The role of entrepreneurial ecosystems in the SME internationalization

Internationalization ecosystems: a framework proposal for the international business theory

“…However, it can be perceived from several different perspectives, such as EE (e.g. Ferreira et al, 2023;Schafer & Henn, 2018;Theodoraki & Catanzaro, 2021); IE (e.g., Gawel, 2021;Odei & Stejskal, 2020;Prokopenko et al, 2014;Tippmann et al, 2023); digital ecosystem (e.g., Nambisan, Zahra, & Luo, 2019;Yonatany, 2017); and several other standpoints focused on the dynamics and functions of a complex, multifaceted and interdependent multi-system that spans across different industries, geographies and cultures (Moore, 1993;Tippmann et al, 2023).…”

“…To understand economic, cultural and social developments in entrepreneurship, the concept of EE was rapidly adopted in the specialized literature (Audretsch & Belitski, 2017;Ratten, 2021). The concept encompasses the dynamic entrepreneurial interactions amongst different layers of factual or potential actors, organizations, institutions and formal as well as informal business processes co-existing and evolving simultaneously in a given region (Gawel, 2021;Ratten, 2021;Schafer & Henn, 2018;Stolze & Sailer, 2021), that focus on the creation, growth and scale of new businesses, diversifying economic bases and promoting economic, technological and social devel-opment (Zahra & Hashai, 2022) on micro, meso and macro level (Ferreira et al, 2023).…”

“…Entrepreneurial studies have been progressing rapidly and varying considerably in scope, but with a single purpose to understand what actors and processes truly constitute an EE. Amongst the key areas of interest in the studies on EE, internationalization is now being explored either on its own or as related to other phenomena (Ferreira et al, 2023;Theodoraki & Catanzaro, 2021). The internationalization entrepreneurial perspective opens a new avenue regarding EEs, bringing the concept of global culture within its canon, which leads to higher opportunity recognition and network embeddedness (Ferreira et al, 2023;Henn et al, 2022).…”

“…Amongst the key areas of interest in the studies on EE, internationalization is now being explored either on its own or as related to other phenomena (Ferreira et al, 2023;Theodoraki & Catanzaro, 2021). The internationalization entrepreneurial perspective opens a new avenue regarding EEs, bringing the concept of global culture within its canon, which leads to higher opportunity recognition and network embeddedness (Ferreira et al, 2023;Henn et al, 2022). The internationalization perspective on EEs may involve studies on born globals, large MNEs and cross-border platforms; however, a systematic approach on entrepreneurial internationalization is still vague within the current literature, especially regarding internationalization support ecosystems (ISE) and other forms of transnational bridges between EEs (Hemmert et al, 2019;Theodoraki & Catanzaro, 2021;Van Schijndel, 2019).…”

“…Research on internationalization holds paramount importance due to its profound implications for the socioeconomic advancement of nations, contributing significantly to economic expansion and employment generation (Bradley, Durufle, Hellman & Wilson, 2019;Roig, Sun-Wang & Manfredi-Sánchez, 2020;Van Schijndel, 2019;Wentrup et al, 2020). Moreover, it stands as a pivotal domain within studies on innovation and entrepreneurship, while enterprises increasingly engage in global ventures to access new markets and foster innovative practices (Ferreira, Fernandes, & Veiga, 2023;Theodoraki & Catanzaro, 2021). Notably, internationalization intersects with the Triple and Quadruple Helix Theories, accentuating collaborative efforts amongst government, industry, academia, and society, whilst extending these collaborations to a global scale (Champenois & Etzkowitz, 2018;Etzkowitz et al, 2019;Ferrer-Serrano, Latorre-Martinez & Fuentelsaz, 2021;Sørensen & Hu, 2014).…”