Eastern Slovak Lowland and the Vienna Basin. This article focuses on the creation of electronic monitoring and graphical mapping of the current technical conditions of gas wells in the Eastern Slovak Lowland. An analysis of the gas wells’ current state in the terrain is available. The aim of the article is to draw attention to the current state of gas wells, such as the insufficient processing of gas wells, the lack of summary and uniform records concerning them, and the lack of an electronic system for monitoring the technical security of the wells. The scientific contribution of this article lies in its ability to interpret and address operational problems related to gas wells. Through analogy, the step algorithm expresses the possibility of also using gas wells for oil, geothermal and hydrogeological wells. The intention was to highlight the importance of the need to create a database for the security and strategic needs of the state regarding the storage of natural gas. As of yet, no computer or graphic system has been used in Slovakia to monitor, unify and clarify the actual technical condition of gas wells. Using the ArcGIS electronic and graphical software tool, the mapping and recording of gas wells was carried out in the area under investigation. The mapping was completed with the mentioned technical patterns. These patterns have the information found on individual gas wells. After the information is added to the database, this mapping can also be carried out in another important area with functioning gas wells, such as in the Vienna Basin, which could be another theme for further research in this area.

Planning presents base of all other managerial function of the company and it runs at all levels. In case company wants to be competitive, it must plan all its activities, while one of the most important plans in industrial company presents plan of production. Exactly from it all other activities are developed. Contribution is orientated to the processes that directly depend on planning of production, mainly from acceptance of order, stocks ́ analysis, determination of goals, production process to quality control. Its goal is to suggest increasing of effectiveness in process of production planning with orientation to concrete project in chosen company that would bring also costs saving.

Aim of present universities is except of providing of expert education also development of harmonic personality and students training in the sense of democracy values, humanism and tolerance. E-learning communication can be dynamic and creative, but sometimes it can be also problematic due to the disability of man to properly interpret some of his exposal. European activities in the internationalization of education help to develop such necessary skill and abilities. E-learning education enables to provide broad knowing of the reality and it contributes at our education institutions to the forming of European identity of university student. Part of the contribution is also discussion about research results, orientated to the implementation of new methods of education in the frame of university education program at Technical University in Kosice – Slovakia.

We live in information society, in which internet has became necessary media that is needy for the work, education, information and contacts. Authors in the contribution show to the necessity of communication and humanization during education process of the universities’ students with technical orientation, mainly through e-learning activities that are necessary part of living style of present young generation. In the contribution there is inscribed attention to the whole road of capabilities and skills for work and whole life education through e-learning. It indicates that in present time universities and colleges must elaborate and realize education programs for obtaining and improving of key competencies of the students. Part of the contribution is also presentation of information and evaluation of research, orientated to the using of concrete forms of e-learning at the Technical University.