Enterprise policies and R&D support for high-tech SMEs - a multi-perspective approach

Journal article


Park, C. and McQuaid, R. 2023. Enterprise policies and R&D support for high-tech SMEs - a multi-perspective approach. Policy Studies. pp. 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1080/01442872.2023.2268530
AuthorsPark, C. and McQuaid, R.
Abstract

This article examines the role of enterprise policy and R&D subsidy schemes in supporting high-tech Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises, by examining a case study of South Korea. A qualitative approach is used to analyse the perspectives of three stakeholder groups, entrepreneurs, national policymakers and policy-practitioners (including street-level bureaucrats working in bodies directly supporting the SMEs), based on semi-structured interviews with thirty-five participants. The findings suggest, first, that there was a mismatch in the conceptualizations of entrepreneurship, with policymakers and policy-practitioners focusing on entrepreneurship as the event of starting-up a business. Second, while all groups feel the policy was beneficial, policymakers and policy-practitioners argue it was necessary to have a strict implementation process so-as-to deliver the subsidy fairly across many SMEs. In contrast, entrepreneurs considered such stringent and complicated policy implementation, and policy discontinuities, as impeding the R&D performance of SMEs. Third, although perspectives varied, all believed that flexibility in the policy implementation process is required to improve policy efficacy. The study highlights the critical role of ‘bottom-up’ policy approaches to improve policy efficacy; especially policy-practitioners’ interactions and networking with entrepreneurs in the policy development and implementation processes. This study contributes to understanding the roles and perspectives of stakeholder groups in developing and implementing enterprise policies.

Keywordsenterprise policy; R&D support; high-tech SMEs; start-ups; owner-managers; entrepreneurs
Year2023
JournalPolicy Studies
Journal citationpp. 1-22
PublisherTaylor & Francis
ISSN1470-1006
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/01442872.2023.2268530
Web address (URL)https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01442872.2023.2268530
Accepted author manuscript
License
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online16 Oct 2023
Publication process dates
Accepted03 Oct 2023
Deposited23 Oct 2023
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