Title: Survey/review paper – The role of small firms in technological development: an interpretative survey

Authors: Slavo Radosevic

Addresses: Associate Research Fellow, The Institute of Economics, Trg J.F. Kennedeyja 7, 41000 Zagreb, Yugoslavia

Abstract: In this interpretative survey the author compares different perspectives of the role of small firms (SMFs) in technological development. In the first part he attempts to summarize various theoretical approaches to the role of small firms in technological and economic development. Micro, meso and macro perspectives on the role of SMEs are encompassed. In the second part, based on a distinction between entrepreneurialism and systems of learning as opposing theoretical backgrounds for SME policy, the question of mutual links between competition and cooperation is emphasized. In the third part, following this dichotomy, he discusses the importance of post-entry policy for SMFs and the role of |soft| services.

Keywords: technology policy; small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs; entrepreneurship; cooperation; technological development; soft services.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.1990.025836

International Journal of Technology Management, 1990 Vol.5 No.1, pp.89 - 99

Published online: 25 May 2009 *

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