Local roots, global markets: Exploring the world of manufacturing SMEs in Gelderland, the Netherlands

Gert Jan Hospers*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)
54 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This paper explores the characteristics of high-quality manufacturing SMEs in Gelderland (the Netherlands) and the challenges they face in today's digitally driven 'fourth industrial revolution'. The paper shows that, as a rule, these companies act as a kind of silent power for the region in which they are based: they have strong local roots, but thanks to their narrow focus they operate on global markets. Major concerns for the manufacturing SMEs in Gelderland are the shortage of qualified technical staff, spatial bottlenecks at the business location as well as cost and risk issues related to smart industry investments. With the help of a 'new industrial policy' that is partly aimed at correcting 'transformation failure', it is argued that regional government can give manufacturing SMEs and their localities a helping hand.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)157-175
Number of pages19
JournalEkonomiaz
Volume95
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2019

Keywords

  • Firm behavior
  • Industrial policy
  • Manufacturing
  • SMEs

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Local roots, global markets: Exploring the world of manufacturing SMEs in Gelderland, the Netherlands'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this