Entrepreneurship and Business Development

The field of entrepreneurship and business development research is characterized by a high degree of complexity and interdisciplinarity. KMU Forschung Austria makes a key contribution to the sustainable development of SMEs and entrepreneurship in Austria by researching their causes and processes. In particular, it focuses on the economic, social, and political factors that drive these developments. The research focuses on the diversity of the SME and business sector as well as on the situations, developments, and challenges of specific types and forms of entrepreneurship. A distinction is made between characteristics at the company and individual levels. At the company level, for example, a distinction can be made between one-person companies (EPUs), start-ups, social enterprises, and family businesses. At the individual level, distinctions are made between hybrid entrepreneurs, silverpreneurs, and female entrepreneurs, among others. These topics are examined using various, predominantly quantitative methods of empirical social research and supplemented by other methods such as qualitative interviews, case studies, and balance sheet analyses.