Examines the question of whether providing work experience within courses of study in higher education affects entrepreneurial attitudes and behaviour, important given government imperatives to foster entrepreneurship through the education system.

The papers in this volume address key themes relating to improving our understanding of the processes involved in high-technology entrepreneurship and of the design of effective policy to promote it. Topics examined include start-ups, entrepreneurship clusters, inter-firm collaboration, and growth strategy for high-technology small firms.

Collectively, the authors present an informative overview of some of the best European research in entrepreneurship that exists at present. In addition, the variation in research traditions and approaches offer the reader an interesting insight into the various disciplinary perspectives that can shed light on entrepreneurial activities, including insights from psychology, sociology, finance and strategy. The attempt to examine both individual and firm-level analysis is also a strength of this book, given that the majority of entrepreneurship research tends to focus on just one of these streams and there is a dearth of work that is able to integrate and understand both dimensions simultaneously. . . the book provides value for money for those whom entrepreneurship research within a European context is a particular interest. Jean Clarke, International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research This book brings together some of Europe s finest scholars, showcasing the richness, diversity and quality of European entrepreneurship research. Collectively, the authors present an authoritative overview of state-of-the-art research on current entrepreneurship themes. This book is a must read for scholars, policymakers, and students interested in staying updated about the current state of entrepreneurship research. Johan Wiklund, Syracuse University, US The 20th edition of the RENT conference took place where it started 20 years ago: in the European capital , Brussels. The current volume presents the best papers of this conference and offers a grand view of the state of the art of European entrepreneurship research. Drivers as well as consequences are dealt with from many different angles. Taken together it gives a thorough description of the scarcest and most essential of all input factors of the modern economy: entrepreneurship. Roy Thurik, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands This book provides an invaluable, state-of-the-art overview of current European research in the field of entrepreneurship. It focuses on four themes, each of which illustrates a key dimension in the overall theme: entrepreneurs and their role in entrepreneurship entrepreneurship in family businesses performance of new ventures and entrepreneurial processes. Entrepreneurship, Sustainable Growth and Performance is written from various perspectives by eminent academics with different methodological approaches. It is an invaluable resource for researchers, scholars and students as well as consultants and policymakers with an interest in entrepreneurship and small businesses.

The introduction of endogenous growth theory has led to new interest in the role of the entrepreneur as an agent driving technical change at the local regional level. This book examines theoretical and methodological issues surrounding the interface of the entrepreneur in regional growth dynamics on the one hand and on the other presents illuminating case studies. In total the book's contributions amplify understanding of such critical issues as the relationship between innovation and entrepreneurship, the entrepreneur's role in transforming knowledge into something economically useful, and knowledge commercialization with both conceptual and empirical contributions. The emergence of endogenous growth theory has unleashed a flurry of new hypotheses and related inquiries that have in turn created an exciting dynamic in the conceptual, theoretical and empirical foundations of the field. A central feature has been the recognition that local initiatives matter in how regions grow and adjust to changes and shocks. Moreover, it is the role of technical change, driven by entrepreneurs, that motivates these initiatives. This volume begins by outlining and explaining the theory and method behind entrepreneurship and development. This is followed by specific case studies of practice and policy. These cases are region specific, offering the reader concrete, empirically based research results. Scholars and students in economics, entrepreneurship and public policy will find this volume a valuable tool in understanding the latest research in regional economic development.

With the global economy in a precarious position, nurturing new entrepreneurial high-technology firms is likely to comprise a key component of any policy to encourage economic growth, both in developed and developing countries. Recent high-technology ventures – such as retailing in the music industry – have shown how entrepreneurs can radically change, or even replace, the structure of existing industries. High-Technology Entrepreneurship introduces and analyzes all the major aspects of high-technology small-firm formation and growth. Locational and functional aspects of the process, as well as how contexts for development may vary between developed and developing economies are also discussed. Other key topics that are addressed include: how high technology firms originate in theory and practice entrepreneurship theory incubators, science parks and clustering entrepreneurial strategy and finance. Students taking Master's-level courses in entrepreneurship, technology, innovation, academic enterprise and industrial development will find this an essential textbook for completing their studies.

Over the past years, businesses have had to tackle the issues caused by numerous forces from political, technological and societal environment. The changes in the global market and increasing uncertainty require us to focus on disruptive innovations and to investigate this phenomenon from different perspectives. The benefits of innovations are related to lower costs, improved efficiency, reduced risk, and better response to the customers’ needs due to new products, services or processes. On the other hand, new business models expose various risks, such as cyber risks, operational risks, regulatory risks, and others. Therefore, we believe that the entrepreneurial behavior and global mindset of decision-makers significantly contribute to the development of innovations, which benefit by closing the prevailing gap between developed and developing countries. Thus, this Special Issue contributes to closing the research gap in the literature by providing a platform for a scientific debate on innovation, internationalization and entrepreneurship, which would facilitate improving the resilience of businesses to future disruptions.

The book you are about to read offers some very powerful insights into the link between entrepreneurship, industrial cooperation and the emergence of high-tech companies in Europe. It deals with the very essence of the potential that Europe can and should use in order to increase its competitiveness and retain at the same time its quality of living. From the foreword by Janez Potocnik, EU Commissioner for Science Policy Presenting original and innovative research studies with a focus on new business development in science and technology, this book highlights the role and challenge of European cooperation to create new techno-ventures and encourage them to survive and even flourish. The book is an exceptional result of a distinctive network of European and American scholars, practitioners, and members of public institutions interested in the critical issues of emergence and survival of technology and knowledge based firms. The contributors study examples from both the old EU-member states such as France, Germany, the UK and the Netherlands, as well as newer countries such as Slovenia and Estonia. The book is unique in bringing culture and psychology together in the particular context of the nascent technopreneur. Using a plethora of different approaches, Entrepreneurship, Cooperation and the Firm will be of great interest to innovation and entrepreneurship policy makers at governmental levels, and also to those involved in research programs on entrepreneurship, innovation and organizational change. In addition, this book will be a stimulating read for academics, researchers and practitioners both inside and outside of the classroom.

As more companies shift their operations between countries to take advantage of lower costs and greater profit, the global market continues to change rapidly, resulting in global hypercompetition that can be detrimental to a business. Firms must remain updated with the latest research as they navigate cultural differences, communication challenges, and inconsistent standards in order to thrive. Advanced Perspectives on Global Industry Transitions and Business Opportunities is an essential, comprehensive reference book that explores the current global business environment and the challenges that have arisen due to contemporary globalization and the resulting global hypercompetition. With a broad scope, the book covers the implications of industry transitions from small and medium-sized companies to multinational businesses and large enterprises and discusses opportunities for both born global and born-again global firms. Featuring topics that deal with innovation, digitalization, disruptive technologies, and international collaboration, this is an ideal source for executives, managers, entrepreneurs, global businesses and businesses looking to transition to the global market, academicians, researchers, and students.