Expert: Clusters would benefit exporting SMEs

Irish SMEs looking to overseas markets are suffering from a lack of resources and understanding of export markets but would benefit from government policies that support clustering.

John Hobbs, senior lecturer at the Department of Management and Enterprise at CIT, said a new wave of internationalisation has begun which presents challenges as well as opportunities for smaller exporting firms.

National policies that encourage clustering would help smaller firms overcome these obstacles by enabling greater levels of research, Mr Hobbs said.