Following the open call for cooperation in February 2018, IEDC-Bled School of Management and CEEMAN have gathered a diverse group of research partners from numerous universities and other institutions from 24 countries to research the Hidden Champions phenomenon in their nations’ economies. Until today research partners have prepared drafts of their country reports and their second meeting in Bled with 26 researchers from 14 countries was dedicated to joint work and discussion of the findings – an important step to publishing a joint report and a book on the Hidden Champions phenomenon.
Hidden Champions are highly successful, but not very well-known innovative small and medium-sized companies. They are among the global top-three in terms of market share in their respective niche or the leader on their continent. Furthermore, the survival rate of Hidden Champions is often significantly higher than the average in their respective sector. Hidden Champions also boast the tendency to be very competitive in their markets and exhibit a consistent growth trajectory as well as an above-average innovation rate. It is because of these fascinating and compelling traits that academia strives to determine why these businesses in particular are thriving.