About
The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Research is a Research Center at Lakehead University.
Purpose
The purpose of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Research (CIER) is to foster and support multidisciplinary research that explores how organizations can innovate and adapt across all areas of management. CIER is committed to advancing knowledge in both innovation and entrepreneurship, emphasizing their roles in driving organizational change, enhancing performance, and creating value in diverse contexts.
Objectives
The objectives of the CIER are:
- To conduct high-impact research that advances understanding of innovation and entrepreneurship across all areas of management.
- To disseminate research findings on innovation and entrepreneurship to Lakehead University community, the local region, and broader audiences.
- To facilitate multidisciplinary research collaborations that explore how organizations can innovate and adapt, drawing on diverse perspectives from across Lakehead University and beyond to respond to changes in the workplace and the business environment.
- To secure funding and support for research initiatives that investigate the evolving challenges of innovation and entrepreneurship in various organizational contexts.
Definition
Innovation
Within the CIER, Innovation is understood as the process of identifying and implementing changes that drive improvement and adaptation in organizations. This includes research into how organizations innovate in areas such as strategy, operations, human resources, marketing, and decision-making to stay competitive and effective. Innovation encompasses any managerial practices that enhance organizational performance and resilience, and is not limited to product development or technology. All areas of management research are seen as vital to understanding and fostering innovation within organizations.
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship within the CIER is defined as the pursuit of opportunity beyond the resources currently controlled, with a focus on value creation. This includes not only the creation of new ventures and startups but also entrepreneurial thinking and behavior within existing organizations (intrapreneurship), social and institutional entrepreneurship, and the application of entrepreneurial principles to drive change, foster growth, and develop new solutions across various sectors. Entrepreneurship is a dynamic, inclusive concept that applies to individuals and teams in any field, encouraging creativity, initiative, and impact.
Core Values
The CIER exists to promote scholarship in the area of innovation and entrepreneurship, guided by the following values:
- Integrity – we will maintain the highest ethical standards in research
- Curiosity – we will encourage intellectual curiosity
- Collaboration – we will promote multidisciplinary collaboration
- Capacity – we aim to build capacity within our members, students, and the community through the centre activities