dissertation in pdf-format - Aalto-yliopisto
dissertation in pdf-format - Aalto-yliopisto
dissertation in pdf-format - Aalto-yliopisto
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1 Introduction<br />
factors that affect <strong>in</strong>novation <strong>in</strong> grow<strong>in</strong>g SMEs? (Heimonen 2012) reports<br />
a study aimed at identify<strong>in</strong>g factors that affect the <strong>in</strong>novativeness of<br />
grow<strong>in</strong>g SMEs. This study contributes to discussion <strong>in</strong> this area by<br />
exam<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g the follow<strong>in</strong>g questions. Firstly, how does location affect<br />
<strong>in</strong>novativeness? Secondly, how is a firm’s <strong>in</strong>novativeness affected by its age<br />
and size? Thirdly, how does success affect <strong>in</strong>novativeness? Fourthly, what is<br />
the impact of public R&D fund<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>in</strong>novativeness?<br />
Article II, Characteristics of successful gazelles – problems <strong>in</strong><br />
approaches and methods of analys<strong>in</strong>g the data (Heimonen and Virtanen,<br />
2012) focuses on the characteristics of HGS firms and methodological<br />
problems <strong>in</strong> analys<strong>in</strong>g the growth and success of firms, quantitatively and<br />
simultaneously. The paper addresses the follow<strong>in</strong>g specific questions. What<br />
factors expla<strong>in</strong> the simultaneous growth and success of firms accord<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
different statistical models? What problems are connected with different<br />
methods for analys<strong>in</strong>g high growth and highly successful SMEs? How does<br />
the selection of different analytical techniques affect the results? How could<br />
we improve the robustness of the data and methods used <strong>in</strong> the analysis?<br />
What impact does the ignorance of a priori probabilities of firms grow<strong>in</strong>g<br />
rapidly and be<strong>in</strong>g highly successful have on the results of the analysis?<br />
Article III, The development of high growth and highly successful SMEs:<br />
cases from Eastern F<strong>in</strong>land (Virtanen and Heimonen, 2011), analyses the<br />
development of high growth and highly successful (HGS) firms before and<br />
after their HGS period <strong>in</strong> Eastern F<strong>in</strong>land. It focuses on the follow<strong>in</strong>g<br />
def<strong>in</strong>ed research questions. What factors affect growth and success of the<br />
firms? How do the entrepreneurs evaluate their growth and success? How<br />
do these firms contribute to job creation and employment growth?<br />
Article IV, Develop<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>novation support services for small high-growth<br />
technology firms <strong>in</strong> Eastern F<strong>in</strong>land (Siikonen, Heimonen and Pellikka,<br />
2011), exam<strong>in</strong>es <strong>in</strong>novation support service requirements of small, highgrowth<br />
knowledge <strong>in</strong>tensive technology (T-KIBS) firms <strong>in</strong> Eastern F<strong>in</strong>land.<br />
The key question addressed is: What enhancements to regional <strong>in</strong>novation<br />
support services can regional policymakers and economic developers make<br />
to foster the overall growth of small firms? To answer this question, the<br />
follow<strong>in</strong>g more specific questions are addressed. What are the rapidly<br />
grow<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>dustrial branches <strong>in</strong> Eastern F<strong>in</strong>land? What characteristics<br />
dist<strong>in</strong>guish firms <strong>in</strong> fast-grow<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>dustrial branches from those <strong>in</strong> other<br />
branches? What do these small firms require from regional <strong>in</strong>novation<br />
support services?<br />
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