ABSTRACT

The process of the transition to a market-oriented economy for countries from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) started some 25 years ago. A new technology base triggered the fast growth of new investments into intangible assets by global economic leaders at the beginning of the 1990s, providing the basis for a move towards a knowledge economy. During the past 25 years, entrepreneurs in CEE and the CIS have reshaped traditional industries and created new industries, combining innovative ideas with traditional competencies. Yet we still do not know very much about how and why companies led by entrepreneurs develop, how they expand globally and what the role of new knowledge and innovation is in the internationalization process. Understanding the pathways of entrepreneurial development, especially growth through internationalization, is important for the overall development of countries in transition and beyond.

Entrepreneurship in Central and Eastern Europe: Development through Internationalization provides an overview of entrepreneurship in a range of important emerging markets. This book aims to fill the gap in the literature by providing up-to-date data and case-based evidence.

With coverage of a range of national firms from countries including Belarus, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine, this book will be vital supplementary reading around international entrepreneurship and essential reading for those studying the business environment in this vital emerging market.

part I|26 pages

Conceptual framework

chapter 1|6 pages

Introduction

Entrepreneurship development and internationalization in Central and Eastern Europe, Ukraine and the Commonwealth of Independent States

part II|60 pages

Entrepreneurs re-shaping industries

chapter 3|23 pages

Entrepreneurship development through internationalisation in Latvia

The case of Laima: born sweet and global

chapter 5|22 pages

Entrepreneurship development and internationalization in Belarus

The case of transport company TTC KristallTrans

part III|70 pages

Born to become global

chapter 6|23 pages

Entrepreneurial developments toward a knowledge-based economy in Estonia

The case of Fits Me – venture-capital-backed startup going global

chapter 7|15 pages

Born Poland, gone global

The case of successful Polish ICT company Aiton Caldwell 1

chapter 9|19 pages

Business internationalisation

A case study of Telegrafia from Slovakia

part V|16 pages

Conclusions and implications

chapter 13|14 pages

Twenty-five years of transition

Entrepreneurial activities from homeland to borderless opportunities