Title: Developing innovation support services for small high-growth technology firms in Eastern Finland

Authors: Jukka Siikonen; Tomi Heimonen; Jarkko Pellikka

Addresses: Savonia University of Applied Sciences, Opistotie 2, FI-70100 Kuopio, Finland. ' Small Business Center, School of Economics, Aalto University, Lönnrotinkatu 7, FI-50100 Mikkeli, Finland. ' Honeywell Oy, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland

Abstract: This study examines innovation support service requirements of small, high-growth firms in Eastern Finland. The results show that most rapidly growing firms in the region can be defined as small, knowledge-intensive business service (KIBS) providers. In order to create and commercialise innovation these firms use various innovation support services (most frequently technology-related and internationalisation-related services). The results also show that there is a concrete need for intermediary organisations that help small technology firms to choose appropriate innovation support services and generally act as external strategic partners during the commercialisation of innovation process. Providing convenient access to suitable |brokers| may thus enhance the contributions innovation support services can make to the development of small, high-growth technology firms.

Keywords: innovation support services; regional development; high-growth firms; growth entrepreneurship; knowledge-intensive business services; KIBS; Finland.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEV.2011.043385

International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing, 2011 Vol.3 No.4, pp.392 - 419

Published online: 24 Oct 2014 *

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