CEENT 2025: A New Chapter for Entrepreneurship Research in Central and Eastern Europe
The first edition of the Central and Eastern European Entrepreneurship Conference (CEENT) took place at Gdańsk University of Technology on 23–24 October 2025, marking an important milestone for the academic entrepreneurship community in the region and emerging from the joint legacy of two long-running events – ENTIME (Gdańsk Tech) and Entrepreneurship in the XXI Century (University of Warsaw). CEENT set out to create a unified platform for researchers eager to explore how entrepreneurship develops in a turbulent, digital, and sustainability-driven era.
Truly Regional Collaboration
This new conference was co-organized by three institutions representing different parts of Central and Eastern Europe: Jagiellonian University (organizer in 2029), Riga University of Technology (organizer in 2027), and Gdansk University of Technology (organizer in 2025).
The event brought together 57 participants from 21 academic institutions across seven countries, demonstrating strong interest in strengthening entrepreneurship scholarship in the region.
Across two days, participants engaged in lively discussions on topics including: entrepreneurship in turbulent times, digital transformation and AI, sustainability and green entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial intentions and cultural dimensions, family firms, business ecosystems and regional development, and emerging methods in entrepreneurship research. These themes reflect the dynamic changes shaping entrepreneurial ecosystems—technological acceleration, geopolitical tensions, and shifting societal expectations.
The opening keynote by Prof. Agnieszka Kurczewska (“Where are we heading? Reflections on entrepreneurship research in Central and Eastern Europe”) offered a powerful call to explore understudied topics, especially the role of post-transformation processes in shaping entrepreneurial pathways. Her reflections resonated throughout the conference, encouraging scholars to engage more deeply with the region’s unique economic and social context.
A second keynote panel – Entrepreneurship across Business, Academia, and Education – brought together Beata Krawczyk-Bryłka, Arkadiusz Kwoska, and Krzysztof Zięba, providing an inspiring discussion on bridging research, practice, and teaching.
Engaging Sessions and a Supportive Atmosphere
With three parallel tracks and a diverse list of presentations, the academic program was rich and energetic. Sessions covered everything from green entrepreneurship in Poland and Indonesia to AI readiness for sustainable transformation, family business resilience, and sustainable technology in hospitality.
But CEENT 2025 was more than a conference – it was a community experience. As many participants commented, the event’s modest size, long coffee breaks, and playful matching game helped create space for meaningful conversation, new collaborations, and long-awaited academic camaraderie. The unforgettable gala dinner and a surprisingly beloved vegan dish also became topics of warm post-conference chatter.
Honoring Emerging Scholars: The Magdalena Licznerska Award
A special highlight of CEENT 2025 was the launch of the Magdalena Licznerska Award, established in memory of a valued PhD colleague who passed away before completing her doctoral journey. A jury chaired by Prof. Wioleta Kucharska selected the best doctoral presentation based on submitted materials and live sessions. The first recipient of the award was Magdalena Lubaś from Jagiellonian University.
The ECSB Event Fund played a crucial role in enabling PhD participation by lowering registration fees, reinforcing CEENT’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurship scholars.
A Strong Beginning — and a Promising Future
As the organizers noted in their closing remarks, this first edition was just the beginning of an exciting journey. CEENT will next travel to Riga, and later to Kraków, forming a rotating regional initiative that brings together diverse academic communities. The positive energy, constructive conversations, and early collaborative plans shared during CEENT 2025 signal a strong foundation for future editions.
Before leaving, participants received heartfelt thanks from the organizing team and the comforting reminder that, thanks to daylight saving time, everyone would enjoy one extra hour of sleep after the conference. A perfect ending to an inspiring two days.
Author: Julita Wasilczuk, Gdańsk University of Technology
