IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/growch/v51y2020i4p1471-1490.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Internationalization of SMEs in the Baltic Sea Region: Barriers of cross‐national collaboration considering regional innovation strategies for smart specialization

Author

Listed:
  • Susanne Mueller‐Using
  • Wieslaw Urban
  • Jan Wedemeier

Abstract

This paper provides new evidence on barriers that hamper small and medium‐sized enterprises (SME) in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) to establish international collaboration. Our analysis makes use of collected data concerning internationalization of SMEs in seven BSR countries. Our logistic multivariate regression model, which we applied after selecting relevant variables using the LASSO method, indicates a significant positive effect for the entities´ demand in support to acquire clients as well as the absence of foreign markets operations. A significant adverse effect is found for cooperation agreements as a support tool for internationalization as well as the interest to participate in an innovation and internationalization system. SMEs rather desire their internationalization capacity building than direct support in acquiring clients. Overall, our results support the hypothesis that strengthening cross‐national collaborations and establishing appropriate support programs are important toward innovativeness and competitiveness among SMEs in the BSR. Smart Specialization Strategies (S3) could provide a framework for building cross‐national collaborations.

Suggested Citation

  • Susanne Mueller‐Using & Wieslaw Urban & Jan Wedemeier, 2020. "Internationalization of SMEs in the Baltic Sea Region: Barriers of cross‐national collaboration considering regional innovation strategies for smart specialization," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(4), pages 1471-1490, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:growch:v:51:y:2020:i:4:p:1471-1490
    DOI: 10.1111/grow.12439
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/grow.12439
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/grow.12439?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zimmermann, Jörg & Grimpe, Christoph & Sofka, Wolfgang, 2009. "Young, open and international: the impact of search strategies on the internationalization of new ventures," ZEW Discussion Papers 09-017, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    2. Argentino Pessoa, 2014. "Smart Specialisation in the EU: Is it a Bridge between Innovation and Cohesion?," ERSA conference papers ersa14p989, European Regional Science Association.
    3. Andrés Rodríguez-Pose & Riccardo Crescenzi, 2008. "Mountains in a flat world: why proximity still matters for the location of economic activity," Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 1(3), pages 371-388.
    4. Jan Johanson & Jan-Erik Vahlne, 2009. "The Uppsala internationalization process model revisited: From liability of foreignness to liability of outsidership," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 40(9), pages 1411-1431, December.
    5. McCann, Philip & Ortega-Argilés, Raquel, 2016. "Smart Specialisation: Insights from the EU Experience and Implications for Other Economies," INVESTIGACIONES REGIONALES - Journal of REGIONAL RESEARCH, Asociación Española de Ciencia Regional, issue 36, pages 279-293.
    6. J. Vernon Henderson, Zmarak Shalizi, and Anthony J. Venables, 2001. "Geography and development," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 1(1), pages 81-105, January.
    7. Marina Papanastassiou & Robert Pearce & Antonello Zanfei, 2020. "Changing perspectives on the internationalization of R&D and innovation by multinational enterprises: A review of the literature," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(4), pages 623-664, June.
    8. Belke Ansgar & Wang Lars, 2006. "The Degree of Openness to Intra-Regional Trade - Towards Value-Added Based Openness Measures," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 226(2), pages 115-138, April.
    9. Geyer, Gunnar & Uriep, Amrisha, 2012. "Strategien der Internationalisierung von KMU," HWWI Policy Papers 65, Hamburg Institute of International Economics (HWWI).
    10. Roberta Capello & Peter Nijkamp (ed.), 2009. "Handbook of Regional Growth and Development Theories," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 12874.
    11. Schmiele, Anja & Rammer, Christian, 2008. "Drivers and Effects of Internationalising Innovation by SMEs," ZEW Discussion Papers 08-035, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    12. Alvaro Cuervo-Cazurra & Mary M Maloney & Shalini Manrakhan, 2007. "Causes of the difficulties in internationalization," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 38(5), pages 709-725, September.
