European Born Globals

Irene Mandl is Research Manager at the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions. She holds a master degree in international business administration and one in business and law. Irene has been working in policy-oriented socio-economic research in the field of employment and labour market as well as entrepreneurship and industry analysis for more than 15 years. Some of her major research topics refer to SMEs, internationalisation, business start-ups and transfers, specific forms of entrepreneurship (e.g. one-person enterprises, family businesses, ethnic entrepreneurship), Corporate Social Responsibility and HR Management. She has presented her research in numerous national and international conferences and most recently contributed to the ‘Handbook of Research on International Entrepreneurship Strategy’ (Ghauri, P.N./Kirpalani, V.H.M, Handbook of Research on International Entrepreneurship Strategy. Improving SME Performance Globally, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2015) with a chapter on European SMEs’ internationalisation. Stefanie Ledermaier is Research Officer at the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions. She holds an MA in European Studies from the University of Bath and an MSc in Applied Labour Economics for Development from Sciences Po Paris and the University of Turin jointly delivered at the International Training Centre of the ILO in Turin, Italy. Prior to joining Eurofound she has worked as a research officer in European employment policy at the Institute for Employment Studies in London. Previously she was also a trainee at the OECD and the Council of the European Union. Since joining Eurofound she has been involved in various projects including most recently on ‘Job creation in SMEs’.

Irene Mandl, a recognized leader in European Born Globals (EBGs) job creation research, has written an interesting book with Valentina Patrini, which may well start a major game change. Rapidly expanding EBG firms are markedly impacting entrepreneurial leadership thinking, and skilled personnel job creation. The authors research methodology of independently studying different EU countries shows EBGs require developmental help, and also can help growth of firms in other networks. A "must-read" that should elicit greater support and encourage multifaceted research. Manek Kirpalani, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, John Molson School of Business, Montreal, CanadaFirms, which internationalize early and fast in their life, have been considered a challenge for international business theory and for the practice of management. Their growth also has a potential impact on economic systems and the creation of new jobs. The latter issues represent a gap in studies. This book addresses this gap and represents a relevant contribution to the field. Companies internationalizing early and fast are likely to require talents in order to develop quickly a competitive advantage. They can also stimulate the rise of other similar enterprises and encourage people to start their own international new venture. The European economy is particularly in need of new drivers of economic and social growth and this book sheds light on one the possible drivers. Antonella Zucchella, University of Pavia, Italy and Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UKThis is an important book that sheds further light on a vital phenomenon. Since we initiated the European research on the Born Global phenomenon in the mid 1990s it has been demonstrated that an increasing number of such firms are established, but our knowledge about their growth and job creations is still sparse. This book contributes new knowledge in that respect and demonstrates the importance of these firms for the economic development in Europe. It also adds to our insight into what motivates entrepreneurs to establish such firms and how different institutional settings may support their survival and growth. I welcome this book and its contribution.Tage Koed Madsen, Professor, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark

• 1Introduction (Irene Mandl, Eurofound, Ireland) 2. SMEs and job creation in Europe (Irene Mandl, Eurofound, Ireland; Stefanie Ledermaier, Eurofound, Ireland) Section 1: Born globals’ job creation dynamism – the European perspective 3 Definition and main characteristics of born globals (Irene Mandl, Eurofound, Ireland; Stefanie Ledermaier, Eurofound, Ireland) 4. Economic and labour market contribution of born globals in Europe (Antonio Corral, IKEI Research Consultancy, Spain) 5. Drivers and constraints for job creation,( Iñigo Isusi , IKEI Research Consultancy, Spain) 6. Processes and characteristics of job creation, (Jessica Durán, IKEI Research Consultancy, Spain) Section 2: Born globals and job creation – national perspectives 7. Country study Austria, Thomas Oberholzner, Austrian Institute for SME Research, Austria; Andrea Dorr, Austrian Institute for SME Research, Austria) 8. Country study Estonia ( Jaan Masso, University of Tartu, Estonia; Tiia Vissak, University of Tartu, Estonia) 9. Country study Ireland (Natasha Evers, NUI Galway, Ireland) 10. Country study Spain, (Maria Ripolles Melia, Andreu Blesa, Antonio Corral, Iñigo Isusi, Jessica Durán all IKEI Research Consultancy, Spain) 11. Country study Sweden (Svante Andersson, Halmstad University, Sweden) 12. Country study Canada (Hamid Etemad, McGill University, Canada; Hamed Motaghi, McGill University, Canada; Christian Keen, Concordia University, Canada) 13. Conclusions and policy pointers (Irene Mandl, Eurofound, Ireland).