Social & Sustainable Entrepreneurship
REAL: Regenerative Entrepreneurial Action Lab
Welcome to the Regenerative Entrepreneurship Action Lab. We’re the research team of the Professorship of Social and Sustainable Entrepreneurship at Leuphana University. Our primary goal is to position Leuphana University as a leading centre for research, education, and practice in sustainable and regenerative entrepreneurship: all in order to enhance scientific and applied knowledge and activate students to be catalytic actors in mastering the polycrises of the 21st Century.
Join us and you’ll find a vibrant, supportive culture — one that encourages curiosity, critical thinking, and the pursuit of meaningful ventures!
REAL: Entrepreneurial Programmes
Whether you’re a student, a researcher or a practitioner looking for a community of practice, we are here to shape regenerative entrepreneurship both academically and practically. We do so by running living labs, interdisciplinary exchange and social innovation formats with a focus on entrepreneurship that is socially and ecologically responsible.
REAL: Educational Programmes
If you’re a student looking for an academic programme for critical, reflective and creative thinkers and doers, then you’ve found it. We strive to provide you with social innovation formats, cross-disciplinary courses, and real-world impact. Whether you’re a Bachelor, Master, or Doctoral student: Our interdisciplinary courses and programmes are designed to help you to develop your entrepreneurial skills while producing impactful research.
REAL: Research & Impact
If you are an aspiring or current PhD, Post-Doc or more experienced Academic interested in embracing regenerative futures, reach out to us! Our state-of-the-art research and creative programmes extend beyond sustainability, advancing entrepreneurial approaches that replenish and strengthen socio-ecological systems. We focus on genuine transformation and try to find answers to our main question: How can we leverage regeneration to shape disruptions so that they turn into desirable social-ecological transformations?
About REAL
“REAL” not only stands for Regenerative Entrepreneurship Action Lab: It also embodies the goal of our research - to create tangible, systemic change through social innovation. This is why we combine rigorous academic inquiry with real-world collaboration in a living lab environment. We specialize in community-led long-term field studies and integrate diverse perspectives from sociology, psychology, economics, and sustainability science.
Three research streams guide us:
1: Disruption - studying entrepreneurship during crisis.
2: Transformation - exploring the role of sustainable entrepreneurship in large-scale transition.
3: Regeneration - developing new models that restore social and environmental well-being.
Our programmes are hands-on and include practical entrepreneurship courses, the LSEC certificate, as well as doctoral initiatives rooted in leadership and social impact. To ensure continual knowledge exchange and that our findings lead to positive change well beyond the university, we collaborate with several businesses and civic partners. If you’re interested in how we can help you and your business or organization, reach out to us!