In the course of development and application of new, innovative technologies, a radical technological and organisational change has been taking place in almost every economic sector. Information technologies and flexible production techniques are being employed, bringing about extensive and permanent rationalisation of production processes, as well as ever-increasing speed in the succession of product innovation. More than ever before, entrepreneurial competitiveness in industrial and developing countries depends on their ability to rapidly implement new technologies and modern organisation structures. Technological and organisational learning capacities are becoming the decisive factor for international competitiveness.

Research activities within the SEPT thus concentrate mainly on four topics:

• International Entrepreneurship
• Innovation and Technology-Intensive Suppliers in Global Value Chains
• Social Capital and SME Development
• Management of Innovative Services

Research activities carried out within the SEPT program are conducted by an inter-disciplinary team of scientists, PhD and master students with background in economics, social and natural sciences as well.

SEPT runs research co-operation with universities in Chile, Vietnam, Kenya, El Salvador, among others.