Global Innovation: A Research Project of TIM @ TUHH

Small and medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) have to deal with similar challenges of globalization like multinational companies (MNCs). Due to cost disadvantages vis-à-vis their international competitors especially German SMEs have to create competitive advantages by achieving a high degree of innovativeness. Object of investigation of this research project is to what extent different forms of global innovation may support these efforts. In detail following questions should be answered among others.

Are Outsourcing and Offshoring important aspects in the Research and Development (R&D) Strategies of German SMEs?
What are the reasons pro and contra regarding the internationalization of R&D in German SMEs and what are the critical success factors?
What are the preferred international R&D-locations for German SMEs and why? How important are Asian countries and especially India and China as R&D-locations?
Do SMEs face competitive disadvantages if they do not offshore or outsource their R&D-activities internationally?
To what extent can SMEs learn from MNC’s global innovation strategies?

The research project seeks to answer these questions by collecting empricial evidence to come to a conclusion. The research work is focussed on following industry sectors:

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
Pharmaceutics and Life Sciences
Mechanical Engineering
Automotives and Automotive Components Industries
Logistic

Internationalization of Research and Development: An Empirical Study of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in Germany