Our professors share their knowledge all around the world: Univ.- Prof. Emmanuella Plakoyiannaki has co-authored an article in the greek newspaper To Vima about Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Internationalisation with her greek colleague Katerina Kampouri:
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are prevalent in the global economy and often serve as hidden champions in the international arena. Expanding into foreign markets offers SMEs various growth opportunities, including:
- leveraging cultural diversity to develop innovative, consumer-aligned products and services;
- improving profitability by accessing lower-cost resources;
- enhancing international brand recognition; and
- reducing reliance on uncertain domestic markets.
However, SMEs face significant challenges when pursuing internationalization. They often lack the financial and human resources necessary for such expansion, frequently reallocating resources from domestic operations—potentially harming domestic profitability. In addition, when competing with large international firms, SMEs may prioritize foreign consumer needs, sometimes to the detriment of their domestic market.These challenges can be alleviated through engagement with “knowledge networks” such as universities, business communities, chambers of commerce, and international trade fairs. Such interactions promote product and process innovation through knowledge exchange, facilitate strategic alliances for market entry, uncover funding opportunities, and support the integration of emerging technologies—such as artificial intelligence—into global operations.
