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Vol. 3 No. 1 (2017)
March 2017: Challenges for International Business in Central and Eastern Europe

Articles

The importance of small knowledge intensive firms in European countries

https://doi.org/10.15678/PM.2017.0301.05

Published 2017-02-10

  • Diogo E. Ferraz
    • ,
  • Elisabeth T. Pereira

Diogo E. Ferraz
University of Aveiro

Elisabeth T. Pereira
University of Aveiro

Abstract

Smart, sustainable and inclusive growth is the basis for European 2020 strategy, in which small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are considered the backbone of European countries economies. The present study aims to investigate the relationship between the main variables that characterises small knowledge intensive firms (SKIFs) and the importance of their business expenditure on research and development (BERD). To achieve this, European member states were analysed during the period between 2008 and 2012 using a clusters analysis. Through this study it is possible to conclude that countries that have high growth values on SKIFs also achieve growth in GDP and BERD.

Keywords

SKIFs, Innovation, European Countries, SMEs, BERD

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