91ÇàÇà²Ý

Department of Management Studies

Research in Entrepreneurship

Cutting-edge research – but not just for the ivory tower.
Visual and creative representation of entrepreneurship unit

Our research can be broadly characterised as endeavouring to understand the complexity of entrepreneurship as a multifaceted socio-economic phenomenon. It is pronouncedly multi-disciplinary, applying theories and methods from, psychology, sociology, economics, geography, history and philosophy to diverse entrepreneurial phenomena. Much of our research is applied, with relevance for public policy.

We can confidently state that our research meets the highest quality standards. Not only have our team members published in the top entrepreneurship and management journals, but they also continuously contribute to scholarly debates by serving in the review boards of journals such as Journal of Business Venturing, Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Business Venturing Insights and Academy of Management Discoveries. 

Some of our research areas include: 

  • Social and sustainable business venturing
  • Entrepreneurial responses to grand challenges
  • Microentrepreneurship in the Global South
  • Entrepreneurship and population ageing
  • Psychological processes underlying entrepreneurial actions
  • Regional and institutional embeddedness of entrepreneurship
  • Philosophy of entrepreneurship
  • Everyday entrepreneurship

Social Impact and Outreach

Some of our research serves the sole purpose of advancing entrepreneurship theory. But much of what we do bears significant policy relevance. For this reason we continue to be active in the policy community, advising policy makers within and beyond the Finnish borders. We have completed consultancy assignments for example for ministries in Finland and Germany as well as the EU and the OECD.

Doctoral Studies in Entrepreneurship

Our unit provides an extensive four-year doctoral research training program focused on entrepreneurship. Our aim is to equip doctoral researchers with the necessary skills, knowledge, and resources to conduct impactful research. 

Entrepreneurship

Doctoral Studies in Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is one of the twelve majors of the Doctoral Program in Business, Economics and Finance. The Entrepreneurship unit at Aalto BIZ provides an extensive four-year doctoral research training program focused on organizational communication. Our aim is to equip doctoral researchers with the necessary skills, knowledge, and resources to conduct impactful research. Our program fosters broader understanding of entrepreneurship as complex and diverse socio-economic phenomenon.

Department of Management Studies
Student guide illustration, doctoral programmes

Aalto Doctoral Programme in Business, Economics and Finance

Student study guide for the Aalto Doctoral Programme in Business, Economics and Finance

Programmes

Who Are We?

Aalto people working. Photo: Unto Rautio

People in Entrepreneurship

Meet the professors, researchers, doctoral students and staff of Entrepreneurship.

Department of Management Studies
Logo: Co-funded by the European Union

Research projects

Senior Talent

Senior Talent is an Erasmus+ project focused on supporting individuals aged 55+ who are nearing or have entered retirement. With Europe’s population ageing and the workforce evolving, the project helps small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) build more age-inclusive, sustainable workplaces. It offers practical tools, expert-led training, and personalised HR support to ensure senior employees remain active, engaged, and valued contributors to the modern workforce.

The project is led by Room466 (Austria) and brings together five partners from four countries: Aalto University School of Business (Finland), which leads the research efforts; Latvian Adult Education Association (Latvia); Hanse-Parlament (Germany); and the Regional Management Office Murau Murtal GmbH (Austria). This cross-border collaboration brings together regional expertise and policy insight to deliver meaningful outcomes for individuals and organisations alike.

Learn more about the project on the .

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or OeAD-GmbH. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Recent publications

Irina Atkova, Tamara Galkina, Man Yang, Tiina Leposky, Petri Ahokangas 2025 Long Range Planning

Myrto Chliova, Gabriella Cacciotti, Teemu Kautonen, Ignacio Pavez 2025 Journal of Business Research

Bernadetta A. Ginting-Szczesny 2025 Necessity Entrepreneurship: Getting Beyond the Binary

Lauri Laine 2025 Entrepreneurship and Regional Development

Marco L. Rapp, Nadima Hassan, Jordi Trullen, Mireia Valverde 2025 International Journal of Human Resource Management

Juliana Rodrigues 2025

Philip T. Roundy, Bernadetta A. Ginting-Szczesny 2025 Journal of Business Venturing Insights

Myrto Chliova, Gabriella Cacciotti, Teemu Kautonen 2024 Business and Society

Tina M. Dacin, Tammar Zilber, Mélodie Cartel, Ewald Kibler 2024 Organization Studies

Felix Diefenhardt, Marco L. Rapp, Verena Bader, Wolfgang Mayrhofer 2024 Human Resource Management Journal
More information on our research in the Aalto research portal.

Contact Information

Kauppakorkeakoulu, jonka edustalla istuu neljä opiskelijaa. Kuva: Unto Rautio / Aalto-yliopisto

School of Business

Ekonominaukio 1

Locations

Postal address

Department of Management Studies

Entrepreneurship
Aalto University School of Business
P.O. Box 21230
FIN-00076 AALTO
FINLAND

Administration

Head of the Department: Nina Granqvist

Unit Coordinator: Ewald Kibler

Secretary: Tiia Melander

  • Updated:
  • Published:
Share
URL copied!