International entrepreneurial orientation and early internationalisation of SMEs: Does international networking orientation with competitors and non-competitors make a difference?

International entrepreneurship (IE) theory assumes that international entrepreneurial orientation (IEO) and international networks provide foundations of early internationalisation. However, the doubt remains whether the five disaggregated dimensions of IEO play an equally relevant role in SMEs' early access to foreign markets, as well as whether International Networking Orientation (INO) can act as a differentiating factor and foster this relationship. In this sequence, this study aims: i) unpack the distinct impacts of IEO dimensions on early internationalisation, and ii) examine the moderating effects of INO on the relationship between IEO dimensions and early internationalisation, and we also iii) unpack INO effects with competitors and with non-competitors. Using a sample of 171 Portuguese SMEs and resorting to the development of logistic regression models, our results supported that the direct effects on early internationalisation vary across the dimensions of IEO – while innovativeness, autonomy, and competitive aggressiveness positively affect SMEs' early internationalisation, the direct effects of risk-taking and proactiveness were not statistically significant. Besides, we found corroborating evidence that INO with competitors presents a positive moderating effect between innovativeness and early internationalisation. This study reinforces the perspective of SMEs configuring diversified intangible strategic assets to accelerate internationalisation processes, bringing several theoretical and managerial implications.