Purpose While the born global (BG) phenomenon has been well established in the literature, studies on accelerated internationalization of firms in the service sector have been scarce, particularly for the specific case of knowledge-intensive services (KIS). The purpose of this paper is to explore which competitive characteristics differentiate KIS BGs from other KIS firms in the context of a peripheral region. Design/methodology/approach The empirical focus of this study comprehends primary survey data from 250 Spanish KIS firms (Andalusia) that have been internationalized and analyzed through ordinal and ordinary least squares regressions. The authors address the “born-global effect” on five features of interest, namely, entry mode, technological capabilities, qualification of staff, external resources and quality of services. Findings Results suggest that KIS BGs in Andalusia perceive exports as a more relevant form of internationalization than its non-BG peers. Also, KIS BGs in Andalusia present higher levels of technological intensity. Differences in terms of staff qualification, access to extramural R&D resources and the quality of services could not be identified. Research limitations/implications The main limitation of this research concerns its cross-sectional character, thus hindering the evaluation of developmental trajectories taking place in the cohort under scrutiny. Such an approach would allow a better comprehension of the competitiveness dynamics in internationalized KIS firms. Also, because this assessment is geographically restricted to Andalusia, Spain, the authors recommend caution in establishing direct comparisons and appropriation of results for other regional/national contexts. Practical implications Recommendations for public policy include establishing the necessary infrastructures to encourage the technological development of KIS companies and provide support – through export promotion agencies, for instance – for early approximation with foreign markets. Taking into account the contributions of KIS firms for the development of a peripheral economy, this involves the need to establish instruments that provide strategic information to internationalize, as well as lines of funding for these companies. Originality/value Empirical evidence on KIS BGs is needed to fully grasp its differences to other internationalized service firms. The analysis within this specific domain represents an advance in the literature on this subject. Also, the context of peripheral regions – considering their economic differences to core areas – has been understudied. The elaboration and application of the survey have allowed the authors to have access to primary in-depth data and, therefore, to build a better understanding of KIS BGs in Andalusia, Spain.

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Knowledge intensive services (KIS) have been the ones that have led to the greatest growth worldwide. Among the success factors are such important aspects as their own intangible resources and the conversion of these into dynamic capabilities, which have allowed them to be more flexible and adopt new forms of entry into the international market, such as mergers, acquisitions, cooperation agreements, strategic alliances, etc. Thus, the behavior of the KIS on the international scene makes us raise questions concerning whether the internationalization theories that, traditionally, have been applied to goods and services, are applicable to the KIS. That is why our objective will be, on the one hand, to know if the theories of transaction costs and internalization, the eclectic paradigm and the gradual model, are well adapted to the KIS and otherwise what modifications and relevant aspects it will be necessary to consider to improve their applicability.

El informe sobre el desarrollo mundial de 2009 del Banco Mundial defiende que las regiones cercanas a los mercados mundiales, como es el caso de los países del norte de África, cuentan con una ventaja intrínseca derivada de su posición geográfica. Aprovechar esta oportunidad exige, no obstante, emprender reformas institucionales que permitan construir vecindades integradas (Banco Mundial, 2009, p. 268), a lo que debe contribuir el Proceso Euromediterráneo 1 , impulsado por España, que se pone en marcha en 1995 en Barcelona. Proceso que se concreta en diferentes acuerdos de asociación entre los participantes, con el objetivo de impulsar la colaboración política, social, cultural, económica y financiera entre los países del norte y el sur del Mediterráneo. Concretamente, en el ámbito económico, el objetivo es fomentar el comercio a través de la paulatina liberalización de los intercambios de bienes, servicios y capitales, como estrate-