“How can entrepreneurs drive societal change?”

Stefan Kwant is an interdisciplinary researcher with a background in psychology, computer science, education, and innovation studies. In the ESMEE project (Enabling Societal Missions through Entrepreneurial Ecosystems), he investigates the characteristics of regions where societal transformations take place.

This research starts from a more fundamental question: what is actually needed to bring about major societal changes, such as the energy transition, and what does this imply for how we currently organize our economy and entrepreneurship systems? Rather than starting from existing assumptions about growth, innovation, and success, the project explores whether there are other ways to understand what “progress” means, and whether this can help us better see what is required to make such changes possible.

Regions form an important scale for this analysis. They function as interconnected systems in which different types of resources play a role. Financial capital and investment are important, but so are knowledge and skills, networks between people and organizations, and the degree to which certain ideas and actors receive trust and recognition. Access to these resources and networks also matters: it often determines whether ideas can grow or remain marginal.

Current policy is often focused on stimulating innovation and economic growth, with the assumption that better technology and increased investment will naturally lead to solutions for societal challenges. At the same time, we are increasingly facing the limits of what this approach can deliver, as not everything that grows necessarily contributes to addressing these challenges.

Therefore, it is not enough to refine existing approaches; it is also necessary to question whether they are pointing in the right direction. This involves reconsidering what is actually being supported, who is given space, and which kinds of change are considered important. As a result, some forms of development may need to become less central, while others require more attention and support.

His research shows that in many regions there is a tension in how support and opportunities are distributed. Entrepreneurs who aim for more fundamental societal change often face greater barriers and receive less support. Meanwhile, entrepreneurs who align with existing economic logics and reinforce the current system tend to have easier access to funding, networks, and recognition.

This raises the question of whether the way we currently organize innovation and entrepreneurship truly contributes to the societal changes that are needed