    13. Anja Schmiele, 2008. "Drivers and Effects of Internationalising Innovation by SMEs," Working Papers id:1547, eSocialSciences.
    14. Asheim, Bjorn T & Isaksen, Arne, 2002. "Regional Innovation Systems: The Integration of Local 'Sticky' and Global 'Ubiquitous' Knowledge," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 27(1), pages 77-86, January.
    15. David B. Audretsch, 2003. "Globalization, Innovation and the Strategic Management of Places," Advances in Spatial Science, in: Johannes Bröcker & Dirk Dohse & Rüdiger Soltwedel (ed.), Innovation Clusters and Interregional Competition, chapter 2, pages 11-27, Springer.
    16. Miren Larrea & Miren Estensoro & Martina Pertoldi, 2019. "Multilevel governance for smart specialisation: basic pillars for its construction," JRC Research Reports JRC116076, Joint Research Centre.
    17. Piero Formica, 2003. "Corporate Governance of Cluster Development Agencies: The Case for Market Orientation," Advances in Spatial Science, in: Johannes Bröcker & Dirk Dohse & Rüdiger Soltwedel (ed.), Innovation Clusters and Interregional Competition, chapter 12, pages 241-271, Springer.
    18. Elvira Uyarra & Jens Sörvik & Inger Midtkandal, 2014. "Inter-regional Collaboration in Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation (RIS3). S3 Working Paper Series no 6/2014," JRC Research Reports JRC91963, Joint Research Centre.
    19. Johannes Bröcker & Dirk Dohse & Rüdiger Soltwedel (ed.), 2003. "Innovation Clusters and Interregional Competition," Advances in Spatial Science, Springer, number 978-3-540-24760-9.
    20. Arnoud Lagendijk, 2011. "Regional Innovation Policy between Theory and Practice," Chapters, in: Philip Cooke & Bjørn Asheim & Ron Boschma & Ron Martin & Dafna Schwartz & Franz Tödtling (ed.), Handbook of Regional Innovation and Growth, chapter 44, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    21. Riccardo Cappellin, 2003. "Networks and Technological Change in Regional Clusters," Advances in Spatial Science, in: Johannes Bröcker & Dirk Dohse & Rüdiger Soltwedel (ed.), Innovation Clusters and Interregional Competition, chapter 4, pages 52-78, Springer.
    22. Reiner Eichenberger, 2003. "Economic Innovations Depend on Political Innovations: On Deregulating the Political Process," Advances in Spatial Science, in: Johannes Bröcker & Dirk Dohse & Rüdiger Soltwedel (ed.), Innovation Clusters and Interregional Competition, chapter 15, pages 314-328, Springer.
    23. Slavo Radosevic & Katerina Ciampi Stancova, 2015. "External dimensions of smart specialisation: Opportunities and challenges for trans-regional and transnational collaboration in the EU-13," JRC Research Reports JRC96030, Joint Research Centre.
    24. Philip Cooke, 2003. "Regional Innovation and Learning Systems, Clusters, and Local and Global Value Chains," Advances in Spatial Science, in: Johannes Bröcker & Dirk Dohse & Rüdiger Soltwedel (ed.), Innovation Clusters and Interregional Competition, chapter 3, pages 28-51, Springer.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Dyhdalewicz Anna & Grześ-Bukłaho Justyna, 2021. "Competences of innovation brokers - experiences of the GoSmart BSR project," Engineering Management in Production and Services, Sciendo, vol. 13(4), pages 95-114, December.
    2. Magdalena Kogut-Jaworska & Elżbieta Ociepa-Kicińska, 2023. "Practical Implications of Smart Specialization Strategy: Barriers to Implementation, Role of the Public Sector, and Benefits for Entrepreneurs," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(2), pages 21582440231, June.
    3. Jason Deegan & Marte C. W. Solheim & Stig‐Erik Jakobsen & Arne Isaksen, 2022. "One coast, two systems: Regional innovation systems and entrepreneurial discovery in Western Norway," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(2), pages 490-514, June.
    4. Rúben Rocha & Anderson Rei Galvão & Carla Susana Marques & Carla Mascarenhas & Vítor Braga, 2020. "Cooperation Networks and Embeddedness—The Case of the Portuguese Footwear Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-22, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. de Vasconcellos, Silvio Luis & Garrido, Ivan Lapuente & Parente, Ronaldo Couto, 2019. "Organizational creativity as a crucial resource for building international business competence," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 438-449.
    2. Imre Lengyel, 2011. "Types of competitiveness of Hungarian regions: agglomeration economies and endogenous regional development," ERSA conference papers ersa11p674, European Regional Science Association.
    3. Sandberg, Susanne & Sui, Sui & Baum, Matthias, 2019. "Effects of prior market experiences and firm-specific resources on developed economy SMEs' export exit from emerging markets: Complementary or compensatory?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 489-502.
