In the new global economy, the development of new products has become a central issue not only for multinational companies but also for small multinational companies, so one of the biggest challenges for SMEs is to avoid their products quickly reach the decline phase of the product life cycle. This essay will first critically analyze the challenges of international NPD and product life cycles in relation to SMEs, then closely examine the relationship between the two issues and finally the essay will focus on marketing strategies for SMEs to address these two questions. . Therefore, the essay critically analyzes and illustrates marketing strategies for SMEs to successfully overcome the challenges of international NPD and product life cycles. Over the last three decades, i.e. since the 1980s, the NPD process has evolved rapidly, as is well illustrated in the figure. 1.One of the main reasons for this change in the NPD process is globalization and the rapid development of technology (Crawford and Benedetto, 2008). Even the global NPD process, which started with simple elements such as NPD process and NPD strategy, has continued to incorporate new elements such as global trend and global companies, global innovation (harmonization strategy), and global product strategy (standardization and adaptation) (Fig.2). The changing international product life cycle is also responsible for this process of changing global NPD. Furthermore, this change in IPLC has also been one of the major challenges faced by SMEs while developing new products. Majaro (1986) states that yesterday, when a product reached the decline stage, companies immediately exported it to another country, thus helping the product to remain...... in the middle of the paper...... vercome the two challenges.Fig.7 Framework that constitutes the foundation of all international NPD strategies; in relation to multinationals and SMEs. Adapted from Brentani, Kleinschmidt & Salomo, 2010, p.146. To conclude, this essay has critically addressed two significant issues related to IPLC change and the costly but essential NPD process in relation to SMEs, clearly stating that the two issues are related. Next, four strategies are recommended from which SMEs can choose any strategy to successfully address the two issues, but they need to develop these strategies based on the basic framework. Overall, the evidence provided in the essay clearly indicates that the recommended strategies together with the basic framework will help SMEs not only overcome challenges but will also help them gain a competitive advantage over rivals..