Fourth International Conference on the Dynamics of Entrepreneurship at ZEW

Conferences

Nadine Levratto during her Keynote on Business Angels.

On 18 and 19 June 2018, ZEW, together with the University of Mannheim’s Institute for SME Research (Institut für Mittelstandsforschung, ifm) and the Mannheim Centre for Competition and Innovation (MaCCI) hosted the fourth international conference on the “Dynamics of Entrepreneurship” (CoDE). Over the course of two conference days, more than 80 researchers from Europe, the United States and Japan discussed recent empirical and theoretical studies in the fields of entrepreneurship and business dynamics.

In several parallel sessions, researchers presented their latest studies on a broad range of topics, including both traditional topics of start-up research such as the financing and organisational structure of business start-ups, as well as new topics like the use of big data methods to identify personality traits of founders. One of the sessions provided insights into the methods and key findings of micro- and macroeconomic studies carried out as part of the EU project “Framework for the Analysis of Research and Adoption Activities and their Macroeconomics Effects” (FRAME). The event provided ample opportunities for authors of the project and conference participants to exchange thoughts and ideas.

Keynote speeches addressed current issues of entrepreneurship

Henry Sauermann on the first employees in start-ups.

High-profile guests were invited to hold speeches on current issues in entrepreneurship research at the event, including Professor Maria Minniti from Syracuse University, US, who shed light on the role of government regulation in the development of young and innovative sectors using the industry for non-military drones as an example. Professor Henry Sauermann from the European School of Management and Technology (ESMT) in Berlin highlighted the significance of joiners, i.e. the first employees in start-ups. In his speech, he placed particular emphasis on the influence of personal preferences and characteristics of university graduates on their career entry into start-ups or established companies. Professor Nadine Levratto from Paris Nanterre University and the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) shed light on the special role of business angels in the financing of start-ups. In her speech, she pointed out recent findings from a comprehensive empirical study conducted in France.

CoDE conference at ZEW

Maria Minitti on the role of government regulation in the development of young sectors.

Since 2012, the conference on the “Dynamics of Entrepreneurship” (CoDE) has been held every two years. The conference, which offers researchers conducting research on entrepreneurship and business dynamics an opportunity to present their findings, has established itself as an important part of ZEW’s research and as a forum for academic exchange on entrepreneurship research. In addition to scientific contributions on the instruments to promote start-up activities, the conference also features topics such as the interactions between financing, human capital as well as the innovation and investment activities of business start-ups.