Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face serious challenges in the rapidly changing and often unpredictable global economic environment. Their competitiveness increasingly depends on sustainable knowledge management and adaptive management. Technological development and the dynamics of the information society require continuous learning and adaptation. At the same time, increasing social and market expectations for sustainability require a new approach to business practices. The aim of our study is to explore how sustainable knowledge and management can contribute to the long-term competitiveness of SMEs in Slovakia. In the framework of qualitative research, we collected data through structured in-depth interviews, which show that sustainable knowledge and management are not only an ethical requirement, but also a fundamental factor for economic stability and social responsibility. The results show that the close interplay of these two factors can facilitate the simultaneous achievement of environmental balance and corporate efficiency.

Keywords: Sustainable knowledge, leadership, competitiveness, SMEs, Slovakia.