Bekijk de inhoud van deze pagina
The Research Center for Entrepreneurship and Family Firms
Our interdisciplinary group of experts at the Research Center for Entrepreneurship and Family Firms (RCEF) is passionate about family firms and entrepreneurship. Together, we aim to create societal value through relevant and rigorous academic research, education, and high-quality services to business firms and organizations.
Our focus
Over the past few decades, our interdisciplinary team at RCEF has developed a dual research focus on family businesses and entrepreneurship. With this broad research focus, we capture the backbone of the global economy. In fact, approximately 90% of companies worldwide are family firms, collectively generating around two-thirds of global GDP and providing over half of all employment. At the same time, entrepreneurship drives innovation and renewal; from start-ups introducing disruptive technologies to scale-ups fueling economic growth and job creation.
Our research
Leveraging this dual focus, we explore various aspects of running and growing businesses. Our expertise includes areas such as:
- corporate governance
- change management
- strategic leadership and succession
- accounting and assurance
- finance and wealth
- tax and legal
- innovation
- entrepreneurial mindset
- from start-up to scale-up
We are committed to rigorous research that bridges theory with practice to create tangible value for businesses and society.
What's in it for you?
Whether you are a business leader, policymaker, employers’ organization, advisor, or fellow researcher, partnering with RCEF connects you to the latest insights and expertise in entrepreneurship and family business. We collaborate through various pathways, from joint fundamental to more applied research projects to collaboration through internships and master's theses, to translate our expertise into real-world impact. By working with RCEF, you can leverage our evidence-based knowledge to innovate, inform policy, or tackle your organization’s challenges with confidence.
Discover how RCEF can support you:
For academics & researchers
- Gain data-driven insights into the economic and societal role of entrepreneurs and family firms.
- Collaborate on interdisciplinary projects connecting management, finance, law, and behavioral sciences.
- Inform policy and practice through evidence-based recommendations on entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainable growth.
- Access networks and datasets that support joint publications, comparative studies, and impact-oriented research.
- Join a vibrant community advancing knowledge at the crossroads of family business, entrepreneurship, and societal well-being.
For businesses & organizations
- Ensure smooth leadership transitions with evidence-based guidance that balances continuity, trust, and family harmony.
- Strengthen governance and leadership through insights on effective boards, team dynamics, and strategic alignment.
- Enhance financial and strategic resilience with research-based expertise in financing, wealth management, and performance benchmarking.
- Stimulate innovation and renewal by leveraging sustainable innovation, open innovation, and entrepreneurial capabilities.
- Co-create tailored solutions with our experts to address your organization’s specific challenges and growth ambitions.
Visit the RCEF website
Contact
Prof. dr. Wim Voordeckers
Cluster lead
Prof. dr. Lotte Verdonck
Research manager