Institutional Support for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: The State and Regional Levels

The aim of the article is to substantiate the features of effective functioning of the institutional infrastructure, which, in interaction with the State and local authorities, forms a comprehensive system for promoting the development of small and medium-sized enterprises in order to restore the country in the context of modern socioeconomic challenges. The increasing role of institutions supporting entrepreneurship is highlighted, especially in the context of the ongoing full-scale war, when they have transformed into key platforms for coordination and interaction. It is proved that such institutions play an important role in accumulating and spreading information, providing consulting, organizational, and practical assistance to entrepreneurs, as well as in organizing effective cooperation between business representatives, State authorities, local self-governments, and international partners. At this, a number of important factors for the formation of institutions supporting entrepreneurship have been distinguished depending on the scale of their activities. The authors outlined the key functions of institutions supporting entrepreneurship and identified the general characteristics of their functioning in Ukraine. Additionally, the article highlights the role of the State and local government bodies in creating favorable conditions for the development of SMEs, especially in the context of wartime and post-wartime recovery. The importance of their interaction for the implementation of support programs, ensuring innovative development, digitalization of services, simplifying access to financing, and developing human capital, which forms the basis for sustainable economic growth and increasing the competitiveness of small businesses, is emphasized.