Entrepreneurship Research Group
Keywords: entrepreneurship education; entrepreneurial competencies; entrepreneurial growth; knowledge management; knowledge risk management, risk management, internationalization of entrepreneurial organizations; rural entrepreneurship; innovation management; social entrepreneurship; ecosystems (including entrepreneurial ecosystem and university ecosystem); responsible digitalization and sustainable business development; resilient organizations
The entrepreneurship research group brings together academic scholars from diverse backgrounds to investigate how new and established entrepreneurial firms develop and apply their entrepreneurial competencies and organisational knowledge in their quest to apply present and future business opportunities in a sustainable way.
Mission
The group’s research efforts focus on value creation through responsible entrepreneurship, i.e., value creation through development and applying one’s competencies and organisational knowledge with sustainability as a key factor. In this light, the mission of the research group extends from education to entrepreneurial individuals to entrepreneurial teams and to other forms of entrepreneurial organisation. The advancement of the study of entrepreneurship education is an important focus of research, with the idea that entrepreneurial education should begin in the early stages of an individual’s higher education at the latest.
The ways in which small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can achieve sustainable growth from both domestic and international markets form the core of the research group’s focus. The roles of business transfers, knowledge management, crisis management, business model innovation, digitalisation, creativity and innovation, and knowledge and innovation ecosystems that facilitate growth and internationalisation of SMEs are of particular interest.
In all its activities, the research group encourages research on how responsibility and digital business transformation can drive entrepreneurship research at national and international level, and across the two.
Research efforts aim at working with entrepreneurial and future-oriented minds to nurture and sustain entrepreneurship ecosystem where knowledge and innovative methods and approaches are transferred smoothly and successfully across the research field and society.
![Aki Harima](https://haldus.taltech.ee/sites/default/files/news-image/Aki%20Harima.jpg)
Group members
Aki Harima is an Associate Professor in the Entrepreneurship and International Business Unit. From 2013 to 2024, Aki served as a research associate at the Chair of Small Business and Entrepreneurship at the Faculty of Business Studies and Economics at the University of Bremen in Germany. During this time, she co-initiated and organized the International Conference on Migration and Diaspora Entrepreneurship. Aki has been an active member of the Editorial Review Board of Entrepreneurship & Regional Development since 2023. Her primary research interests include investigating entrepreneurial ecosystems, transnational entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship support mechanisms, and entrepreneurship education. In recent years, Aki has focused her research on the entrepreneurial potential of refugees in various contexts, such as Syrian refugees in Europe, Ukrainian refugees in Eastern Europe, and Somali refugees in Western East Africa. Additionally, she has dedicated her efforts to examining the early evolution of regional ecosystems in different countries, including Chile, Namibia, and Estonia. Aki's international teaching experiences span across Germany, the UK, Namibia, South Africa, and Mexico. Notably, she was honoured with the Berninghausen Prize for Excellent Teaching and Innovation, Germany's oldest teaching prize.
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Teaching courses | Entrepreneurship Theories, MMJ9040, Ph.D |
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Aki Harima's research consists of the following three domains:
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Sirje Ustav offers entrepreneurship courses primarily for master students in various disciplines both Estonian and international students. She has taught also introduction courses at the bachelor level. The list of courses you have taught:
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Sirje Ustav research focuses on entrepreneurial ecosystem studies mainly at the meso level including entrepreneurship education development. Focus on systematic enhancement of entrepreneurial and metacompetencies. She takes an active part of conferences and expert networks. Research topics:
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Susanne Durst is a professor of management at the Institute of Business Administration. Scientifically, Susanne is interested in knowledge management and innovation from the perspective of small businesses. Recently, she has started working on the topic of sustainable digitalization to contribute to a balanced and transparent discussion on digitalization.
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Marianne Kallaste offers entrepreneurship courses primarily for master students in various disciplines. She gives lectures in English and Estonian and in regular and distance learning. At the Master's level, she is conducting the following courses:
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Katrin Arvola teaches mostly bachelor level courses- introduction to entrepreneurship. In addition to teaching in higher education, she conducts entrepreneurship workshops in Mektory for pupils and other interested people in Estonian and English. The list of courses:
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Martin Toding offers entrepreneurship courses primarily for master's students in various disciplines. The list of courses:
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Systematic development of entrepreneurial mind-set and entrepreneurship education at all educational levels (EETA) 01.01.2016 – 31.12.2018 |
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Juhan Teder has supervised internships, research papers and theses and participated in the defense committees of bachelor's and master's theses. |
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Juhan Teder's research area focuses on business development, entrepreneurs and business policy |
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Juhan has been one of the contributors to the project IN15031 "Systematic development of entrepreneurial mindset and entrepreneurship education at all educational levels (EETA)(1.01.2016-31.12.2018), including the development of four modules (Basic module at Bachelor level, Basic module at Master level, Technology Entrepreneurshib, Growth and Internationalization). |
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Airi Noppel offers entrepreneurship courses primarily for bachelor students in various disciplines. She teaches also business planning at the masters level. She has supervised several bachelor and master theses. The list of courses:
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Airi Noppel research topic is developing the entrepreneurial approach of teaching in higher education. She has 10 years of experience in university teaching and good experience using innovative teaching models, particularly in entrepreneurship courses. Research topics:
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Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2023 Estonia study 10/04/2023 – 31/05/2024. Funder: Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communication. Funding: 94 300. |
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Ekaterina Demiankova offers entrepreneurship courses for both bachelor's and master's students in various disciplines.
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Ekaterina Demiankova’s research focuses on female entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial ecosystem and sustainable entrepreneurship. Research topics:
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EUROTEQ 2023-2027 |
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German Durani's research focuses on sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems and sustainable startups. Research areas:
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Jaime’s doctoral research examines the impact of digitalization on the evolution of entrepreneurial ecosystems. Passionate about leveraging technology for social good, his research explores how digital tools can simultaneously enhance access to entrepreneurship opportunities and address environmental challenges. Research topics:
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Guest lecturers and emeritus
Kristjan Kolbre
Ergo Metsla
Tauri Tuubel
Katrin Kalmurand
Prof Urve Venesaar (Professor Emeritus)
Prof Ene Kolbre (Professor Emeritus)
Main research topics and areas
- The evolution of entrepreneurial ecosystems
- Ecosystem leadership
- Sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems
- Digitalization & entrepreneurial ecosystems
- Student perspectives on entrepreneurship education
- University entrepreneurial ecosystem
- Entrepreneurial competence
- Metacompetencies
- The entrepreneurial potential of refugees and migrants
- Ukrainian refugee entrepreneurs in Europe
- Entrepreneurial support for refugees
- The role of transnational entrepreneurs in EEs
Studies
Course code | Course title | ECTS credits |
MMJ3010 | Introduction to Entrepreneurship | 6 |
MMJ3060 | Venture Creation | 6 |
MMJ5240 | Social Entrepreneurship | 6 |
MMJ5250 | Venture Creation | 6 |
MMJ5260 | Business Growth Management | 6 |
MMJ5280 | Technology Entrepreneurship | 6 |
MMJ5290 | International Entrepreneurship | 6 |
MMJ5310 | Technology Entrepreneurship | 6 |
MMJ9040 | Entrepreneurship Theories | 6 |
MMO5600 | Entrepreneurial Leadership | 6 |
TMJ0130 | Introduction to Entrepreneurship | 3 |
TMJ0140 | Introduction to Entrepreneurship | 6 |
TMJ0180 | Start-up Entrepreneurship | 3 |
TMJ0190 | Start-up Entrepreneurship | 6 |
TMJ3300 | Entrepreneurship and Business Planning | 6 |
TMJ9050 | Special Workshop on Entrepreneurship | 4 |
Projects
The group’s activities contribute to the different forms of entrepreneurship relevant for Estonia, the Baltic region, and the European Union and is supported by several contracts and funding from different sources. By being involved in national and international networks of different kinds, the group’s activities can make an impact on present and upcoming societal challenges. Regarding entrepreneurship education, the aim is to increase the employability of graduates in the labour market but also to increase entrepreneurship and new venture creation.
The research provides a thorough and up-to-date look into:
- Start-up and business transfer through sustainable growth from small- or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
- Entrepreneurship education
- Business Models Innovation
- Knowledge management and crisis management
- Internationalisation of entrepreneurial firms
- Redesign of the entrepreneurship perspective in the case of unexpected events in the environment
Ongoing projects
Completed projects
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Main contacts
Department of Business Administration
Akadeemia tee 3 (SOC Study Building)
12618 Tallinn, Estonia
phone: +372 620 3958; +372 620 3949; +372 620 4004
e-mail: mm@taltech.ee