    4. Conti, Claudio Ramos & Parente, Ronaldo & de Vasconcelos, Flávio C., 2016. "When distance does not matter: Implications for Latin American multinationals," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(6), pages 1980-1992.
    5. Reddy, Kotapati Srinivasa, 2015. "Extant Reviews on Entry-mode/Internationalization, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Diversification: Understanding Theories and Establishing Interdisciplinary Research," MPRA Paper 63744, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 2015.
    6. Li, Wen Helena & Guo, Bin & De Sisto, Marco, 2021. "Untangling the commonalities and differences between domestic cross-regional experience and international experience in shaping speed of internationalization," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(2).
    7. Robert J. Stimson, 2014. "Proximity and endogenous regional development," Chapters, in: André Torre & Frédéric Wallet (ed.), Regional Development and Proximity Relations, chapter 1, pages 47-93, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    8. Riedel, Bettina, 2009. "A value chain and cluster perspective on competitiveness of European fresh vegetable production – Case studies from Germany, Italy, and Spain," DEIAgra Working Papers 54094, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Department of Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Engineering.
    9. Torben Schubert & Elisabeth Baier & Christian Rammer, 2018. "Firm capabilities, technological dynamism and the internationalisation of innovation: A behavioural approach," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 49(1), pages 70-95, January.
    10. Aleksandra Wąsowska & Krzysztof Obłój & Dominik Kopiński, 2024. "Strangers in a Strange Land: Legitimacy Formation by Polish Multinationals Venturing into Sub-Saharan Africa," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 64(4), pages 671-700, August.
    11. Daniela-Luminita Constantin & Carmen Beatrice Pauna & Mariana Dragusin & Zizi Goschin & Constanta Bodea, 2011. "The Question of Clusters in Lagging Regions: Do They Really Make the Difference? A Case Study in Romania," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 29(5), pages 889-910, October.
    12. Kristin Kronenberg & Kati Volgmann, 2014. "Knowledge-intensive employment change in the Dutch Randstad and the German Rhine-Ruhr area: comparable patterns of growth and decline in two metropolitan regions?," Review of Regional Research: Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft, Springer;Gesellschaft für Regionalforschung (GfR), vol. 34(1), pages 39-60, February.
    13. Symeonidou, Noni & Bruneel, Johan & Autio, Erkko, 2017. "Commercialization strategy and internationalization outcomes in technology-based new ventures," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 32(3), pages 302-317.
    14. Mitja Ruzzier & Evan J. Douglas & Maja Konečnik Ruzzier & Jana Hojnik, 2020. "International Entrepreneurial Orientation and the Intention to Internationalize," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-19, July.
    15. Li, Shenxue & Easterby-Smith, Mark & Lyles, Marjorie A. & Clark, Timothy, 2016. "Tapping the power of local knowledge: A local-global interactive perspective," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(4), pages 641-653.
    16. Navin Kumar Saxena & Satyasiba Das, 2022. "Competitive Pressure and the Moderating Role of the Knowledge Network on Internationalization Intent of Indian State-owned Enterprises," IIM Kozhikode Society & Management Review, , vol. 11(1), pages 47-61, January.
    17. Ahsan, Mujtaba & Fernhaber, Stephanie A., 2019. "Multinational Enterprises: Leveraging a Corporate International Entrepreneurship Lens for New Insights Into Subsidiary Initiatives," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 25(1), pages 51-65.
    18. Olivier Bertrand & Marie-Ann Betschinger, 2024. "Exploring the relationship between development aid and FDI from developed countries in developing countries: empirical insights from Japanese firm-level data," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 55(6), pages 782-795, August.
    19. Qiao Wei & Jin-hui Luo & Xueli Huang, 2020. "Influence of Social Identity on Family Firms’ FDI Decisions: The Moderating Role of Internal Capital Markets," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 60(5), pages 651-693, October.
    20. Danchi Tan & Weichieh Su & Joseph T. Mahoney & Yasemin Kor, 2020. "A review of research on the growth of multinational enterprises: A Penrosean lens," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(4), pages 498-537, June.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:growch:v:51:y:2020:i:4:p:1471-1490. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0017-4815 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.