Introduction

Research in entrepreneurship and small business has prospered and grown considerably during the past decade in all European countries. Remarkable development has taken place in the research frameworks and methodologies respectively.

Progress in the field of entrepreneurship is not only triggered by the exchange of ideas and new analyses that derive from the interaction among the entrepreneurial community, the policy makers and the academic community. It is also characterised by the growing emphasis on entrepreneurship in policy agendas and business communities all over Europe. It has stimulated dialogue among the private and public entities, and the academic community.

Research on entrepreneurship and on small and medium-sized enterprises has to respond to a challenge of practice and seek answers to the most urgent problems, as well as follow the trend of the most important developments in the contemporary world economy. 

Development of the theory of entrepreneurship and studies of small business behaviour and economics should focus on satisfying these new needs of the European science and economy.

The RENT conference is now firmly established as the premier entrepreneurship research conference in Europe and annually brings together approximately 250 leading academics in this field who present and debate cutting edge research in a wide variety of entrepreneurship related topics.