Thomas Schmalzer received his Master’s degree in Economics magna cum laude at the Karl-Franzens University, Graz (Austria), and Bachelor’s degree in Economics after having studied at the Karl-Franzens University, Graz, and the University of Twente (Enschede, Netherlands). Thomas Schmalzer is currently lecturer and head of the transfer centre at the Department of International Management at FH JOANNEUM (University of Applied Sciences in Graz, Austria). He manages several multinational research teams on topics such as cross-cultural aspects as well as business start-up, succession and growth. In addition, he is responsible for the coordination and management of all R&D projects at the department, many of them EU funded, with a total turnover of over than 3 million EUR. Moreover, Thomas Schmalzer is constantly involved in setting up new proposals for research grants and applications to tendering procedures. He frequently works in countries around the globe leading research teams, chairing conference sessions, workshops, and steering committee meetings. An integral part of his competence portfolio is the planning and preparation of academic conferences around the globe (Graz, Austria; Stockholm, Sweden; Ahmedabad, India; Monterrey, Mexico; Wichita, USA). He also works as a lecturer in Economics as well as on international R&D as well as EU project management for companies and universities worldwide. Previously, he advised the Styrian Chamber of Commerce on economic policy issues, was employed by the Main Association of Austrian Social Security Institutions in the area of policy advice, and served as an elected representative of the study programme of economics at the Austrian National Union of Students. He has published on cultural differences in higher education, regional innovation, as well as on the internationalisation of SMEs. Moreover he is involved in ongoing research within the international team of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor as well as on business succession and cross-cultural learning styles, together with partners in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the US.