IESE Business School

The research undertaken by the Chair covers two large areas:

• Creating new companies (Entrepreneurship). The processes of setting up new companies are studied, from outlining the business plan to consolidating the company, a process that includes the seed capital or fund raising on the market. Also studied are the interactions and evolution of the agents involved in the early stages of a company, including entrepreneurs, informal investors (business angels), capital risk companies and other institutions that facilitate the process. Innovative projects are given special emphasis, those coming from both traditional economic sectors and emerging sectors and new technologies.
  
  

• Creating new companies from already existing companies (Intrapreneurship). We analyze the different mechanisms and strategies that an organization should adopt in order to facilitate and stimulate the creation and development of new businesses within the same company. In this section, special emphasis is given to aspects related to innovation and business initiative in family businesses.

The holder of the Chair of the Bertrán Foundation Faculty of Entrepreneurship is Professor Pedro Nueno, Head of IESE's Department of Entrepreneurship. With over twenty five years' experience in business management, consulting, research and teaching, Nueno is the author of numerous books and scientific materials about creating new businesses, entrepreneurship in the company and industrial policy. These include “Emprendiendo” ("Being Enterprising") (1994), “Reflotando la Empresa” ("Re-floating the Company") (1991) and "The Light and The Shadow: The Essence of European Innovation" (1997).

Over the past decade, the Chair’s holder has closely monitored developments in the Asian market, particularly China and Japan, countries in which he has contributed to spreading business management concepts through initiatives such as the China-Europe International Business School (CEIBS)  in Shanghai, of which he is Chairman of the Academic Board.

Today Pedro Nueno holds honorary posts in numerous business and academic institutions, such as The International Academy of Management, of which he is Vice-Chancellor. 

His record in the field of entrepreneurship has been recognized with awards such as the St. George’s Cross of the Catalan Autonomous Government (2003), the Civil Merit Medal of Spain (2003) and the Magnolia Award (Government of Shanghai, 2004).

The Chair provides development, research and disseminates information, channelled through the Family-Owned Business and Entrepreneurship research center:

• Development. As part of the New Business Ventures (NAVES) subject in the IESE MBA, classes and seminars are offered on specific topics related to entrepreneurship. The business plans that emerge from these courses have won prizes at international competitions, and various of these have led to the creation of successful companies.
  

• Research. The Chair directs and generates research published in books, case studies and doctoral theses. The greatest effort is focused on a series of internationally successful case studies and on those conceived in what Professor Nueno calls the “laboratory”, the Capital Risk Company, FINAVES.
  

• Information dissemination. To disseminate the results of its research and activities, the Chair edits the magazine called “Iniciativa Emprendedora,” published by Deusto on a quarterly basis. Furthermore, the Faculty collaborates on other kinds of activities aimed at fostering the entrepreneurial spirit, such as competitions and business forums.