The Swedish Foundation for Small Business Research
"FSF is to be the leading network organization for the generation and transfer of knowledge relevant to policy in the field of entrepreneurship and small enterprise development."
The Swedish Foundation for Small Business Research (FSF) started operations in 1994.
Our objective is to serve as a bridge between Swedish small business research community and all parties active in development of new and small enterprises.
• to initiate and disseminate research relevant to policy in the fields of entrepreneurship and small enterprise
• to offer small business researchers a forum for idea sharing, to build national and international networks in the field and to bridge the gap between research and practical application in the small business sector.
Research is conducted in program form, either within our own organization and/or in
association with various universities and colleges throughout Sweden.
The foundation has its office in Örebro, Sweden.
Short facts about FSF
A network organization serving as a bridge between theory and practice in entrepreneurship and small business. Increasingly active internationally.
· Started operations in 1994, organized as a foundation with headquarters in Örebro, Sweden and offices in Stockholm and Brussels
· Turnover 17 million SEK (incl. research projects), 10 employees · Financed 55% by Ministry of Industry, 55 supporting organizations in 2007
· 54 conferences/seminars 2007
· Ex.: ”Small Business Days” in Örebro in January, 570 participants in 2008
· Ex.: ”Entrepreneurship Week” throughout Sweden, 900 participants in 2007
· 37 local and regional seminars on business climate in 2006/2007
· Directed seminars, e.g. for Ministry of Industry
· Short summaries, documentations, News-letters, anthologies
Brings together researchers in networks and programmes
· 172 researchers in the network in 2007 (48 researchers in 1999)
· Scientific Forum, 60 members, all full and associate professors in the field in Sweden, meets twice a year
· 16 now ongoing projects in 2007
· Research organized in four large programmes since 2005
· E g. of concluded research projects : Effects of Measures to Promote Development of SMEs (14 countries, 8 books, 20 researchers, 30 seminars) Female Entrepreneurship, (16 researchers, 20 reports)
· In an evalutaion made in 2007, 85% of the respondees answered that our research is of high or very high quality.
Makes Sweden visible internationally, international contacts
· FSF-NUTEK International Award, 500.000 SEK, first winner David Birch in 1996. In an evaluation made in 2007, 70% of people in our target groups knew about the award winners and their research.
· Yearly Awards for young Swedish researchers and undergraduate student entrepreneurs
· International Council, 33 members from 10 countries and the EU-Commission, including winners of the FSF-NUTEK Award. Meets twice a year.
· Office in Brussels, in co-operation with ITPS and NUTEK, arranges 4-6 seminars each year
· Advisor to the EU Commission, e.g. Greenbook with seminars in 9 cities, 170 participants
• Member of EU’s expert group on Entrepreneurship and Small Business
· Has arranged 3 world conferences in Sweden; President has been chairman of International Council for Small Business
· At present: IPREG, diffusion of the FSF network model to other EU countries. Discussions with the EU Commission and agreement with 14 European countries.
• IPREG research project - Entreprenurship and Innovation Policies in 14 countries and 14 regions. 24 reports in 2008.
Swedish Foundation for Small Business Research
Järntorgsgatan 3
703 61 Örebro, Sweden
Tel. +46 (0)19 33 37 00
Fax +46 (0)19 33 37 01
info@fsf.se
www.fsf.se
