HUMAN CAPITAL AND POTENTIAL IN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF SLOVAKIA

In our contribution we will pay attention to importance of human capital and human potential in regional development of Slovak regions, which are very different in socio-demographic, economic and geographic parameters. We will identify key factors of human capital development and potential in Slovak regions at NUTS III, potentially at NUTS IV classification level. To describe and compare Slovak NUTS III regions from the view point of regional development potential of human sources and human capital, we will use indicators of regional economic value (regional gross value added) and its structure (by sectors of economy), structure of education of economically active population and structure of professions by employees in regions. Slovakia and its regions are not technology or scientific-research leaders. Slovak regions belong according ESPON categorisation to the category of "imitative innovation area" (except Bratislava region, which belong to smart and creative diversification areas). Human capital in such regions, his ability of knowledge acquisition and application, the ability to learn and amplify innovations gained from leaders are key development factors of regional development potential. We will try to make conclusions about human capital support through public policy at national, regional and local levels.