Innovation and Internationalization of Small and Medium Enterprises : A Crossroads Perspective

Nowadays, globalization as well as the successive economic, political and health crises have changed the rules of the game in terms of competitiveness for companies. In this context, SMEs perhaps more than others are forced to face several upheavals to secure their activities and guarantee their survival. While SMEs have well-known weaknesses linked to their resources, they also have many assets that enable them to constantly renew themselves. Flexibility, responsiveness and resilience are therefore the watchwords to create new opportunities to grow, innovate, and position themselves on international markets. But how do they call into question the dynamics, approaches, and strategies for evolving in the international market? What role does innovation play in pursuing these changes?

Through this collective and multidisciplinary book, we confront the point of view of management scientists, engineers and practitioners, to provide a rich and complementary multifaceted insight into innovation and internationalization in SMEs. We thus highlight key success factors favoring the emergence of new strategies, dynamics and value-creating opportunities.

Manon Enjolras is associate Professor at the ERPI laboratory (Université de Lorraine, France). She works on metrology of innovation processes and the application of multi-criteria analysis methodologies for the design of decision support tools for enterprises.

Mauricio Camargo is Professor and Director of the ERPI Laboratory (Université de Lorraine, France). His research interests focus on the design and piloting of innovation projects and the management of technology and innovation in general, as well as the design of complex product-process-supply chain systems.

Christophe Schmitt is Professor of entrepreneurship at IAE Metz and CEREFIGE (Université de Lorraine, France). His articles and books are mainly based on the notion of value conception and knowledge building for action as well as on the development of entrepreneurial practices.