“Collaborating across Entrepreneurial Ecosystems: opportunities for inclusion, innovation, sustainability, resilience and growth”
4 November, Doctoral Day
5-6 November, Main Conference – ISBN: 978-1-900862-37-0
The 2025 Conference with take place in the Technology & Innovation Centre – a state-of-the-art conference, research and industry engagement hub located in the heart of the vibrant Glasgow City Innovation District, in the centre of Glasgow. Recognised as a UNESCO City of Music in 2008, Glasgow is Scotland’s cultural powerhouse, and home to world-class museums, galleries and attractions, a rich architectural heritage, a thriving and diverse food and drink scene. It is also recognised as one of the world’s top five sporting cities. Glasgow is ranked by the Mercer Cost of Living Survey as one of Europe’s most cost-effective cities, and the first in the UK to be included in the Global Destination Sustainability Index. With Loch Lomond just 40 minutes away, it is the perfect starting point for delegates to discover what Scotland has to offer.
Hosting ISBE 2025 in Glasgow provides an opportunity to not only showcase cutting-edge entrepreneurial research, impact and engagement, it coincides with two important milestones. First, throughout 2025, the city of Glasgow will be celebrating Glasgow 850 – the city’s 850th birthday! Marking this important event, Glasgow City Council has created a yearlong, inclusive and citywide programme of events and activities that reflect on how the city has transformed, particularly over the last fifty years, and how it can inspire accelerated change, for a better sustainable future, over the next fifty years. Second, the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship celebrates its silver anniversary in 2025, marking 25 years since alumnus, entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter, gifted an endowment through the Hunter Foundation, making the establishment of a leading centre for entrepreneurship research, learning and engagement possible.
Key to Glasgow’s transformation is its rich history of innovation and creativity and its vibrant and flourishing entrepreneurial ecosystem which stretches from the City’s east end, along the River Clyde, to the city’s west end, finally reaching Glasgow airport located on the outskirts of Paisley. Participants will be able to learn more about the connectedness of these ecosystems both during conference sessions, and should they want to, visit the city’s three innovation districts during their stay: Glasgow City Innovation District, Glasgow Riverside Innovation District, and the Advanced Manufacturing innovation District
Entrepreneurs have always benefitted from collaboration through relationships and networks. In the current complex and ever-changing global economy, collaboration is key to continued entrepreneurial success and the rich economic, community, social and environmental benefits created by entrepreneurial ventures.
The theme of this year’s conference places a sharp focus on collaboration and ecosystems, challenging us to explore the opportunities that ecosystems create for inclusion, innovation, sustainability, resilience and growth.
ISBE2025 will bring together a community of researchers, practitioners and policymakers keen to explore this theme and consider what more needs to be done to nurture and connect entrepreneurial ecosystems, ensuring they have the resources and support needed to realise their full economic and wider societal benefits through innovation, creativity and growth.
At ISBE 2025, we welcome policy makers, industry partners, and third sector organisations to join university scholars in what promises to a vibrant, engaging and energising discussion of the potential of entrepreneurial ecosystems considered and discussed during keynote presentations, panel sessions, round tables, poster sessions, and presentation and discussion of emerging research and its implications for policy and practice.
Participants and supporters will also have the opportunity to join the ISBE2025 Awards dinner which is being held in the spectacular Glasgow Science Centre set on the banks of the River Clyde and home to an array of educational, interesting, informative, and enjoyable ways to engage with innovations, science and technologies – on the night, participants will have the opportunity to view and interact with exhibits as they enjoy a drinks reception before dinner.
We look forward to welcoming you.
Conference Chairs:
Professor Eleanor Shaw OBE FAcSS, University of Strathclyde
Professor Jillian Gordon, University of Glasgow
Meryl Levington, University of Strathclyde