| Abstract:
Objective: Provided that, internationalization and expansion of activities to global markets is one of the most important breakthroughs for small and medium-sized businesses, this research aimed to propose an internationalization model for Iranian small and medium-sized enterprises in nanotechnology industries. Methods: The present research is applied in terms of purpose and uses qualitative approach through structured grounded theory. The process of studying the phenomenon was discovered based on the analysis of in-depth interviews conducted with 11 directors of active nanotechnology business with a history of international presence. Results: The pattern obtained from this study indicated that the main issue that triggers business to enter the international markets is sustainable competitive advantage. The effective factors in this process include organizational and individual components, environmental factors including environmental characteristics, and firm characteristics; intermediary factors including management and organizational conditions; powerful entry; market planning, and analysis. Process strategy and internationalization implications including employee empowerment development of technology, brand extension, and growth of capital. Conclusion: The process of internationalization of SMEs requires global sustainable competitive advantage, and at the same time, the existent propulsion in business essence and entrepreneur nature. Depending on the market situation, domestic competition, firm size, and the existing empirical records of the company will intensify.
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