European Born Globals

Irene Mandl is Head of Unit ‘Employment’ at Eurofound and has been working in policy-oriented research on employment and labour market as well as entrepreneurship for more than 15 years. Some of her major research topics refer to SMEs, internationalisation, specific forms of entrepreneurship or new forms of employment.Valentina Patrini is a researcher at Eurofound. Valentina is mainly focusing on entrepreneurship, internationalisation and innovation and their relationship with employment and job creation. She has ten years of experience in the field of socioeconomic research, including policy evaluations and comparative studies at European level.

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

• Introduction SMEs and job creation in Europe Introduction Economic and labour market contribution of European SMEs Determinants of job creation in SMEs Overview Company external determinants Company internal determinants Concluding remarks: The profile of the job creating SME Born globals’ job creation dynamism – the European perspective Introduction The business model of born globals Economic and labour market contribution of born globals in Europe Drivers and constraints for job creation Processes and characteristics of job creation Job creation in Swedish born globals Introduction Sweden’s economy and international trade Born Globals in Sweden Number of employees in born global enterprises Willingness and expectation to grow Examples of Swedish born globals Axelent Camp Scandinavia Creative industries sector Discussion Managerial and policy implications Employment and job creation in born global enterprises in Austria Introduction Mapping and characterising born globals in Austria The number and share of born globals Prevalence of born globals by sector Size and workforce of born globals Innovation activity of born globals Owners and managers of born globals Growth performance of born globals Strategic orientation of born globals Types of jobs created and personnel needed by born globals Recruitment practices used Barriers to job creation and recruiting Support for recruitment and job creation Key results and policy pointersAnnex: Further information on company case studies Estonian born globals’ job creation Introduction Literature review The literature on job creation The literature on born globals The literature on born globals as potential job creators Data and method Results Conclusion and implications Born globals and the Medical Technology cluster in the West of Ireland Introduction Literature review Cluster theory Born globals and industry clusters The cluster life cycle Irish medical technology industry The Medical Technology Cluster in the west of Ireland Indigenous entrepreneurship in the cluster Discussion Conclusions More than job creation. Employee engagement in knowledge sharing and learning advantages of newness Introduction Learning advantages of newness Employee engagement in knowledge sharing Selective recruitment Training Primary evidence from six Spanish case studies Sample Description of the jobs created Employees’ engagement in knowledge sharing Recruitment and employee engagement in knowledge sharing Training and employee engagement in knowledge sharing Conclusions: uncovering the role of human resource practices in promoting born globals’ learning advantages of newness Conclusions and policy pointers Why focusing on job creation in born globals? Development pathways of born globals Specific public support for job creation in born globals For future policy debate: Job creation by born globals