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ICSB Sunday Times Editor’s note:
Pour yourself a bright Sunday espresso, we spotlight Korea’s Top 10 MSME Trends for 2026, urging a bold move beyond “Peak Korea” by pairing Technological AI with Human AI, preview the ICSB World Congress Call for Papers in Washington, D.C., and reflect on Gallup’s State of the World’s Emotional Health, revealing both rising strain and enduring resilience. Rounding out the edition are insights on family business succession, a compelling take on humanoid robots reshaping the auto industry.
— Dr. Ayman ElTarabishy
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The Top 10 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Trends for 2026 – S. Korea
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Beyond Peak Korea: Pivoting with AI, Run on the AI highway with Technological AI as the engine—and Human AI as the fuel. Korea’s Top Ten Trends for SMEs in 2026 offers a forward-looking roadmap for Korean small and medium-sized enterprises navigating an era of profound economic, demographic, and technological transition. As concerns about “Peak Korea” intensify, this report argues that the path forward lies not in incremental change, but in a decisive pivot toward AI, powered equally by technological capability and human imagination.
Written by Dr. Ki-Chan Kim, Chair of the Board of the International Council for Small Business (ICSB), the report frames Technological AI as the engine of transformation and Human AI as its fuel, calling on Korean SMEs to accelerate boldly, rethink business models, and seize new growth opportunities at home and across global markets.. (read more).
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ICSB World Congress Call for Papers
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Set against the backdrop of the United States’ capital, a global hub of policy, innovation, and international collaboration, this Congress will celebrate entrepreneurship as a universal force for economic empowerment, social progress, and sustainable development. Just as the World Cup unites nations through shared passion and competition, this event will bring together the global MSME community to showcase excellence, share breakthrough innovations, and champion entrepreneurship as a catalyst for inclusive prosperity worldwide. Washington, D.C., stands at the intersection of policy and practice, where decisions shaping the global entrepreneurial landscape are made. (read more).
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ICSB Partner Spotlight
Gallup’s State of the World’s Emotional Health
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Gallup’s State of the World’s Emotional Health shows that people around the world are experiencing historically high levels of negative emotions — including worry, stress, sadness, anger, and physical pain — compared with a decade ago, reflecting widespread strain driven by economic uncertainty, conflict, and social disruption. At the same time, positive emotions remain surprisingly resilient, with most people still reporting experiences such as respect, enjoyment, laughter, and feeling well-rested on a daily basis.(read more)
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CUTTING EDGE RESEARCH
Why some successors come back: Pathways to engagement in family businesses
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This study shows that family firm succession is rarely linear and that successor engagement can fluctuate over time. Drawing on 25 multigenerational family firms, it identifies three pathways through which next-generation leaders develop or renew affective commitment: early positive exposure, return through family persuasion, and a self-driven return after time away. (read more)
by: Megan A. Harper, Roland E. Kidwell, John James Cater & Marilyn Young
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When Cars Gave Way to Dreams: How Humanoid Robots Are Rewriting the Auto Industry
Investors have never been very patient with factories, but they are remarkably generous with dreams. Hyundai, long burdened by the so-called “Korea discount,” built some of the world’s best cars yet was valued for what it earned today, while Tesla was priced for a future it promised — one of energy, artificial intelligence, and humanoid robots. Elon Musk’s genius has been to persuade markets that machines like Optimus are not science fiction but destiny, lifting Tesla’s valuation far beyond its current profits. Now, as Hyundai bets on humanoid robotics and AI through acquisitions like Boston Dynamics, the global auto industry may be entering a new renaissance — one in which the real competition is not cars, but visions of the future.
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ICSB Top Five Books for 2025-2026
ICSB is proud to announce the ICSB Golden Book Awards for 2025–2026, celebrating the Top Five Essential Books shaping the future of entrepreneurship, innovation, and small business leadership. This year’s selection reflects the dynamic nature of knowledge itself. Three powerful new titles have entered the list for 2025–2026, while two exceptional works from the 2024–2025. (Read More)
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ICSB World Congresses – What the Mean?!
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The ICSB World Congress is the global Super Bowl of entrepreneurship, convening the world’s most influential founders, policymakers, scholars, and ecosystem leaders to shape the future of small businesses and innovation worldwide.
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It’s where ideas turn into impact — featuring high-energy keynotes, cutting-edge research, policy breakthroughs, and powerful networking across governments, universities, startups, and global institutions.
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Each Congress makes history, from landmark anniversaries to bold future-focused themes, with recent and upcoming editions in Cairo and Washington, D.C., positioning MSMEs at the center of global economic growth and transformation.
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We are devoted to the interests and advancement of small business globally
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