In the aftermath of the global recession, job creation is a policy priority. While it is a well-accepted fact that the majority of jobs are created by small and medium-sized enterprises, not all SMEs are rapidly growing, or even intend to expand. With limited public budgets, business models within the SME population that do show high job creation potential become very attractive. One of the business types identified as major engines of job creation are ‘born globals’ characterised as firms which engage intensively in internationalisation activities shortly after start-up. They are high on the entrepreneurship research agenda but so far little attention has been devoted to their potential as job creators, the processes they apply when hiring and the barriers they face. Through a combination of secondary data analysis, literature reviews and international case studies, European Born Globals sheds new light on the motivations and processes of job creation in born global firms. It will contribute to understanding the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of job creation in born globals, essential not only for policy makers, but also for academic research and management education.

This book helps managers and scholars understand the born-global phenomenon. We offer a comprehensive treatment of born globals, from distinctive features of these companies, to strategies that they use for international success, to implications of the phenomenon for international small- and medium-sized enterprises. We review useful theories and frameworks, as well as introduce a new field based on the born-global phenomenon - international entrepreneurship.

International Business is a well-established research field, in which regionalisation has gained prominence in the last decade. Because Europe is a market that shows specific patterns of highly advanced market integration, European Business is a subject in its own right and with its own research momentum. In particular, firms view Europe as a challenging, mostly – yet not entirely- mature market location that is subject to complexities that help reveal strategic corporate strengths and weaknesses. Europe represents a location that undergoes frequent and rapid change due to its geo-economic and geopolitical position This comprehensive reference volume brings together a global team of contibutors to analyze and overview the key issues, themes and phenomena that affect business in Europe. With interdisciplinary perspectives from key disciplines, the book covers a range of vital themes such as culture, entrepreneurship, identity, human rights and climate change. The selection of authors reflects the international scope of this book, and is drawn from institutions located in 17 countries across Europe. A unique resource, this book covers a region undergoing significant geoeconomic and geopolitical change, and provides a comprehensive guide to research students and scholars of business and the social sciences.

'The immense literature on born globals contains a cottage industry of research that includes many different definitions, operationalizations and conclusions. It is time to reflect on what insights we have gained. The editors have really succeeded in putting a highly needed great Handbook together that presents this at its best. It will stimulate further research. It is an appealing, useful and well crafted end product.' – Torben Pedersen, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark This impressive Handbook provides a dynamic perspective on the development of successful born global firms, including evolutionary phases and pathways of growth, emergence of entire born global industries, role of founders' linkages, experience, culture and training, as well as collaboration with large MNEs. The expert contributors and the editors explore the origin and evolution of born globals and the changing history of this sector. They outline the training involved in developing international intellectual entrepreneurs and study the effects of different cultures on the origin and growth of born globals. The Handbook focuses on the different types of born globals that emerge from the general set of SMEs – ranging from the pure born globals to the born again globals, the born regionals, and their sub group of born again regionals. It also innovatively differentiates these from internationalizing SMEs and international new ventures. Providing a dynamic perspective on the development of successful born global firms, this book will prove essential reading for researchers and students of international business. Founders of born global firms will also learn about novel management practices, whilst educational institutions and governments will find invaluable insights on how to foster the emergence of successful born globals.

Cases on Born Globals brings together a wealth of case studies covering a range of industries and countries on emerging firms known as ‘Born Globals’ that seek to enter international markets immediately upon creation. Bringing together 11 key cases, Erik Rasmussen highlights how these firms have been increasing in number over the last 20 years. He further explores the speed of their growth, the challenges experienced and likely future prognoses. The book also discusses whether early internationalisation could be advantageous to entrepreneurial firms by linking up to other more prominent firms and thereby creating a greater reach for the newly-created firms.

