Title: Potential international competitiveness and co-innovation of technology-based international SMEs

Authors: Angelika Löfgren

Addresses: Department of Marketing and Strategy, Stockholm School of Economics, Holländargatan 32, P.O. Box 6501, SE-11383 Stockholm, Sweden; Jönköping University Foundation, Jönköping International Business School, Gjuterigatan 5, P.O. Box 1026, SE-55111 Jönköping, Sweden

Abstract: This paper contributes to an integrated entrepreneurship perspective in the cross-section of research on networks, innovation and internationalisation. The study promotes a conceptualisation based on international competitiveness literature in order to further such an integrated entrepreneurship perspective. By focusing on potential international network competitiveness, delineated as network-based sources of international competitiveness, the sustainability of international entrepreneurial firms is emphasised. The paper specifically draws attention to the relationship between network-based sources of international competitiveness and international technology development. Three hypotheses are developed and tested on 142 technology-based internationalising SMEs by means of linear structural relations (LISREL). The results indicate that there are direct- and indirect positive effects between network-based sources of international competitiveness and international technology development.

Keywords: entrepreneurship; innovation; international; competitiveness; technology development; networks; SMEs; LISREL; potential international competitiveness; international entrepreneurship; co-innovation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEIM.2018.095041

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, 2018 Vol.22 No.6, pp.597 - 614

Accepted: 16 Dec 2015
Published online: 01 Oct 2018 *

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