Abstract
Although there are several studies analysing how innovation capabilities influence export performance, this study aims to present the impact of a set of internal innovation capabilities on export performance of small and medium-sized firms (SMEs), with the mediating role of entrepreneurial orientation contingent upon the proactive or reactive behaviour of the firms to external stimuli. The study involves the analysis of 147 questionnaire-based survey of managers from plastic manufacturing SMEs operating in Portugal that were subjected to a Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) technique. The results show that proactive firms to external stimuli are not only better at innovating but also their entrepreneurial orientation capabilities underpin a better performance in international markets when compared with firms that react to external stimuli. This study has implications for SMEs aiming at increasing their export performance and innovativeness. For practitioners the findings of this study should enable SMEs owner/managers to better understand the possible impacts of innovation capabilities and entrepreneurial orientation on export performance, and thus lead to more effective SMEs management.

Abstract
In a competitive environment shaped by continuous change, the understanding of the different forces that support or hinder the development of an industry, enables more informed, and assertive decision making. As such, following a sectoral system of innovation perspective that takes into account the temporal evolution of its most important events, the main objective of this chapter is to define a set of strategic lines for the sustainable development of the Portuguese molds industry. The study supports set of strategic priorities so that the Portuguese molds industry can embrace both an international favorable position and an entrepreneurial outward looking governance perspective. This chapter proposes that the future outlook will support the diversification to and the penetration of new sectoral markets, associated with a strong international product engineering and development cluster capable of supplying integrated solutions to several international markets.

Abstract

Abstract
The chapter presents an entrepreneurial perspective to rural tourism. It is based on the utilization of endogenous resources that exist within a rural region, and leads to a group of business opportunities related to tourism, craftwork, and agriculture, which are taken into account to define the strategic objectives for the ADRIMAG region. The chapter follows a qualitative approach to business opportunities. Through our analysis, it was possible to create, in a simple manner, a group of business opportunities based on the endogenous resources of the region. With this study, we expect to bring forth an entrepreneurial perspective that will sustainably foster tourism development within rural regions, but with high potential for tourism attraction.

Abstract
The direct relationship between national cultural practice and entrepreneurship activities is analyzed in this chapter, based on the analysis of 44 countries. Datasets from 2012 and 2013 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) report are used to characterize three types of entrepreneurship: Early-stage entrepreneurial activity (TEA); necessity-driven entrepreneurship (NDE) and opportunity-driven (ODE) entrepreneurship. Data sets on national cultural values are used to analyze five dimensions of Hofstede's work on cultural values (power distance, individualism/collectivism, masculinity/femininity, long/short term orientation, and uncertainty avoidance). For that, the authors use the Values Survey Module 2013, which has been adapted from Hofstede 's previous work from 2010 and 2008. The main conclusion is that the three types of entrepreneurship analyzed in this chapter are differently explained by the cultural and expanded models. If the country of origin and the type of economy are useful to explain TEA, they are of no added value to explain necessity-driven or opportunity-driven entrepreneurship.

Abstract
This paper proposes a conceptual model that analyses the factors influencing the export performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and integrates international entrepreneurship theory and international strategies. Rooted in an extensive bibliography that provides the basis for key constructs, the proposed model brings together the fundamentals of SMEs' internationalisation processes that influence these enterprises' export performance. The model highlights three important factors: industry-, environment- and firm-related aspects affecting firms' entrepreneurial orientation. The model contributes to a better understanding of the key factors affecting the export performance of SMEs, providing a simple structure that can be strategically used by entrepreneurs when launching their firms into international markets. The model complements previous approaches but offers a more integrative approach based on research that ventures further into a little explored area of the literature on internationalisation theories. Copyright © 2017 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.