Welcome

Welcome to the New Zealand Centre for Research into Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) or NZSMERC.

The Centre is dedicated to conducting world leading, high quality research into SMEs that will be of value to those concerned with the development of SMEs. Although definitions of SMEs vary in different economies, it is recognised that in all economies they are the key source of innovation, of economic renewal, of sustainable economic growth and, hence, for economic development.

In the case of New Zealand, we are a nation of small businesses and we have over 460,000 SMEs which employ fewer than 19 people. NZSMERC has adopted definitions of SMEs that encompass micro-enterprises (fewer than 5 staff), small enterprises (6-49 staff) and medium enterprises (50-99 staff).

The Centre has been established since 1999 and has extensive experience of completing high quality research programmes, disseminating findings and running workshops, seminars and symposia. Our Research Associates across all three campuses have worked on a huge range of projects and as result we can call upon an unmatched extensive range of academic research experience and research skills and expertise.