Entrepreneurship is a significant force shaping economic development. Yet, the association between entrepreneurship, productivity and economic development is poorly understood. While entrepreneurship is often viewed from the perspective of the benefits that accrue to individuals, much of the policy interest derives from the presumption that entrepreneurs provide economy-wide benefits in the form of new products, lower prices, innovations and increased productivity. But how large are these effects, and how exactly do entrepreneurs create them? And how do these effects unfold in different economic contexts? Do entrepreneurs always contribute similarly to economic development, regardless of context, or do their contributions vary as a function of, e.g., a country’s economic wealth or its institutional setup? Although a substantial literature has been built on the presumption that entrepreneurs contribute positively to economic development, the detailed mechanisms of this contribution remain unexplored.

AimThe IPGC Workshop brings together leading entrepreneurship academics to draft a future research agenda in entrepreneurship, productivity, and economic development. The workshop will review both theoretical and empirical research and explore new research avenues. We are seeking original thinking on how entrepreneurship and economic development interact. Areas of particular interest include:

• Review and development of indices to measure country-level entrepreneurial activity. What are the existing indices, their strengths and weaknesses, and how could they be improved?

• Economic contributions of entrepreneurship and innovation in countries at different stages of economic development. Which are the mechanisms through which entrepreneurs contribute to economic development in different developmental contexts?

• Influences on entrepreneurship in countries at different stages of economic development. What institutional and cultural conditions drive country-level entrepreneurial activity in different stages of economic development? How are these conditions linked to factors that also influence productivity?

• Building a conceptual platform that both provides for further theory development on the roles of entrepreneurship in economic development, as well as guidance for policy design and implementation in different economic contexts.

Call for papers Deadline for Abstract Submission 6 March 2009The workshop brings together leading entrepreneurship academics to discuss the issues above. In addition to invited papers, we welcome one-page abstracts from researchers working in this domain. Successful authors will be offered either a platform (oral) presentation or a poster presentation.

Abstracts should be up to one page in length. The text should be submitted in MS Word format with a cover page showing the title of the paper, affiliation, and contact details (full address and e-mail) of the corresponding author. Further guidelines for the preparation and submission of contributed papers and posters will be sent upon their acceptance. The abstract should include details of the methodology, as well as findings and conclusions.

Acceptance Process1. Abstracts should be submitted by 6 March 2009. They will be blind reviewed by two members of the scientific committee. Acceptances will be notified before 31 March 2009.2. Authors of accepted abstracts will either be invited to submit a full paper (maximum 5000 words) based on the reviewers’ comments or a poster.3. Full papers should be submitted by 8 May 2009. At least one of the authors is expected to register for and attend the conference.Abstracts and papers should be sent to Saurav Pathak.

Organised by:QinetiQ-EPSRC Chair

in Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurship

IPGC Workshop in Entrepreneurship, Productivity and Economic Development – London, May 15-16, 2009

Scientific CommitteeThe conference is organised by Professors Zoltan Acs (visiting) and Erkko Autio, of Imperial College Business School.

Invited AcademicsDavid Audretsch, Max Planck Institute; Niels Bosma, Utrecht University; Samee Desai, University of Missouri Kansas City; Saul Estrin, London School of Economics; Jonathan Levie, Strathclyde University; Mark Hart, Aston University; Paul Reynolds, George Mason University; David Storey, University of Warwick; Nicola Virgill, George Mason University; Wim Naude, Wider Institute; Anders Hoffman, FORA; Roy Thurik, Erasmus University Rotterdam; Magnus Henrekson, Stockholm School of Economics; Pontus Braunerhjelm, Royal Institute of Technology Stockholm; Roger Staugh, George Mason University; Jonathan Haskel, Imperial College Business School.

Workshop DetailsDate: 15th May 2009 (Friday) & 16th May 2009 (Saturday)Time: 15th May (Friday) 9AM  - 5PM16th May (Saturday) 9 AM - 12 PMLocation: Imperial College Business School, Tanaka Building, LT-1 (Lecture Theatre Level 1)

ScheduleFriday, May 15Welcome&Registration with BreakfastSession 1 (10 AM – 12 PM)Lunch Break (12 PM – 1 PM)Session 2 (1 PM – 3 PM)Coffee Break (3 PM – 3:30 PM)Session 3 (3:30 PM – 5 PM)Dinner from 7 PM

Saturday, May 16Breakfast from 9AMSession 4 (10 AM – 12 PM)Conclusion (12 PM – 1 PM)Lunch

Organised by:QinetiQ-EPSRC Chair

in Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurship

IPGC Workshop in Entrepreneurship, Productivity and Economic Development