The Venture Academy Essex Business School, University of Essex, UK, Venice Chamber of Commerce, Italy and International Network of Small and Medium

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1 The Venture Academy Essex Business School, University of Essex, UK, Venice Chamber of Commerce, Italy and International Network of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (INSME)

2 Conference Overview Eclectic Charlie is of course Dunning s fictitious SME, a true representative of the 20th century entrepreneurial aspirant of international business. Digital Mary, Networked Nadia and Impactful Shona are Charlie s 21 st century counterparts stretching Dunning s paradigm to embrace new ways, new channels and novel forms of engagement on the global stage of innovation and business as usual (or unusual). While globalisation seeks level playing instrumentation on uneven ground, internationalisation continues to represent opportunities for growth, productivity and innovation. Correlations are difficult to find and an exposure to globalisation does not necessarily prepare firms for internationalisation. There is a gulf of difference between the standardisation of markets across the globe and internationalisation of production. Grant s (2008) sheltered, trading, multi-domestic and global industry firms continue to pace the foreign direct investment and international trade corridors trading-off between the costs and benefits of each, while Peng s (2009) firms attempt to create business models dependent on industry-based, institution-based or resource-based considerations. Then there is Prahalad and Krishnan s (2008) N=1; R-G formulation of both globalisation and internationalisation of firms in and with emerging economies, and Yeung s (2010; 2015) global production networks. In the meantime we find the rich data from the OECD on the trajectories of SMEs in global supply chains aided and abetted by digital and networked forms of activity. Ideas swirl in globally connected space, and a better recognition of the values of ecological sustainability and the seeming ineluctability of inequality has opened up new challenges to measure impact generated from investment opportunities. Yet a critical eye shows that we need to have some cross-border reality checks. Cultural, administrative, geographic and economic sensitivities can and do tend to have limitations on the flow of information, funds, technologies and people across borders (Ghemawat, 2011; 2007) The 2016 IEF conference on The Globalisation and Internationalisation of SMEs and New Ventures will be held in Venice, Italy on December. IEF s partners are the Venture Academy, Essex Business School, University of Essex, the conference is being co-organised with The International Networks for SMEs (INSME), the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship and the Local Employment and Economic Development at Paris, France, and the Forum for Sustainable New Ventures in the UK. This conference will provide a platform for the generation of new ideas, insights and practices related to the idea of an agenda for the globalisation and internationalisation of SMEs. The creation and development of entrepreneurial opportunities can be facilitated and usurped through internationalisation and globalisation. We ask whether international entrepreneurship and innovation impact on the wider global society of producers, consumers and citizens. The literature on entrepreneurship would suggest that they do. GEM (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor) reports indicate that there are huge differences across countries. The Global Technology Reports point to growing facilitation by information and communications technologies but do not find easy solutions to the digital divide. The Global Innovation Index (2015) shows that innovation-driven growth is no longer the prerogative of high-income countries; there are tangible examples of effective innovation policies being introduced by developing countries with corresponding positive outcomes. The 15 th IEF conference will provide a platform for researchers, policy makers and practitioners to engage with this disparate and diverse agenda of globalisation and internationalisation. We hope you will join us in this attempt to create a more diverse agenda for entrepreneurship at a time when the world seeks new ideas and trajectories of development. Jay Mitra, Sergio Arzeni and Mario Volpe (The Conference Curators)

3 Conference Sub-Themes The conference sub-themes are being organised broadly around six principal categories that help us to obtain a critical understanding of globalisation and internationalisation and the role and function of and the leverage for SMEs and new ventures in a changing world. Delegates submitting papers are free to choose any topic under these categories Category 1: Innovation and Internationalisation Category 2: Networked Enterprises Category 3: SMEs and Technology, Digitisation and Innovation Category 4: Impact and Sustainability Category 5: Gender and Internationalisation Category 6: SMEs - Tools, Capabilities and Competencies Category 7: SMEs and Economic Development We expect papers to address issues of opportunity development, the mobilisation of resources for new venture creation, technological, organisational and social innovation, economic, social and personal value creation, networks of ideas and resources, sustainability and social impact in each of the categories. Conference Deadlines Submission of Abstracts: 15 September, 2016 Notification of Acceptance: 30 September, 2016 Submission of Full Papers: 5 December, 2016 All submissions should be made to iefsubmissions@gmail.com using the abstract and full paper templates available on the conference web site: Awards All full papers only submitted by the deadlines for the conference will be considered for two best paper prizes (one for scholarship and academic rigour and the other for originality, creativity and innovation in its contribution to policy making or practice). Any late submissions of full papers (after the final deadline date of 5 December, 2016) will be excluded from selection for any one of the two awards. Publications Selected papers will be considered for special issues of selected journals. These include the following: Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies (the official journal of the International Entrepreneurship Forum);

