German SMEs in the Dutch-German Borderland

The CBBD Research Group conducted a study to explore how Small and Medium-Sized Cross-Border Enterprises (SMEs) learn and innovate in the Dutch-German border region, specifically in the Rhine-Meuse-North area. The research revealed that while the region offers significant opportunities, particularly for jobs and education, many of these opportunities remain unused due to a lack of awareness. The study largely focused on Dutch entrepreneurs and uncovered that many business leaders are unaware of their role in fostering learning and cross-border collaboration, which can limit organizational growth. However, the perspective of German entrepreneurs was notably lacking, and it is unknown how they feel within their role. To fully understand the dynamics, it is essential to get insights from both Dutch and German entrepreneurs, as collaboration between the two sides is key to unlocking the region's potential. My graduation assignment will address this gap by focusing on the perspectives of German SMEs within the Rhine-Meuse-North region. I aim to explore whether German entrepreneurs are aware of the unique opportunities the region offers, if they identify themselves as cross-border entrepreneurs, and other related questions. The findings will provide the CBBD Research Group with a more complete understanding of the cross-border dynamic from the German perspective, as they already know about the Dutch perspective, enabling them to offer more tailored advice to both Dutch and German clients on how they can collaborate effectively and capitalize on regional opportunities.

Contact: Adisa Kamberi, a.kamberi@fontys.nl, +31 8850 88686.