2024 Rural Entrepreneurship Conference

Conference Theme: "Empowering Rural Futures: Unleashing Entrepreneurial Potential in a Net-Zero Era"

This year's theme, 'Empowering Rural Futures: Unleashing Entrepreneurial Potential in a Net-Zero Era', focuses on driving sustainable entrepreneurship in rural areas, considering global Net-Zero commitments. The conference will explore the intersection of rural entrepreneurship, sustainability, and innovative strategies to overcome barriers in rural settings.

This theme encapsulates the dual aspects of addressing the challenges and barriers that rural entrepreneurs face (constrained entrepreneurship) and the strategies to support and empower them (conducive entrepreneurship). Moreover, it weaves in the critical element of sustainability and environmental responsibility, aligning with UK Net-Zero goals.

The theme suggests a forward-looking, solution-oriented approach, focusing on empowerment and potential. It highlights the goal of not only navigating but also thriving in the current era, where sustainability and environmental consciousness are increasingly pivotal.

In 2024, we want to reflect on this dynamic and highly unpredictable environment, and explore its impact on farmers, rural businesses, community-led social enterprises as well as wider rural communities. How can rural businesses not simply survive, but how can they thrive in these incredibly constrained contexts?

To address this and other relevant questions, and to encourage debate about drivers and impacts of rural entrepreneurship, we welcome presentations that focus on, but are not limited to, the following themes:

• Opportunities and challenges for rural development
• Resilience of rural businesses in times of crisis
• Technology, digitalisation and innovation in the rural economy
• Farming, land-based entrepreneurship and the natural environment
• Tourism, heritage and culture in the rural economy
• Migration and rural development
• Communities and land
• Rural policy, support and investments in rural entrepreneurship
• Regional and international dimensions of rural entrepreneurship
• Entrepreneurship and public service co-production
• Social entrepreneurship and community enterprise
• Social innovation and sustainable development
• Innovative approaches to rural entrepreneurship research and practice
• Critical perspectives and approaches informing rural theory
• Open stream.