Open Innovation Inspired Framework to Support Business Internationalisation: A Cross-Sector and Cross-National Approach

Abstract

In recent years, the business environment has experienced a fast-paced change due to issues such as geopolitics or COVID-19. Accordingly, business internationalisation has been accelerated while the approaches followed for such an end have been improved to maintain companies’ competitiveness. Within this context, this paper presents a new framework for the internationalisation of Earth Observation SMEs in two target countries: Australia and Chile. Internationalisation can be an effective strategy for SMEs to grow and expand, but it requires careful research, analysis and agile adaptation to markets and cultures through an integrative and innovative methodology. Secondly, a series of preparatory actions and several internationalisation strategies have been developed, including online bilateral meetings and online trade missions. This work is an innovation driver for the internationalisation of European SMEs, helping them to make the leap into two markets of great interest and in two very attractive sectors, agriculture and maritime, with remote sensing as the nexus.

Keywords

• small–medium size enterprises
• internationalisation
• open innovation
• maritime and agriculture sectors
• earth observation