Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research Conference

Introduction

On January 18 and 19, 2018, the Frank H. Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise (Kenan Institute) hosted its Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research Conference at The Breakers Palm Beach Resort. The conference brought together more than 100 academic research scholars, policy experts and private sector professionals to discuss and debate the most challenging current issues in the field of entrepreneurship in order to set the agenda for future research and policy.

Kenan Institute Director Greg Brown opened the conference with an overview of how free enterprise and entrepreneurship drive economic prosperity. According to Brown, while entrepreneurship historically has been viewed as the lifeblood of free enterprise, many questions surround the resiliency of entrepreneurship and its efficacy in increasing economic productivity and improving society. Due to its interdisciplinary nature, entrepreneurship is a rapidly shifting and evolving field. Brown underscored the need to further entrepreneurial research from both a corporate and a policymaking outlook in order to move the discussion forward on adapting to this entrepreneurial evolution.

Finally, Brown outlined three primary goals for the conference:

To better understand what we already know about entrepreneurship;
To have conversations we would not otherwise have through an interdisciplinary approach; and,
To decide on important issues we need to further explore across the field.

The proceeding summary offers highlights from each day’s presentations and discussions.