Lancaster University

Abstract

This case study illustrates how the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development was transformed into the Department for Entrepreneurship, Strategy and Innovation (DESI). Since its inception, the focus has been on three key elements – research, education and business support. Through externally funded projects, DESI has assisted more than 2,500 SMEs during the last ten years, resulting in significant performance improvements and business growth in the small- and medium-sized enterprises supported. DESI sees its ability to combine top-class research rigour and impactful business engagement as being critical to their strategy and its ability to inspire, build, develop and support current and future leaders of a wide range of organisations. Over the next few years, DESI will further develop its reputation as a global leader in entrepreneurship and strategy research; enhance its teaching programmes at the undergraduate, postgraduate and executive education levels in a way that reflects its united identity and capitalises on its distinctive assets; and build a sustainable portfolio of business engagement projects capable of making substantial impacts at many levels.