Competitive Networking For SME: A Case Study Of Its Success In Italy

Abstract

Small and Medium Enterprises have limited financial resources, which hampers development possibilities. For small and medium entities, the ambition toward a foreign-market driven income is on the increase. However, going international seems to be harder because of its peculiar financial restraint. This paper intends to give evidence to an empirical case of excellence, which is emerging as a prototype in the agri-food industry since its establishment: the Agribusiness Cluster Brixia (hereafter, ACB). The Agribusiness Cluster Brixia is a well-defined group of companies highly specialized in technology, the Cluster shares. This company integrates skills at every stage of the supply chain, from farm production to food distribution, storing, and processing. The aim of this paper is to test if it has really provided advantages for the partners, and how. These advantages can be in reducing some competitive costs for the partners involved, entering new markets, or by developing new and cooperative solutions to the customers needs.