Micro, small and medium-size companies play a vital role in the economies of both Europe and France. They are a source of entrepreneurship, innovation and employment. Helping SMEs grow and become more competitive on the French market and international markets is essential. Innovation is crucial for a company to get started and then grow. The development of new structures, differentiating oneself, improving performance and creating value are constant concerns. That is why associating SMEs with Innovation makes so much sense.
The research work of the Innovation and SMEs team focuses on four areas:
SMEs and the innovation environment: this area studies the role of SMEs in innovation projects and the role of state facilities on the performance of very small companies and SMEs.
Standards, quality management and SMEs: quality standards can serve to entrench the credibility of SMEs, organisations in which the lack of resources, the concentration of decision-making powers in the hands of the director, and the possible lack of critical skills are counteracted by the flexibility of the firm's structure and its ability to act swiftly.
Entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship: before SMEs are formed, the creation of companies (or entrepreneurship) is constantly encouraged by state institutions in the same way as the creation of ideas and the seizing of opportunities (or intrapreneurship) are constantly encouraged at the very heart of corporations.
Management of SMEs during times of crisis: the management of SMEs during times of crisis demands innovation while management tools are put to the test.
The team's areas of research which range from entrepreneurship to SMEs and from organisational innovations to technological innovations are regularly covered in academic publications written by BEM faculty members. In general, the team's aims are to:
•    Energise research into SMEs and Innovation: get involved in national, European and international research projects; organise symposiums, etc.
•    Link research and companies: create a network of local partners from among institutions and companies; organise researcher/network encounters; create research protocols, etc.
•    Link research and pedagogy: undertake case studies, build tools, publish findings, etc.