Institutional Support for Small Enterprises: A Review of Small Industries Corporation Models

This paper is a systematic literature review on institutional support mechanisms for small enterprises through the lens of small industry corporation (SIC) models in developed and developing economies. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines are used to synthesise 38 peer-reviewed studies and 9 government or institutional reports (1,971 initial records) to assess the design, implementation effectiveness, and reform trajectories of state-sponsored institutional frameworks. The key bodies examined include the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), India's Small Industries Development Bank (SIDBI), Malaysia's Small and Medium Industries Development Corporation (SMIDEC), Japan's Small and Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation (SMRJ) and the European Investment Fund (EIF). Government data shows that small enterprises account for more than 90% of all businesses worldwide, employ 45-50% of the private workforce, and have a financing gap of USD 5.7 trillion in emerging markets alone (World Bank, 2024). Despite considerable policy infrastructure, critical gaps exist in terms of reach, awareness, and coordination effectiveness. This review proposes an Integrated Institutional Support Framework (IISF) that maps institutional actors, support channels, firm level outcomes, and enabling environment conditions.