Research Initiatives

White Papers

The Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation furthers the study of entrepreneurship and innovation by investigating key sectors of the regional economy as well as functional areas to support growth. Sample white papers include: 

• Impact Investing In Emerging Countries
  There is almost an infinite array of investment strategies for impact investment funds as each combination of geography, sector, target population, and anticipated financial /social returns may offer new opportunities to position a fund. The ranking of investment criteria in the due diligence process is a measure of a preferred investment strategy. This report analyzes preferred decision inputs for funds that invest in emerging countries. It began as a student project of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and was completed in 2012 in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State's Office of Global Partnership Initiatives - Global Impact Economy Initiative.
  
  Read "Impact Investing In Emerging Countries: Insights from the Due Diligence Process" > (PDF)
  
  
• The Chicago Food Industry
  In partnership with the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center, the Polsky Center examined innovations in the regional food industry at the Farm to Fork conference in April 2009. As part of the Exploring Entrepreneurship Conference Series, a sold-out crowd of industry leaders, entrepreneurs, growers, students, and others discussed the challenges and opportunities to advance the region’s leadership and growth in all areas of the food value chain.
  
  Read the Chicago Food Industry White Paper (PDF) and the Chicago & Illinois Resources Handbook for Food Entrepreneurs > (PDF)
  
  
• Overcoming the Growth Plateau
  The Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the Market Strategy Group, LLC found that certain entrepreneurial practices exist that make a difference for sustaining growth in business. This white paper discusses how resuscitating entrepreneurship in a maturing organization can rescue the company from growth plateaus. This study was presented at the Small Business and Alumni Entrepreneurship Conference in November 2006.
  
  Read "Overcoming the Growth Plateau" > (PDF)
  
  
• The Chicago Futures Trading Industry
  After a year-long focus on the futures trading industry in Chicago, Chicago Booth students made recommendations to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange to promote Chicago's prominence in the trading industry, retrain floor traders as entrepreneurs, and back tax incentives that would redirect earnings to entrepreneurial activity in Illinois. This study was a part of the Exploring Entrepreneurship Conference Series in May 2006.
  
  Read "The Chicago Futures Trading Industry" > (PDF)

Capital Ideas

Capital Ideas magazine summarizes research conducted by the faculty of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Several issues have focused on entrepreneurship, including select papers on entrepreneurship in April 2010, December 2005, and May 2004.

Research Endowments and Grants

Chicago Booth faculty members who are interested in conducting research in entrepreneurship may do so by applying for funds through the Polsky Center. Research monies are made possible thanks to the following:

• Gould Faculty Research Endowment 
  Established in 2005 by Kathryn C. Gould, '78, general partner and cofounder of Foundation Capital.
• Hultquist Entrepreneurship Faculty Research Endowment
  Established in 2001 by Timothy A. Hultquist, '75, advisory director of Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc.
• Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Faculty Research Grant
  Established in 1999 by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, working with leading educators and researchers nationwide to create awareness of the powerful economic impact of entrepreneurship.

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University of Chicago Booth School of Business • Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue • Chicago, Illinois 60637 U.S.A
Phone: 773.834.4525 • Fax: 773.834.4046 • Email: polskycenter@chicagobooth.edu