Take Off Nodes and Initial Stages of Internationalization: The case of Midsized Firms from the Emerging Chinese Market 
 
ABSTRACT
 
The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze the take off nodes and initial stages of internationalization
of  the  less  researched midsized  firms  from  the emerging market of China. Aspects of  the  take off  situation
(when the firm go abroad from the domestic market), the initial stages of internationalization, and the usage of
cluster as take off node (how the firm go abroad from the (domestic) local market network) will be discussed.
Primary data from a case study of five internationalizing Chinese midsized firms will be presented, as well as
secondary  data  concerning  industrial  clusters  in  China.  A  theoretical  contribution  is  made  by  combining
industrial  network  theory  with  internationalization  process  theory  as  well  as  cluster  theory. Major  results
concern  (1)  the  take off  situation of  the Chinese  firms where  they not  follow assumed paths due  to  special
characteristics of the emergent domestic market, (2) the initial stages of internationalization being dominated
by  an  indirect  export  mode  which  exclude  the  building  of  international  relations  being  key  in  the
internationalization process of firms, and (3) clusters are seen as take off nodes when used as export clusters,
being a springboard for individual rather than collective internationalization of Chinese midsized firms. 
 
KEYWORDS 
 
Internationalization processes, Industrial network approach, Take off node, Cluster, Chinese midsized firms
INTRODUCTION
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK 
 
A network model to internationalization of smaller firms
Internationalization of Chinese firms
 
Clusters and competitiveness of internationalizing firms
 
METHODOLOGY
 
EMIRICAL ANALYS
Overview of the internationalization process of the case companies
The take off situation 
Competitiveness of the firms  

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