Entrepreneurial Management for Fostering Innovation and Talents

Project Information

EM4FIT

Grant agreement ID: 872618

DOI

10.3030/872618

Project closed

EC signature date 28 October 2019

Start date 1 January 2020

End date 31 October 2025

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 611 800,00

EU contribution

€ 611 800,00

Coordinated by

SYDDANSK UNIVERSITET
Denmark

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EM4FIT (Entrepreneurial Management for Fostering Innovation and Talents)

Reporting period: 2020-01-01 to 2023-10-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Entrepreneurial management practices play a pivotal role in taking entrepreneurial knowledge and utilizing it towards innovation and talent development, ultimately creating growth and increasing the effectiveness of both new business ventures and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). EM4FIT investigates entrepreneurship and related management practices from an interdisciplinary and multi-level angle as important variables in the interplay between individual, organisational and institutional contexts within and between advanced and emerging markets. Our overarching aim is to analyse the role of the main aspects that characterize entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial management practices for innovation and competitiveness in the interplay between individual, organisational and institutional contexts within European and emerging markets to realize economic and social growth.
Notably, we have the following objectives:
1. To asses institutional and environmental determinants that influence the relationship between entrepreneurial management, innovation and its knowledge and technology constituents in universities, start-ups and established companies;
2. To study entrepreneurial management practices in latecomer firms and the impact of institutional determinants on their innovation catch-up and performance;
3. To analyse context-specific cross-level drivers and hinders of sustainable entrepreneurship in advanced and emerging economies;
4. To identify cross-level influences of entrepreneurial management practices that encourage, facilitate and guide employee behaviour towards talent building and innovativeness;
5. To analyse the effect of specific contexts on entrepreneurial management practices and their effect on new forms of organizing actions;
6. To assess the role of entrepreneurial management for innovation and talent building of collective entrepreneurship from a context-sensitive perspective;
7. To outline the impact of joint scientific activities on EU innovation strategies, policies and entrepreneurship actions;
8. To develop best practice training elements for entrepreneurship education at universities and business schools, and
9. To share knowledge among the project partners to acquire new skills and develop their careers.


Our findings are of both theoretical and practical relevance:
We emphasize translating academic entrepreneurial knowledge into practical applications, enhancing the relevance and impact of academic research on real-world entrepreneurial scenarios.
Enhancing Innovation and Competitiveness: By analyzing the interplay of entrepreneurial management practices with various contexts, the project aims to foster innovation and competitiveness, crucial for economic and social growth in European and emerging markets.
Entrepreneurship Education: The project highlights the development of best practice training elements for entrepreneurship education at universities and business schools, nurturing future entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs to drive innovation and growth.
Knowledge Sharing and Skill Development: We underscore collaborative learning and knowledge sharing among partners for skill acquisition and career development, contributing to a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Policy Implications and Diverse Market Dynamics: Insights from the project on sustainable entrepreneurship and joint scientific activities could inform EU innovation policies while providing a nuanced understanding of diverse market dynamics and aiding the adaptation of entrepreneurial education and practices to different market contexts.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

During the first reporting period (1 Jan 2020 to 31 Oct 2023), the project, divided into five work packages (WP1 to 4 and WP6; WP5 will start in the second reporting period), made strides in scientific deliverables and secondments. WP1 (UNISAL), focused on the institutional and environmental determinants of entrepreneurial management, reviewing literature in related fields and setting up empirical models to study university-industry collaborations and factors affecting entrepreneurial spin-offs.
WP2 (SDU) delved into sustainable entrepreneurship, reviewing the literature, categorizing influential factors into individual/inside-out and contextual/outside-in groups, identifying research gaps, and conducting quantitative empirical studies. A multi-case study in collaboration with WP3 was also initiated to analyze sustainable entrepreneurship practices across different nations.
WP3 (CUNEF) centred on managing human resources for innovation and organizational transformation. Researchers explored AMO-oriented practices' impact, Islamic values in business, and social entrepreneurship. They also conducted expert interviews and secondary data analysis, unraveling the mediation effects of strategic HRM practices on performance and innovation and examining gender-related sustainability pursuits in entrepreneurship.
WP4 (CUNEF) investigated the agents of entrepreneurship, innovation, and talent building. Through literature reviews, researchers explored various realms, including the management knowledge industry in Spain, corporate entrepreneurship in football clubs, and professionalization of management within hospitals. They also embarked on archival work and expert interviews to delve into empirical studies concerning entrepreneurial actions in highly nationalistic contexts.
WP6 (SDU) focused on communication and knowledge dissemination, successfully launching the EM4FIT Website to bolster project visibility and share findings.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Scientific Contributions: Submission of at least 8 scientific papers to reputable international journals, contributing to the development and refinement of theories in entrepreneurial management and innovation.
Policy Influence: Potential influence on institutional decision-making at various levels (e.g. regional and EU), particularly in core EU policy areas such as entrepreneurship, innovation, technology transfer, and sustainable growth.
Regional Impact: Direct influence of research outcomes at the regional level in Argentina and Denmark, facilitated through the participation of SGCTeIP and ERSJ, possibly leading to broader European and global impact.
Business Competitiveness and Growth: Enhanced competitiveness and sustainable growth of firms by establishing best practices for successful internationalization.
Broader Business Engagement: Engagement with non-academic institutions and professional associations to broaden the influence of research outcomes within the business community.
Societal Benefits, Education and Public Engagement: Enriched entrepreneurship education at universities and business schools, impacting undergraduate and graduate students.
Community of Expertise: Development of a community of researchers with expertise in entrepreneurial management and innovation, fostering a collaborative network for continued exploration in the field.

EM4FIT Project Framework