News
02/08/2018
«We create less, but with more guarantees of survival»
MARÍA SAIZ
DIRECTOR OF THE GLOBAL REPORT ENTREPRENEURSHIP MONITOR EUSKADI
Saiz is a professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business of the UPV / EHU in Sarriko where she also directs the Master in Entrepreneurship and Business Management. He has been at the head of the UPV / EHU team for three years, the University of Deusto and Mondragon Unibertsitatea, which has been preparing this annual study on entrepreneurship in the Basque Autonomous Community since 2004. At the end of June, it presented the data corresponding to the year 2017.
2,000 interviews with citizens between 18 and 64 years old, 36 interviews with experts and several statistics diagnose the health of entrepreneurship in the Basque Autonomous Community. María Saiz reviews the most relevant aspects of the ecosystem outlined by the GEM Report and claims protagonism for those who risk undertaking.
What is the purpose of the study?
Explain how entrepreneurship influences economic growth and put the person at the center of this phenomenon. Traditionally, it is very focused on the company, but the real protagonist is who puts his sweat, his emotion, his risk and his vocation.
The entrepreneurial activity went from 3.3% in 2016 to 5.8% in 2017. What are the reasons?
I think that more than growing, it is possible that it was a year in which an accumulation of people who had the idea blossomed, was developing it, but did not dare to launch. Since 2009 we did not have this level of entrepreneurship. The rest of the data is very stable, especially in the last decade. Entrepreneurship grows by chance, which is more than three quarters, and only 20% is by necessity, which in previous years has been greater.
What are the particularities of entrepreneurship in the Basque Autonomous Community?
The fundamental characteristic is the quality of the enterprise. We create less, but with more guarantees of survival, greater financial capacity, and a higher level of technology and innovation. We are in the standards or surpassing the European averages, not only the state one. The need for initial investment is higher -23,500 euros compared to the state average of 15,000-, as well as the contribution of the entrepreneur himself, and a greater financial strength favors survival. They are more powerful, with the possibility of generating more dignified employment and salaries.
What motivates and conditions them when taking the step?
The majority of the entrepreneurship in our environment is opportunity. Many times vocational motivation is very strong and what they seek is not so much to earn more money, but independence, to be their own boss, to take the helm. Having family support is essential. It conditions the environment. Where there is more entrepreneurial experience, the spirit is contagious, there is an invisible clothing ... But still half of the population does not recognize that being an entrepreneur is a profession.
What aspects urgently need improvement?
The most urgent thing is education in all areas, giving naturalness to the entrepreneur and vindicating the role it has in the creation of employment and innovation. The data of the report «sing», who is pulling the R & D are the small new companies. The transfer of R & D from the university to the company must also be improved. Cost. The regulations do not help and are not recognized as merit in the academy.
How has the profile of the entrepreneur changed?
The first four years the profile was more of professional training, but we have been many years in which the one who believes is a highly trained person, mostly male, with an average age of 40 years. Which means that undertaking is not so easy. You do it when you are already very sure, you have experience and money to launch yourself.
Women are losing their fear of starting a business. In the last three years, not only the real indicator of creation by women has changed, but they perceive more opportunities, they are less afraid of failure ... This has a very nice value, because we have a lot of weight in the Ideological and educational part. When the woman observes that starting is a good professional option, with more value than what men give her, I understand that we can have prospects for the future.
What advice would you give someone you are thinking about undertaking?
If you are going to launch, show risk, because you will have support, and let yourself be guided, because, if you know how to search, there are very expert people who will know how to help you in the economic part. Start training and with support, there are a lot of public administrations that will help you.
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