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The importance of industry context for new venture internationalisation: A case study from the life sciences

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  • Hélène Laurell
  • Svante Andersson
  • Leona Achtenhagen

Abstract

During internationalisation, international new ventures in the life sciences industry face distinct challenges. For example, high product development costs push companies into early internationalisation to increase sales turnover and recover investments. At the same time, financial and managerial resource limitations and the demand to adjust to local regulations render internationalisation difficult. To date, relatively little is known about how different industry contexts influence new venture internationalisation processes. This paper presents an in-depth case study of the internationalisation process of a Swedish new venture from the life sciences industry to fill this gap. The findings outline factors in the industry context that affect the internationalisation process, with specific emphasis on entrepreneurs and their networks, leading to several propositions and a model of life sciences new venture internationalisation. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Hélène Laurell & Svante Andersson & Leona Achtenhagen, 2013. "The importance of industry context for new venture internationalisation: A case study from the life sciences," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 11(4), pages 297-319, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jinten:v:11:y:2013:i:4:p:297-319
    DOI: 10.1007/s10843-013-0116-y
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    3. Rubina Romanello & Maria Chiarvesio, 2019. "Early internationalizing firms: 2004–2018," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 17(2), pages 172-219, June.
    4. Hazem Ali & Min Li & Zhongli Wu & Xunmin Qiu, 2023. "An Examination of the Identification and Exploitation of International Opportunities Among Chinese Traditional SMEs," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(3), pages 21582440231, September.
    5. Maureen Benson-Rea & Christina Stringer, 2015. "Small Firm Specialisation in Global Value Chains: Evidence from the Cut Flower Industry," International Journal of Business and Economics, School of Management Development, Feng Chia University, Taichung, Taiwan, vol. 14(1), pages 43-62, June.
    6. Elena Pawęta, 2015. "Entrepreneur-related constructs explaining the emergence of born global firms: A Systematic Literature Review," Entrepreneurial Business and Economics Review, Centre for Strategic and International Entrepreneurship at the Cracow University of Economics., vol. 3(4), pages 11-36.
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    8. Svante Andersson & Eva Berggren, 2016. "Born global or local? Factors influencing the internationalization of university spin-offs—the case of Halmstad University [Born Global oder Born Local: Was beinflüsst und erleichtert die Internati," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 14(3), pages 296-322, September.
    9. Hazem Ali & Min Li & Xunmin Qiu & Qamar Farooq, 2023. "Global Mindset and Adaptive Marketing Capabilities in the Internationalization of Mature Chinese SMEs: International Opportunity Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-19, January.
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