Knowledge based firms from Central and East European countries: A comparative overview of case studies

Bericht

This paper focuses on knowledge-based entrepreneurship, or new firm creation in industries which are considered to be science-based or to use research and development intensively, in the East Central European (ECE) context. On the basis of case studies of thirteen knowledge-based firms in six ECE countries, we suggest that KBE firms in these countries may differ in some important ways from the conventional picture of new technology based firms. In general, we see the ECE knowledge-intensive firm as a knowledge-localiser or customiser, adapting global knowledge to local needs on the domestic market, rather than a knowledge-creator generating new solutions for global markets. The entrepreneurs who start and run these businesses are skilled at spotting trends early and bringing them to their countries. Based in countries that generally have poor reputations as sources of innovative, high-technology products, but having established strong brands for themselves in their home markets, they are struggling with the challenge of entering export markets with products and services that can achieve global, or at least regional, recognition. The studies of the companies discussed here suggest that ECE firms are still in the early stages of this strategic shift.

Object Details

• ISBN: 978-83-7178-546-7
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: CASE Network Studies & Analyses ; No. 428

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Entrepreneurship ; Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives ; Economywide Country Studies: Europe ; Socialist Systems and Transitional Economies: Performance and Prospects
• Subject: Knowledge-based economy ; Entrepreneurship ; Transition ; Post-communist ; SMEs ; Case studies ; Croatia ; Czech Republic ; Hungary ; Lithuania ; Poland ; Romania ; Wissen ; Wissensgesellschaft ; Industrieforschung ; Innovation ; Entrepreneurship-Ansatz ; Unternehmensgründung ; KMU ; EU-Mitgliedschaft ; Kroatien

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Woodward, Richard ; Yörük, Deniz Eylem ; Radosevic, Slavo
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Center for Social and Economic Research (CASE)
• (where): Warsaw
• (when): 2011

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/128229
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:42 AM CET