"Entrepreneurship Research Thrives on Exchange“

After nine years, the ESU Conference, along with its Doctoral Program, is returning to Lüneburg. The network has set itself the goal of strengthening European research in the field of entrepreneurship and bringing together researchers at various stages of their careers. In doing so, ESU traditionally combines academic exchange with insights into the culture and economic development of the respective host region.

We spoke with Prof. Dr. Markus Reihlen, Vice President for Entrepreneurship and other areas, and Professor of Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship at Leuphana University Lüneburg, about the significance of the conference, Lüneburg’s entrepreneurial history, and the transfer of research into society.

Dear Mr. Reihlen, what does it mean for Leuphana and your Faculty of Management & Technology that the ESU Conference is being held in Lüneburg this year?

The ESU is a unique network because it brings together established scholars, early-career researchers, and doctoral candidates from various European countries. We are therefore delighted to be hosting the conference at Leuphana again after nine years, and we see this as an opportunity to further strengthen the international visibility of our entrepreneurship research.
Entrepreneurship research thrives on exchange: new scholarly ideas often emerge where different perspectives, theoretical approaches, and empirical experiences converge. The ESU conference creates precisely this space. Supporting young scholars is particularly important to me. They can discuss their projects in an international setting, receive feedback, and build connections that often accompany them throughout many years of their academic careers.
At the same time, we can demonstrate how we understand entrepreneurship at Leuphana: not merely as research on business startups, but as a key building block for innovation, social transformation, and regional development.

The ESU has traditionally placed an emphasis on the culture and history of the host country or region. Which aspect of Lüneburg will be highlighted at the conference?

Among other things, we will introduce participants to the history of Lüneburg through a guided city tour. This is particularly relevant for an entrepreneurship conference, as Lüneburg’s development is closely linked to economic and entrepreneurial activity.
As a Hanseatic city, Lüneburg owed its prosperity for centuries primarily to salt. Salt was an extremely valuable commodity at the time and had a decisive influence on the city’s economic development and urban landscape. Today, of course, salt no longer holds the same economic significance. This makes Lüneburg an interesting example of how cities and regions must continually reinvent themselves economically.
Today, the focus is on promoting new economic dynamics and, in particular, knowledge-intensive innovations—both in the Lüneburg region and in the Hamburg metropolitan region. Universities play an important role in this regard. Leuphana sees itself as a catalyst and partner in a regional innovation ecosystem where new ideas emerge, scientific knowledge is put into practice, and new entrepreneurial and societal solutions can be developed as a result.

Which part of the program are you most looking forward to?

Actually, I don’t want to single out any one item on the program. A good conference thrives precisely on the fact that different people and topics come together, giving rise to conversations that can’t be planned in advance.

Of course, I’m very much looking forward to our international keynote speakers Sarah Jack, George Romme, and Angelo Riviezzo, as well as the presentations by my Leuphana colleagues:Steffen Farny and Stefanie Habersang. But I’m just as excited about the many ideas from the doctoral candidates, who will be presenting and discussing their research projects. The exchange with young scholars is a central part of ESU.

This year, we’re also taking it a step further: we’re not only approaching entrepreneurship from an academic perspective, but we’re also making it possible to experience firsthand what it’s like to launch a startup from within academia. In the session “AI in Entrepreneurship: From Idea to Venture with AI Tools,” Maria Kirschstein and Christian Borck will demonstrate how AI tools can be used from the development of an idea all the way to a potential venture. In doing so, we’re addressing a highly topical issue and combining academic reflection with entrepreneurial practice.

When would you consider the conference a success? What would you like the participants from Lüneburg to take away from it?

For me, the conference was a success if the participants went home with new inspiration for their own research. Perhaps they discovered a new theoretical perspective, received a helpful tip for their research project, or developed an idea that they will pursue further.
Personal connections are at least as important. Science thrives on networks and the open exchange of ideas. That’s why I hope that new connections will form over the next few days—connections that might lead to joint research projects, publications, or long-term collaborations.
And, of course, I’d be delighted if the participants got to know Leuphana as an exciting international hub for entrepreneurship and innovation—and remembered Lüneburg as a city they’d love to return to.

And last but not least: How can this kind of academic exchange have an impact on society beyond the university?

This is an issue we’re working on very intensively here at Leuphana. Scientific findings don’t automatically have an impact just because they’re published. We need structures in which academia and society can engage in ongoing dialogue and work together to address specific challenges.

Our Leuphana Innovation Communities are a key tool for this. With the Social Innovation Community, for example, we have built a network that brings together stakeholders from academia, business, politics, and civil society in Lüneburg and the surrounding region. It’s not just about transferring knowledge from the university to society. The reverse process is just as important: practical questions, experiences, and challenges feed into academic processes.

This collaboration is particularly crucial in the fields of entrepreneurship and social innovation. Many of the major societal challenges cannot be solved by academia alone, nor by business, politics, or civil society alone. When people with diverse experiences and expertise come together, new ideas can emerge that are then jointly tested and further developed. For me, this is one of the most important ways in which the university and society can shape the future together.