4 International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation; Industry and Higher Education Journal Kindai Management Review All accepted papers will be available in the IEF Conference web site which will have an assigned ISSN number (on line version ). In order for us to ensure the publication of the proceedings in time all participating delegates who will be presenting papers are requested to co-operate by completing and submitting their papers on time. Conference Fees The conference registration fee structure for the conference is as follows: (a) UK 300 for all international participants; (b) UK 175 for all delegates from developing and low income for all participants from low income countries (as per the World Bank list) (c) UK 75 for post graduate students (with ID proof) No VAT is chargeable. Note that the above registration fee does not include costs of any accommodation but does cover conference lunches and refreshments for 2 days plus conference resource materials. A separate charge will be made for the Conference Dinner of UK 42 (including VAT 7) Conference Deadlines Registration: 15 November, 2016 Payment: 30 November, 2016 Payment Method All participants must register using the registration form (available online), and make the appropriate fees by bank transfer or by cheque, payable to the following bank account. Account Name: Forum for Sustainable New Venture. ACCOUNT NUMBER: SORTCODE: BANK: UNITY TRUST BANK IBAN number: GB93 NWBK Swift code: NWBKGB2L Payment reference: Forum for Sustainable New Venture. You should the registration form to iefsubmissions@gmail.com together will copy of your bank transfer document.

5 Location and Accommodation The conference will be held in the beautiful island of Isola San Servolo. The island is the seat of the Venice International University, 10 minutes by boat from the legendary Piazza San Marco. Delegates can confer, study, work, engage, debate, network and relax in a peaceful park spread across 12 scenic acres with a panoramic view of Venice. Conference accommodation will be available at the Aula Magna in this island at reduced rates. All delegates are advised to book accommodation at this Aula Magna which provides excellent facilities conference. There are: 50 single rooms and 30 double rooms. The prices are as follows: Single room: 60 euros per night Double room: 85 euros per night The Venice City Tax is 1.60 euros per person, per night. Please note that breakfast is not included in the price of the room.. Delegates are of course welcome to make their own bookings anywhere in Venice but it would be advisable to book rooms in the dedicated accommodation during the 3 days of the conference. Bookings can be made for nights of the 14 th to the 16 th. at the special rates shown above. Please see conference web site for accommodation booking form and other details.

6 IEF Conferences The IEF Conference has an excellent fourteen year track record of scholarly informality where the focus on collective and shared knowledge and insight across the globe has provided for a rich seam of learning. Profile of Conference Organisers International Entrepreneurship Forum The International Entrepreneurship Forum (IEF) network consists of academics, practitioners and policy makers. The IEF events are designed to encourage the meeting of these three groups based on the belief that there is as much value in academic exploration as in discovery through practice. Through this process of interaction, the IEF network aims to obtain a better appreciation of the subject of entrepreneurship. Since its inception, the IEF has held an annual event each year for the past 13 years on a specific and typical theme for deliberation, presentations and discussion. An impressive array of speakers and other contributors have generated a wealth of knowledge on the subject. Each event has been marked by a rich variety of research papers, key contributions by practitioners and decision makers, and, significantly, by formal and informal hours of interaction between owner-managers, academics and decision makers. Crucially, participants have been able to use the highly interactive format of the events to develop new partnerships and projects to pursue particular activities. One of the most satisfying outcomes of all the events has been the identification of new interest, scholarship and insight into entrepreneurial activity, across different countries, demonstrating the value of learning in an international arena of thought and practice. This outcome informs the themes and topics chosen for each conference. The IEF continues to collaborate with the OECD, LEED Programme, and the Centre for Entrepreneurship and various institutions across the world.

