The Blank School engages Babson community members and leads research to create entrepreneurial leaders.

Babson College Entrepreneurship Research Conference (BCERC)
Founded by Babson College in 1981, BCERC is considered by many to be the premier entrepreneurship research conference in the world.
It was established to provide a dynamic venue where academics and real-world practitioners, through spirited dialogue, could link theory and practice. Each year, the conference attracts more than 350 entrepreneurial scholars who come to hear the presentation of more than 220 papers.
2024 BCERC
The 44th BCERC will be held at the Technical University of Munich, Germany from June 5–8, 2024.
The Abstract Submission site is now open for the 2024 BCERC. Abstract Submissions are due by October 18, 2023, by 11:59 pm EST, and the Doctoral Consortium Application is due by December 6, 2023, 11:59 pm EST. Conference registration fee is $950.
BCERC Doctoral Consortium
A Doctoral Consortium is held in conjunction with the Conference and was created as a means to unite future entrepreneurship educators and scholars with established leaders and researchers in the field. One of the most exciting products to come out of the Doctoral Consortium is their Research Translation Showcase where they have translated their research into practice, policy, or further research. Check out their work»
BCERC Doctoral Consortium Yearbook
We are celebrating the milestone of over 1,000 Doctoral Students that have participated in the BCERC Doctoral Consortium since 1985. Please take a look at this historic yearbook celebrating our esteemed alumni in the entrepreneurship research field.
Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research
Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research contains the BCERC Proceedings of the conference and is the most comprehensive collection of empirical research papers on entrepreneurship.
2024 Best Paper Award Sponsors
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Award for best paper in the general category – $3,000
The Tariq Farid Franchise Institute Award (Babson College) for the best paper in the franchising category – $3,000
The Means Center for Entrepreneurial Studies Award (Illinois State) for Best Paper on Social Entrepreneurship – $2,500
The Bertarelli Institute for Family Entrepreneurship (BIFE) Award (Babson College) for best paper in the family business category – $1,000
Award for the best research translation by a doctoral student that is attending the BCERC Doctoral Consortium, sponsored by The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation – $1,000
Award for the best dissertation poster by a doctoral student that is attending the BCERC Doctoral Consortium, sponsored by The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation – $1,000
Best Paper Award Winners—Presented at the 2023 BCERC
The winner of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Award for best paper in the general category was:
Social Inclusion Through Necessity Entrepreneurship: An Ethnographic Account
The paper is authored by:
S M Musa, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands
Katrin M. Smolka, University of Warwick, United Kingdom
Pursey P. Heugens, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands