Personal profile
Biography
Robert is a Professor of Entrepreneurship and has worked extensively in Asia, Africa, Europe and North America. He has founded and run a number of entrepreneurial businesses having a PhD, MSc, MBA and BSc. He is particularly interested in how entrepreneurship is being used for development in both the 'Global North' and 'Global South' and is actively supporting the Entrepreneurship Educator Foundation for East Africa (EEFEA).
Robert is deputy President of the Institute of Small Business & Entrepreneurship, and former Head of the Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Strategy Department at Northumbria University. Prior to this he led the Marketing, Operations and Systems Department at Newcastle University.
Research interests
Robert is conducting research looking at the intersection of entrepreneurship and poverty. He also monitors and evaluates the impact of entrepreneurship and innovation programmes, with a current involvement with research commercialisation programmes and the impact of serious games upon entrepreneurial outcomes.
Geographies of interest
- UK and Europe (particularly as regards farming entrepreneurship and rural business models; business associations)
- East Africa (entrepreneurship and poverty, business models and innovative supply chains; networks of support)
- West Africa (business models and development)
- South America (social entrepreneurship)
Ph.D students
I am pleased to talk to potential Ph.D students with interesting proposals that link into my research interests and / or geographies of interest.
Further Information
Google Scholar: Click here.
Education/Academic qualification
Business andManagement Studies, PhD, The role and performance of local business associations in rural service centres, Newcastle University
15 Feb 2011 → 31 Dec 2099
Award Date: 15 Feb 2011
MSc, Rural Social Science, Newcastle University
Award Date: 31 Jul 2007
MBA, Master of Business Administration, Newcastle University
Award Date: 31 Jul 2003
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 4 Quality Education
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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The role of rural health entrepreneurship in community resilience: a model of multidimensional value creation
Paunović, I., Apostolopoulos, S., Apostolopoulos, N., Newbery, R., Božić-Miljković, I., Maniatopoulos, G. & King, M., 25 Mar 2026, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Small Business Economics. p. 1-21 21 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Decoding value exchange in entrepreneurial ecosystems through a service-dominant lens
Donaldson, C., Newbery, R., Berbegal Mirabent, J. & Kallmuenzer, A., 1 Mar 2025, In: Small Business Economics. 64, 3, p. 1057-1081 25 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile61 Downloads (Pure) -
Imagination and emancipation: a study of entrepreneurs operating in slums
Igwe, P. A., Newbery, R., Nkanta, I. & Amaugo, A., 8 Oct 2025, In: Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development. 32, 6, p. 1401–1421 21 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Downloads (Pure) -
Reconceptualizing Franchisee Performance: A Configurational Approach in a Base‐of‐the‐Pyramid Context
Newbery, R., Kimmitt, J., McKague, K. & Muñoz, P., 1 Jan 2025, In: British Journal of Management. 36, 1, p. 17-33 17 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile6 Citations (Scopus)82 Downloads (Pure) -
Reducing digital poverty in Kenya? An innovative credit service in a base-of-pyramid market
Elly, D. O., Oredo, J., Pearce, A. & Newbery, R., 10 Sept 2025, Cases on Startups and Enterprise. Beaumont, E. (ed.). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, p. 141-151 11 p. (Elgar Cases in Entrepreneurship).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Activities
- 2 Visiting an external academic institution
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Kenyatta University
Pearce, A. (Visiting researcher) & Newbery, R. (Visiting researcher)
7 Dec 2022Activity: Visiting an external institution › Visiting an external academic institution
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University of Nairobi
Pearce, A. (Visiting researcher) & Newbery, R. (Visiting researcher)
5 Dec 2022 → 12 Dec 2022Activity: Visiting an external institution › Visiting an external academic institution