The 10th International Conference on Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice: Present and Future was held from 10 to 13 June 2019 in Astor Garden Hotel, St. St. Constantine and Helena Resort, Varna, Bulgaria. The conference was organized by the Institute of Entrepreneurship at UNWE and the Bulgarian Association for Management Development and Entrepreneurship, in partnership with the European Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ECSB) and with the support of Science Research Fund of the Ministry of Education and Vitagold Ltd.

The opening of the conference (from left to right): Prof. Andrew Burke, Dean of Trinity Business School, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, Mrs. Madi Sharma, Founder of "Madi Group", United Kingdom/India, Prof. Kiril Todorov, Director of the Institute of Entrepreneurship, UNWE, Prof. Ken O'Neill, University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, and Prof. David Storey, OBE, University of Sussex, United Kingdom. 

Prof. David Storey presents his paper "A Chance-based Theory of Entrepreneurship: Taking the Entrepreneur out of Entrepreneurship".

Mrs. Madi Sharma, founder of Madi Group, a representative of UK employers at the European Economic and Social Council, spoke at the plenary session.

Prof. Ken O'Neill makes his introduction.

The prestigious forum was attended by 92 participants, including 60 foreigners from 23 countries: Australia, Belgium, China, Colombia, Dubai, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia , United Kingdom, and the United States.

Eight prominent authorities in entrepreneurship took part in the plenary session: Prof. David Storey, Prof. David Smallbone, Prof. Roy Thurik, Prof. Andrew Burke, Prof. Rodrigo Varela, Mrs. Madi Sharma, Prof. Herbert Chen, and Prof. Ken O'Neill.

 

Prof. David Smallbone, Kingston University, UK, Ex-President of the International Council for Small Business, with his care assistant, presents his paper "Born Globals and Their Value Chains". 

Prof. Roy Thurik, Professor Emeritus at the Erasmus School of Economics, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and the Montpellier Business School, France, presents his paper "The Quest for the Entrepreneurial Gene Continues". 

The four big in conversation

Prof. Kiril Todorov with the keynote speakers of the conference.

Prof. Andrew Burke, Ireland, presents his paper "What Government and Managers Need to Know about High Skilled Flexible Work in the Project-based and Gig Economies".

Prof. Herbert Chen, COO of TUSHoldings Co. Ltd. (holding company managing the world's largest scientific park at Tsinghua University, Beijing), China, presents "Innovation and Entrepreneurship Eco-System in China".

Prof. Rodrigo Varela, founder and director of the Center for Entrepreneurship Development at the University of Cali, Colombia, presents his paper "Entrepreneurial Activity in Latin America and the Caribbean Region".

Prof. David Storey comments on part of the presentation of Prof. Rodrigo Varela.

Prof. Kiril Todorov with the Chinese participants from TUSpark and Mr. Gang Liu (second from left), Director of Innovation Research Center IVY, Beijing.

During the conference the traditional Round Table "Science - Practice" was also held, led by Prof. Ken O'Neill, holder of honorary title "Doctor Honoris Causa of UNWE", and Senator Michael Negel (Germany), entrepreneur, owner of investment companies in the high-tech industry. Professor David Smallbone led the workshop "How to get published in renowned international journals; the do's and don'ts". The other participants presented wide-ranging papers, which after analysis and assessment will be sent for publication in influential international publications such as Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Small Business Economics, International Review of Entrepreneurship, as well as in the Conference Proceedings.

Prof. Todorov opens the round table on the subject "Science – Practice. The Case of Startups". From left to right: Prof. Ken O'Neill (University of Ulster, Northern Ireland), Ms. Nina Tsanova (Adviser to the Minister of Economy), Senator Michael Negel (Investor, Germany).

Senator Michael Negel presents the story of his fast growing businesses.

Mr. Galin Zhelyazkov, founder of a high-tech accelerator in Varna, with a group of young entrepreneurs (start-ups).

Workshop led by Professor David Smallbone on the subject "How to get published in renowned international journals; the do's and don'ts".

Mr. Gang Liu, China, is trying to hit the target.

Part of the participants in the conference.

Part of session chairpersons report.

Prof. Todorov, assisted by Best Presentation Award winner of the previous conference - Dr. Ria Aerts, Australia, gives the award to this year's winners - Prof. Paula Englis and Prof. Basil Englis, USA.