This paper studies knowledge sharing capabilities and knowledge development needs in the context of East-West technology transfer. The international technology transfer potential of innovative SMEs is treated as the combination of technology transfer and networking needs, entrepreneurship capabilities and market focus, innovative capabilities, knowledge sharing, networking and learning capabilities. This approach served as a departure point of an EU Specific Programme “Innovation & SME” project “Development of the innovative entrepreneurship potential of SMEs as knowledge-sharing trans-national technology transfer partners (EW ISME)”.
An objective of EW ISME is to develop, implement, validate, and disseminate the new methodology for integrating into one process the innovative and knowledge sharing potential assessment, action learning cycle by using demonstration projects, specifying entrepreneurial and managerial competence profiles for trans-national technology transfer.
Pre-survey results of 66 SMEs indicate that West-European SME-s are more focused on the competences supporting development of new technology and new products, whereas East-European firms concentrate on improvements in process quality and productivity and cooperation with partners in the supply chain. The paper discusses East-West differences in perceived training needs of SMEs and different information sources they use. Comparison of knowledge sharing practices of Western and Eastern SMEs leads to the conclusion that among Estonian SME-s experience of using virtual forums and e-learning environments is more widely spread than in Western SMEs participating in the project. They however miss systematic approach to participation in virtual learning communities.
The paper compares knowledge gaps that were identified in the EW ISME pre-survey with evidence from earlier surveys, training and consulting projects. SME-s representing the sub-contracting type of international operations are at the first development stage focused on the lack of institutional knowledge represented by legal aspect of foreign trade. Finding new business partners is also seen as an important learning challenge.
Competitiveness and strategic business involvement of SMEs from the new EU member states in Wider Europe can be supported by innovative learning applications that are based on trans-national learning communities. New networking opportunities at the same create pressures for changing internal organisational culture and introducing knowledge management practices.