Over the last twenty years, the European Union’s policies aiming to foster the entrepreneurship in the Euro-Mediterranean countries have failed. The theoretical model underlying these policies is inconsistent with the characteristics of the entrepreneurial ecosystems of these countries.Since no enterprise can survive in the long run if it has inconsistent characters with the ecosystem in which it operates, in Euro-Mediterranean countries it is necessary to adopt a specific theoretical model on start-up business, different from the one described by the international literature. The fundamental principles of this theoretical model therefore must be drawn from the common characteristics of successful enterprises and networks operating in these Euro-Mediterranean regions. In order to define this general theoretical model, which we call the “Mediterranean Start-up Model”, in 2013 the Re.T.M.E.S. Lab was founded – Research Team for Mediterranean Enterprises and Start-ups at the University Mediterranea of Reggio Calabria. In partnership with the Entrepreneurs’ Association of Reggio Calabria, the lab is also carrying out a free consulting and support program for startuppers. This program, called “Sportello ImprendiReggioCalabria”, helps startuppers to design a business model and evaluate the economic and financial sustainability of their business model through the business plan. Aspiring entrepreneurs complete the program by meeting successful and experienced entrepreneurs working in their industry to set strategic partnerships and trade relations useful to mitigate the high vulnerability of enterprise start-up. This paper includes three sections. The first provides statistical data highlighting that Italy, as well as other countries in the Euro-Mediterranean area, is composed almost exclusively of micro- and small family businesses. When it is necessary to cope with the competition, these small family businesses create industrial districts, clusters, networks and consortia. The second section outlines the essential features of the “Mediterranean Start-up Model”, which is based on the collaboration between small autonomous enterprises. This theoretical Model is needed in EU’s lagging regions, lacking cultural conditions – such as propensity to create managerial companies – and institutional ones – such as the development of large and efficient stock markets and private equity operators – needed to successfully adopt the general Start-up Model described in the literature. The last section proposes a case study: The Fishing District and the Consortium of Mazara del Vallo – COSVAP, a successful network that combines autonomy and collaboration between many small businesses interoperating in a network.

Nicolò, D., Valenza, G., Tamiro, R. (2016). Enterprise Start-Up in the Euro-Mediterranean Area. The case-study of Mazara Del Vallo’s Fishing District and Consortium. SUDEUROPA(3), 39-56.

Enterprise Start-Up in the Euro-Mediterranean Area. The case-study of Mazara Del Vallo’s Fishing District and Consortium

Valenza, Giuseppe;
2016-01-01

Abstract

Over the last twenty years, the European Union’s policies aiming to foster the entrepreneurship in the Euro-Mediterranean countries have failed. The theoretical model underlying these policies is inconsistent with the characteristics of the entrepreneurial ecosystems of these countries.Since no enterprise can survive in the long run if it has inconsistent characters with the ecosystem in which it operates, in Euro-Mediterranean countries it is necessary to adopt a specific theoretical model on start-up business, different from the one described by the international literature. The fundamental principles of this theoretical model therefore must be drawn from the common characteristics of successful enterprises and networks operating in these Euro-Mediterranean regions. In order to define this general theoretical model, which we call the “Mediterranean Start-up Model”, in 2013 the Re.T.M.E.S. Lab was founded – Research Team for Mediterranean Enterprises and Start-ups at the University Mediterranea of Reggio Calabria. In partnership with the Entrepreneurs’ Association of Reggio Calabria, the lab is also carrying out a free consulting and support program for startuppers. This program, called “Sportello ImprendiReggioCalabria”, helps startuppers to design a business model and evaluate the economic and financial sustainability of their business model through the business plan. Aspiring entrepreneurs complete the program by meeting successful and experienced entrepreneurs working in their industry to set strategic partnerships and trade relations useful to mitigate the high vulnerability of enterprise start-up. This paper includes three sections. The first provides statistical data highlighting that Italy, as well as other countries in the Euro-Mediterranean area, is composed almost exclusively of micro- and small family businesses. When it is necessary to cope with the competition, these small family businesses create industrial districts, clusters, networks and consortia. The second section outlines the essential features of the “Mediterranean Start-up Model”, which is based on the collaboration between small autonomous enterprises. This theoretical Model is needed in EU’s lagging regions, lacking cultural conditions – such as propensity to create managerial companies – and institutional ones – such as the development of large and efficient stock markets and private equity operators – needed to successfully adopt the general Start-up Model described in the literature. The last section proposes a case study: The Fishing District and the Consortium of Mazara del Vallo – COSVAP, a successful network that combines autonomy and collaboration between many small businesses interoperating in a network.
2016
Futuro digitale. Scenari e opportunità del mercato unico europeo
Università Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria
18 novembre 2016
Nicolò, D., Valenza, G., Tamiro, R. (2016). Enterprise Start-Up in the Euro-Mediterranean Area. The case-study of Mazara Del Vallo’s Fishing District and Consortium. SUDEUROPA(3), 39-56.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10447/248105
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