A special issue of International Journal of Business and Emerging Markets
Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) have emerged as the most dynamic and vibrant sector and proved to be the backbone of a national economy, particularly in developing countries. Although the globalisation and the changing economic environment have posed certain challenges to the development of SMEs, they have provided opportunities for SMEs as well. For example, the challenges came in the form of increased competition, shorter life cycle of products and technology, reduced protection due to lower tariffs, and market determined rate of interest, whereas the opportunities were presented in the form of access to better technology, availability of a variety of raw materials and components, impetus to quality and efficiency, and opportunities to restructure and diversify. To face these challenges and to seize these opportunities, today’s entrepreneurs are forced to develop innovative products, efficient production techniques and effective technology management for sustainability of their units. Indeed, the entrepreneurial innovative approach is expected to contribute to sustainable growth of SMEs, and to economic development.
True, entrepreneurship is the essence of economic development, but it cannot exist without technological innovation. Science Parks, Innovation Centres and Technology Business Incubators are similar initiatives in creating an environment for innovation and entrepreneurship. These initiatives foster interactions between academia and industry for sharing ideas and experiences and for developing new technology in order to transfer it to the end-users through SMEs. Merely creating such facilities, planning programmes and delivering training is not sufficient; equally important is the vision and strategy that educate entrepreneurs and empower them for change. Clearly, there is a need for faculty and educators to generate entrepreneurs for the twenty-first century that are agile and professional.
Given the role of academia in developing entrepreneurship for sustainable development of SMEs, the aim of this special issue is to provide a common platform to researchers, scholars and practitioners to address issues relating to the subjects mentioned in the next section. Manuscripts based on entrepreneurial and innovation orientations are particularly suitable for this issue, so are the comparative studies conducted in developing countries.
Suitable topics include, but are not limited to:
- Entrepreneurship education and its role in regional development
- Role of academic society in hi-tech business development
- Role of SMEs in developing countries
- Role of entrepreneurship and SMEs in innovation
- Research methodology and theory relating to development of SMEs
Submission of manuscripts: 30 June, 2008
Decision on the manuscripts: 15 September, 2008
Submission of the revised manuscripts: 30 October, 2008
Final decision on the manuscripts: 30 December, 2008
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