Europe needs more innovative companies that grow quickly and end up big. This book examines SME growth, innovation and success, to suggest that fast growing firms could offer a major contribution to the recovery of a European economy.

The contributors examine 11 case studies from Italian firms, breaking the book up into three parts: context, actors and strategy. The topics discussed include entrepreneurship and technological clusters, innovative start-ups and growth factors, and family firms as the incubators of new ventures.

Students and scholars of entrepreneurship and other related disciplines will find this book to be of interest. It will also be of use to practitioners in the field, working with and alongside SMEs.

Contributors include: S. Albertini, G. Antonelli, B. Balboni, A. Berni, S. Bonesso, G. Bortoluzzi, M. Brumana, D. Campagnolo, L. Cassia, A. Comacchio, S. Consiglio, F. Crisci, C.E. De Marco, C. Dossena, V. Finotto, A. Francesconi, D. Gamba, D. Giacomini, M. Gianecchini, P. Gubitta, M.P. Iacono, F. Izzo, G. Lauto, G. Magnani, M. Martine, B. Masiello, P.A.M. Mazzurana, T. Minola, C. Muzzi, A. Onetti, A. Piccaluga, A. Pisoni, D. Pittino, P. Pressiani, T. Pucci, M. Talaia, A. Tognazzo, A. Tracogna, F. Visintin, L. Zanni, A. Zucchella