The European Network for SME Research (ENSR)
   What is the ENSR?
   In the course of the last decade the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises and their role in the creation of employment has increasingly been recognised. At the same time these firms were more and more confronted with internationalisation processes, amongst others as the result of the creation of the Internal Market. These processes are causing both threats and opportunities for them. Hence, there is a growing need for new insights into the role and characteristics of SMEs in Europe on a comparable basis between Member States. For these reasons a European network of institutes specialised in SME research was established at the end of 1990.
   The European Network for SME Research (ENSR) is a network of institutes specialised in small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) research. EIM Business & Policy Research in The Netherlands is the founder and co-ordinator of the Network.
   Originally, the network consisted of fifteen partners in the fifteen EU Member States, one partner in Norway and one in Iceland. An institute in Switzerland covers Liechtenstein; so all countries of the European Economic Area plus Switzerland are covered. Recently the Network has been extended with candidate-partners in the 10 Accession Countries and the three Candidate Countries. The partners in these 13 countries are already participating in the 8th SME Observatory project. It means that the ENSR is now covering 32 countries.
   University graduates form the main work force of each partner. In total more than 600 highly qualified researchers specialised in SME research are brought together in the Network. Professors, holding a chair in SME economics or in business economics, manage some of the partner-institutes.
   The overall competence of the Network is strengthened by the specialisation of each partner. The Network has a broad spectrum of qualitative and quantitative research on SMEs consisting of macro oriented, meso and sector studies, as well as micro economic and small business management research.
   Each partner has international experience in carrying out SME research. Many partners have a wide network of international relations and have carried out research in many Member States, Eastern European countries and countries in the developing world.
   Each partner operates countrywide. Some partners have regional offices, but these are co-ordinated by the national headquarters, where the national and international research is carried out. All partners are independent and follow a scientific approach.