7 Essex Business School, University of Essex, UK Essex Business School (EBS) was created following the merger of the Schools of Entrepreneurship and Business, and Accounting, Finance and Management in The School's work on entrepreneurship, innovation and regional development together with that of accounting, finance and management, has won worldwide acclaim. Its research, teaching and professional development profile covers key and topical areas of new venture creation and business growth that address both regional needs and the interest of international markets, focusing particularly on entrepreneurship policy issues, innovation and economic development, marketing, international business, social entrepreneurship, organisational studies, human resources, sustainability and institutional links with industry. EBS is now poised to move forward with a range of innovative initiatives including an enhancement of its research portfolio, continuing professional development, and a new suite of MBA and related programmes concerned with innovation and entrepreneurship and sustainable business strategy. Entrepreneurship Research at Essex Business School Entrepreneurship research and dissemination, focuses on varied aspects of new venture creation (in and for business, non-governmental organisations, large enterprises and social enterprise), innovative growth, and the impact of entrepreneurship on regional and local economic development. The School builds on the research portfolio of all academic staff, and supports the work of research students and a group of Executive Fellows. This supported by the work of E3N (the Executive Education and Engagement Network) at EBS, which has already established working links with similar centres in the UK and in India, China, USA, Poland, France, Italy, South Africa and Colombia. It houses the well-established International Entrepreneurship Forum and has good working links with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and its Local Employment and Economic Development (LEED) Programme. It has supported various conferences on entrepreneurship as a co-organiser in Germany, South Africa and India. The School has developed an impressive track record of empirical and action-research based projects, training and consultancy programmes, and advisory initiatives for a range of public, private and non-governmental organisations. It supported the unique China Business Research Group funded by the Shandong Weigao Group Company Ltd in China, and focusing on China-European business connections and technology based entrepreneurship respectively. INSME The International Network for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (INSME) is a private non-for profit Association established in 2004, aiming at fostering transnational cooperation and public and private partnership among economic players and intermediaries worldwide to help bridge the innovation and knowledge gap for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The INSME Association currently includes 84 Members in 37 countries in 4 continents: 14 governmental bodies, 18 International Organizations, 8 International NGOs and 44 representatives of networks and intermediaries acting in the field of innovation and technology transfer to SMEs. The Association was sponsored by the Italian Government from 2004 to 2011 and enjoys OECD s moral sponsorship. Its Secretariat is based in Rome. Thanks to the variety of its members, the INSME network represents a think tank with a permanent forum to promote a multilateral dialogue among different stakeholders. INSME acts as a multiplier and disseminator of information and opportunities for cross border collaboration to enhance SMEs competitiveness and internationalization potential. INSME organizes its Annual Meetings around the globe with the support of its members and partners in selected countries. In 2015 the 11th INSME Annual Meeting has taken place at Cape Town/South Africa with the topic Technology and Innovation for Inclusive Growth, while the 2016 event took

8 place from the 12th to the 14th of April at Doha/Qatar with the topic Enabling Smart SMEs as Key to Success. Forum for Sustainable New Ventures The Forum for Sustainable New Ventures (FSNV) is a registered charity in the UK dedicated to supporting new venture creation through research, training and consultancy. It is developing a new portfolio for dissemination and related activities associated with small businesses and entrepreneurship. The Forum is the principal administrative office for the IEF conference. Conference Contact Points Conference Web Site (scroll down and click on 15 th IEF conference website) Conference Contact For any organisational issues regarding the conference (e.g. accommodation booking, transfers from and/or to the airport, visa letters, special dietary needs etc.) please contact: UK Research and Conference Assistant IEF and Forum for Sustainable New Ventures Ms Elena Koshcheeva iefsubmissions@gmail.com You may also contact: Dr Busayo Ajayi Forum for Sustainable New Ventures E mail: bajayi@forventure.com or iefsubmissions@gmail.com Or Professor Jay Mitra Essex Business School, University of Essex Wivenhoe Park, Colchester Essex C04 3SQ jmitra@essex.ac.uk or iefsubmissions@gmail.com Please quote the main query in the subject line when ing to ensure our speedy response Conference Web site: