Professor Aki Harima from TalTech Department of Business Administration has been included in the 2026 Stanford–Elsevier World’s Top 2% Scientists list. The single-year ranking recognises researchers based on their research citation impact during 2025.
Among researchers included in the single-year list, Harima ranks third in Economics & Business in Estonia, sixth across all disciplines at TalTech, and 37th across all disciplines in Estonia.
Harima’s research focuses on entrepreneurial ecosystems, inclusive entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship education. She explores how ecosystems emerge and evolve, how people facing social and institutional barriers, including migrants and refugees, create entrepreneurial opportunities, and how universities support entrepreneurial mindsets and capabilities. Her recent publications examine ecosystem leadership and how refugee camp entrepreneurs navigate uncertainty about their futures.
“What makes this recognition particularly meaningful to me is the thought that someone on the other side of the world may be reading my research and finding it valuable,” Harima says. “More than the ranking itself, it motivates me to continue asking questions that matter and to contribute to both the academic community and society.”
Alongside her research, Harima recently became PhD Programme Director for Business Research within the department, supporting the next generation of researchers.
The Stanford–Elsevier database draws on Scopus citation data and considers citation counts, co-authorship and author positions. It provides separate rankings for career-long and single-year citation impact.