The International Family Enterprise research Academy (IFERA) is a global network organization which seeks to be a driving force in the field of family business research. IFERA orchestrates co-operative research initiatives and organises research workshops and seminars geared towards the advancement of both theory and practice in family business academia.

A historical note

Following an initiative taken by Kristin Cappuyns (IESE, Spain), a small group of researchers held two research meetings in Barcelona (1999) and Amsterdam (2000). The participants seriously expressed their concern to create a formal organization, which would serve as a platform for family business researchers to meet and exchange experiences.

International Family Enterprise Research Academy (IFERA) was the name chosen by the founding board, composed of a group of very committed researchers representing a number of well-established family business research centers and chairs around the world.

Mission

IFERA seeks to be a key reference point as an international network that ensures that family business, as a multi-disciplinary field by nature, becomes a leading field in business research. The aim is to maintain the quality of research in the field at a top level.

To meet these objectives IFERA organizes several activities, such as the creation of a database of literature, formulation of research quality standards, support to research events and organization of an annual Research Conference. 

A dynamic institution

Since its official launch, in March 2001, IFERA has grown considerably and has been recognized by worldwide organizations as being a referent in the Family Business Academic field.

These are some of IFERA's main achievements:

• Offering  a unique platform to discuss family business research methods, topics and experiences enabling a better coordination of research efforts in various countries around the world.
• Designing a Website www.ifera.org, containing a research data base (counting over 250 abstracts of academic research papers and journal articles on Family Business), the proceedings and presentations of the last FBN-IFERA Research Forum, information about IFERA’s past events, as well as other topics.
• Organizing an Annual Research Conference focusing on learning and exchanging experiences in FB research.
• Helping generate family business research funds.
  Establishing a list of research standards to foster high quality research in the field.
• Publishing international research papers and other publications under the name of IFERA
  

WHY IESE?

IESE Business School will host the 5th IFERA Annual Research Conference at its Barcelona campus.

Founded in 1958, IESE is the graduate school of business of the University of Navarra. IESE is firmly committed in research and the generation of teaching material that directly contributes to the development of managers.

IESE holds one of the oldest family business chairs in Europe and was one of the first schools to provide an elective course for MBA students focused on family businesses.