Remembering Dr. David Smallbone

Dr. David Smallbone, Professor of Small Business and Entrepreneurship and Associate Director of the Small Business Research Centre at Kingston University has passed. Dr. Smallbone was a Past President of both the International Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ICSB) and also the ECSB. He was a fellow of the ECSB and a Wilford White Fellow of ICSB and also an Associate Editor of the Journal of Small Business Management.

Dr. Smallbone had been involved in research relating to SMEs and entrepreneurship since the late 1980s. One of his main research interests was entrepreneurship in transition economies. In 2005  he received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Lodz in recognition of his contribution to the study of entrepreneurship in transition economies. Much of his research has been conducted in partnership with researchers in other international centers, much of it policy oriented.

In addition,  all of his research was concerned with entrepreneurship and SME development, much of it with an applied policy orientation. Entrepreneurship in transition economies was a particular specialism and that he had undertaken research throughout the central European countries that are now members of the EU; in many of the former Soviet republics; and also in China. Conceptually much of this research has been analyzed through an institutionalist frame and more recently relating to the current emphasis on context in entrepreneurial studies. Almost all of his international research has been conducted in partnership with colleagues in the countries being studied. Other research themes have included enterprise development in rural areas; ethnic minority and immigrant entrepreneurship; sources of innovation and innovation processes in SMEs; entrepreneurship and social inclusion; and internationalisation.

His legacy of research in entrepreneurship & SME studies is impactful and deeply inspiring. An example of values demonstrated in research by selection, excellence, care and critical thinking. He passed away yesterday, March 19th. He was a gentleman, a visionary, a huge Arsenal fan and a very dear friend to many. He moved the field forward and ICSB will be forever grateful. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.