Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), that is, companies with up to 250 employees, constitute the engine of most of the world's economies. In the enlarged Europe, some 23 million SMEs represent 99% of all enterprises and provide about 75 million jobs (EC 2008).
SMEs are a major source of entrepreneurial skills, innovation and employment, but they can be the companies most affected by the globalisation process and are often confronted with certain difficulties and barriers; for example, SMEs frequently have difficulties in obtaining capital or credit, particularly in the early start-up phase.
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(2009). Basic concepts of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). In: Franz, HW., Sarcina, R. (eds) Building Leadership in Project and Network Management. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-93956-6_14
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-93956-6_14
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