Innovation and Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs)

Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) play a critical role in shaping a region’s competitive landscape and as drivers of innovation. While much attention is centered on the role of large, publicly-owned Multi-national Corporations (MNCs), a greater focus on SMEs, both publicly and privately held, is also required to more clearly understand the economic development function that these entities serve. SMEs also enable us to analyze firm-level processes and their impact on larger economic development policy-related issues. The EUCE and its partners including GA Tech’s Center for International Business and Education Research (CIBER), the World Trade Center Atlanta, Georgia Economic Development, the Metro-Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and the Consular Corp will address this topic through a range of activities including executive roundtables, annual global business conferences, public talks and industry-specific seminars.