This book is an important contribution to the field of international entrepreneurship. . . it provides a comprehensive account of internationalization strategies adopted by SMEs in a wide range of European countries, and by drawing on a number of empirical studies, it enriches the theory of SME internationalization with a new theoretical framework that can be useful for understanding the complexity of SME internationalization processes in Europe. Julia Korosteleva, Thunderbird International Business Review From Andorra to Wales with stops in more than 35 other European countries along the way, this comprehensive collection of articles is required reading for scholars interested in international entrepreneurship. It provides information on how entrepreneurs and their firms go international from virtually every country in Europe. This unique volume permits researchers to compare how the process of entrepreneurial internationalization is affected by differences in culture, location, technology, and other influences within Europe. Furthermore, the various authors consider a range of theoretically important issues, such as cooperation and trust, venture capital, research and development, learning, networks, and government policy. This book serves as an essential departure point from which scholars can embark on their study of international entrepreneurship in Europe. Benjamin M. Oviatt, Georgia State University, US This is a timely and interesting book that brings together some of the most insightful contributions on the internationalization of new ventures, with an emphasis on the European experiences. Assembling some of the best scholars, the book offers a distinctively European perspective one that deserves recognition, analysis, and discussion. I applaud the editors for doing such a masterful job in bringing a great group of researchers and ideas together. I highly recommend this book for any serious researcher and scholar. Shaker A. Zahra, University of Minnesota, US This remarkable book provides valuable contributions on how the process of SMEs internationalization is operating in 37 different European countries. Researchers in international entrepreneurship will find new materials for theorization. Numerous facets of international business are carefully documented by a great many well-known scholars. Also, given the variety of situations typical of the European small business sector, the book may prove to be helpful to small-scale entrepreneurs wishing to take steps towards internationalization. Overall, this coordinate work makes you realize why Europe is so fascinating. Jean-Jacques Obrecht, University Robert Schuman, Strasbourg, France This unique comparative study of the internationalization of small firms is a milestone in international business research. It compares the internationalization strategies of fast-growing firms across nearly forty different European countries. It shows that the growth trajectories of firms reflect the investing country s geographical location, natural resource endowments, legal and financial institutions and local culture. There are many important new insights to be gained from a careful study of this important new research resource. Mark Casson, University of Reading, UK This unique Handbook illustrates how entrepreneurs across Europe tackle internationalization. This timely and important book identifies patterns and builds a theory of international entrepreneurship in Europe. The contributors discuss the performances of SMEs on the road to internationalization. Each chapter emphasizes how the process of internationalization of SMEs operates, the challenges and opportunities that arise due to each country s specific political and economic situation, and their subsequent internationalization performance. These processes, challenges and performances can be understood through theories of international business and entrepreneurship. Although at times these theories cannot fully

Providing cutting-edge material from a range ofÊperspectives on entrepreneurial internationalization, this insightful book develops contemporary business concepts and business models to engage with a rapidly changing and diversifying world economy. Chapters build a conceptual and theoretical illustration of the field, providing key frameworks for the analysis of entrepreneurial internationalization, including insights into strategy and organization, as well as fundraising strategies for early internationalizing startups.Ê

The process of the transition to a market-oriented economy for countries from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) started some 25 years ago. A new technology base triggered the fast growth of new investments into intangible assets by global economic leaders at the beginning of the 1990s, providing the basis for a move towards a knowledge economy. During the past 25 years, entrepreneurs in CEE and the CIS have reshaped traditional industries and created new industries, combining innovative ideas with traditional competencies. Yet we still do not know very much about how and why companies led by entrepreneurs develop, how they expand globally and what the role of new knowledge and innovation is in the internationalization process. Understanding the pathways of entrepreneurial development, especially growth through internationalization, is important for the overall development of countries in transition and beyond. Entrepreneurship in Central and Eastern Europe: Development through Internationalization provides an overview of entrepreneurship in a range of important emerging markets. This book aims to fill the gap in the literature by providing up-to-date data and case-based evidence. With coverage of a range of national firms from countries including Belarus, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine, this book will be vital supplementary reading around international entrepreneurship and essential reading for those studying the business environment in this vital emerging market.

How do firms from emerging economies strive for the internationalization of their business? This comprehensive two-volume collection tackles this question by taking a closer look at underexplored issues, including bottom of the pyramid (BoP) business models, value creation and co-creation, employee commitment and the ‘born global’ concept. Volume II examines internationalization from the perspective of European and African firms. It covers an array of pressing issues within Europe including responsible business practices between SMEs from developed and emerging countries, and the impact of psychic distance, while coverage of African firms places a spotlight on under-researched countries such as Tanzania, Zambia and Nigeria. Providing further examination of emerging markets and internationalization processes, this second volume offers a comprehensive guide for all researchers of international business.

Offers qualitative studies of collaboration processes conducted in globalising companies based in Denmark and with subsidiaries in Asia. It addresses the specific contexts of collaboration and studies how people with different cultural backgrounds work together, both face-to-face and in the virtual workplace.