Recent Studies
The Flanders DC Knowledge Centre is a partnership with Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School. The knowledge centre conducts research into entrepreneurial creativity, innovation and international entrepreneurship. The results can range from macro-economic insights to concrete tools to help your organisation. Most studies are published in Dutch. The ones in English you can consult here.
Under 'Other Studies' we'll keep you posted about other interesting research.
Flanders DC Studies
How do new business models affect existing players in an industry?
Companies are not only looking into product innovation anymore, but also consider re-inventing their business model. A business model is a combination of the company’s core strategy, strategic resources, value network, and customer interface that is put into practice (Hamel, 2000). A business model indicates then among others a company’s target customers, value proposition and product/service attributes, based on the different assets, capabilities, and competences possessed.
This study Study Prof. dr. Marion Debruyne and Bart Devoldere from Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School focus on how companies react to a business model innovation in their industries.
Internationalization of SME's
In a globalizing economy, regions and firms are competing on an international level. Internationalization contributes to the economic development of nations, in developing national industries, improving productivity and creating employment. Small firms play an important role in this process. Increasingly, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are confronted with international competition and are forced to play a role in international markets.
Several international studies have indicated that internationalization is often accompanied by improved performance and competitiveness of SMEs. As a large number of SMEs in Flanders are not internationally active, Flanders has a large potential for growth through internationalization of its SMEs. Emerging markets like the new EU member states and China provide new opportunities, as do sectors such as creative and knowledge intensive industries.
Globalization and entrepreneurship
This report, by prof. dr. Leo Sleuwaegen and Italo Colantone, reviews the theoretical and analytical findings on the relation between globalization and entrepreneurship, and analyzes the policy implications in a systematic conceptual framework. In particular, we focus on three dimensions of globalization: trade integration, foreign direct investment and workers migration.
During the last fifteen years the world has witnessed a major globalization process, characterised by increasing integration of products, capital and labour markets across countries. International businesses are often the most productive. Hence: fiercer competition for companies on their home markets. Result: higher exit rates, consolidation and as a result higher entry barriers. Entrepreneurs should thus take into account the need for higher quality startups.
Globalization amplifies the need for sound policy intervention. An effective entrepreneurship policy needs to take the international dimension of business into account. As a conclusion, the researchers provide a list of policy recommendations.
Other Studies
Belgium leaps forward according to Lisbon objectives
Here you will find the most recent version of The Lisbon Council’s European Growth and Jobs Monitor. Each year, the Lisbon Council examines how the largest European economies perform in the area of economic growth, labour productivity, employment growth, education level of employees, growth-oriented investments and sustainability of government finances.
In a nutshell, this report says that Europe has finally left behind several years of poor performance. The Lisbon Council sees progress in important indicators such as growth, employment and productivity. The famous or infamous Lisbon objectives are more achievable now in the whole of Europe than anyone would have dared to hope for several years ago. Belgium leapt from eighth place in 2006 to second today. This means that Belgium is doing a little better than the Netherlands, but is still way behind Sweden, which is in a class by itself.
European Trend Chart on Innovation
Every year, the European Commission studies and compares innovation performance in the various European member states. The 2005 edition does not only contain innovation indicators and analysis from the member states, but also from Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, the U.S. and Japan.