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

Research activities within SEPT thusly concentrate mainly on four topics:

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

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

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