Dimensions of Internationalisation. Entering Foreign Markets by Companies Located in Polish Technology Parks. Firm Level Studies

The presentation addresses the question of internationalizationof tenant firms of Polish technology parks. This issue is discussed in terms of scale, determinants, andforms of companies entering foreign markets. The analyses are aimed to identify the differentiationin the ways of internationalizationas well. Design/methodology/approach: The holistic appr to the phenomenon of internationalizationhas beeplied. It was considered as not only in terms of trade activitiesbut also international capital ties, cooperation in R&D and the exchange of human resources.The data comes from quantitative research carried out with the managers of the firms located in Polishtechnology parks. Due to the parks functions,one may treat the population of such companies as a kind of avant-garde of knowledge economy with a special potential for internationalizationtheirsbusiness activity. The random sample of 300 was surveyed. Findings: The research results showthat internationalizationconcerns about half of the surveyedfirms. The factors that stimulate the internationalizationof enterprises are the levels of innovation, market experience and the use of public support. The analysis of forms of internationalizationallowed to develop six relatively independent dimensions of business activity on foreign markets: traditional –directs, traditional –intermediated, within the paradigm of the knowledge-based economy, direct foreign investments and pre-internationalisation. The various forms of trade remain the dominant way of activity on foreign markets, however,participation in the international knowledge exchange and preparation for entering the external markets. Research/practical implication: The research outcomes may be useful both for companies that establish theirinternational activity and for the managers of business environment institutions that supportthe development and internationalizationof economic entitles. Results of this paper could be useful also for policy-makers who create and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the role of the technology parks as a tool of the public pro-innovation policy. Originality/value: The presentation describes original research which is the first attempt of a comprehensive studyon internationalizationof tenant enterprises of technology parks.