Research areas

My research focuses on entrepreneurship as a driver of regional development and social innovation. Using mainly qualitative and conceptual methods, I’ve studied the social and interactional aspects of entrepreneurial processes and rural entrepreneurship. In this research I’ve sought to combine theories from diverse areas of research including entrepreneurship, innovation, human geography, and economics.

In addition to my primary affiliation at SDU, I hold an affiliated position at the Center for Entrepreneurship at University of Oslo. I serve as consulting editor at International Small Business Journal as well as on the editorial review board of Entrepreneurship and Regional Development.   

My current research activities focus on two main areas:

Social innovation and social entrepreneurship. Here I am currently working on how social innovation emerges in collaborations between social entrepreneurs, public sector organisations and international institutions. This includes research on the role of the UN’s Grand Challenges and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in fostering social innovation.

Rural entrepreneurship. Here I am currently working on the role of rural entrepreneurs in creating positive regional development. In particular, I focus on the conceptions of space and embeddedness as important elements of entrepreneurially driven regional development.

In addition to my research activities I enjoy creating impact activities by working with social innovators and entrepreneurs and provide advice and consulting to local and international organisations (from the local municipality to OECD).

Research interests

Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Social entrepreneurship, Social innovation, Sustainable development goals (SDG’s), Regional development, Rural development, Space, Embeddedness, Context, Interdisciplinary research, Entrepreneurial processes, Small Business, Co-creation