National Entrepreneurship Research Conference Concludes GEW 2025

The Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) successfully hosted the National Entrepreneurship Research Conference on November 27, 2025, at the Sheraton Addis Hotel, marking a pivotal moment in the commemoration of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) Ethiopia 2025. The conference brought together leading academics and ecosystem builders to champion an evidence-based approach to policy and practice.

The high-quality event featured the presentation of 20 selected research papers, chosen after a stringent review process by a panel of expert reviewers from numerous submissions. These papers focused on generating actionable insights crucial for guiding the nation’s entrepreneurial trajectory.

Opening the conference, Mr. Boru Shana, Deputy Director General of EDI, stressed the necessity of grounding policy in solid data. "Ethiopia’s future is evidence-based," Mr. Boru asserted, "and the entrepreneurship ecosystem should be led through research to bring impact." His statement emphasized EDI’s commitment to enhancing a research-led environment that ensures resources are directed toward effective, high-impact interventions.

The day's proceedings were organized across three critical thematic areas, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the ecosystem:

• Inclusive and People-Centered Entrepreneurship: Focused on studies such as entrepreneurial experiences of youth (with a focus on inclusivity) and the vital role of women in the gig economy.
• Policy, Ecosystem, and Institutional Infrastructure: Explored macro-level drivers, including the impact of Ethiopia’s Startup Proclamation, the role of industrial parks, and models for building robust entrepreneurial pipelines.
• Technology, Innovation, and Sustainable Enterprise: Covered forward-looking topics like AI-supported digital business services, circular innovation, green entrepreneurship, and the effect of entrepreneurial leadership on sustainable performance.

In a special ceremony held later at the GEW 2025 closing event, academic excellence was highlighted with the presentation of the Best Research Paper Award from the presented papers.
This honor was given to Atsede Tesfaye (PhD) and Konjit Hailu (PhD) for their exceptional research focusing on Young Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem. This recognition highlights the growing and necessary synergy between Ethiopian academia and the dynamic business world.