Which sustainability efforts actually improve business performance? A new research project from the House of Innovation at the Stockholm School of Economics, in collaboration with sustainability tech company Position Green, aims to find out. By analyzing data from over 750 companies, the research project will map how emissions, working conditions and diversity in leadership affect margins, returns and risk.

Trust is eroding, young people are losing hope, and liberal democracies are under threat. But Nordic countries can be a lighthouse in turbulent times. That was the message from Iceland’s president Halla Tómasdóttir during a state visit to the Stockholm School of Economics on Thursday.

Family business conflict goes far beyond personality clashes—it is shaped by history, power, overlapping roles, and emotional ties that blur the line between home and work. A new study by House of Innovation researcher Marco Mismetti published in the Journal of Family Business Strategy offers a comprehensive framework for understanding how conflict arises and unfolds in family firms, with important implications for researchers and practitioners alike.

Universities can play a big role in inspiring students to start their own businesses. A new study published in The Journal of Technology Transfer by House of Innovation researcher Maria Cecilia Flores suggests that when universities actively communicate about entrepreneurship programs and provide education on starting businesses, students become more aware of opportunities and perceive their environment as more supportive of entrepreneurship. Yet, universities need to go beyond awareness to drive real startup creation - including measures such as mentorship, networking, and financial support.

Italian firms led by female CEOs have more women on average in the top management team than those led by men, according to a new study from the Stockholm School of Economics in Sweden and the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano in Italy. The association weakens if the CEO lacks sufficient decision-making power or if she works for a family-owned company.

Inventors don’t just need to borrow ideas—they need to understand where those ideas came from. A new study published in the Journal of Business Research by House of Innovation researcher Holmer Kok introduces the concept of “trajectory integration” to explain how tracing an invention’s full history can lead to more powerful and impactful innovation.

SSE faculty is helping Ukrainian diplomats and civil servants prepare for EU accession talks through hands-on negotiation training in Kyiv. By drawing lessons from past EU enlargement processes, participants practice strategies and develop skills crucial for navigating the complexities of membership discussions.

As its new CEO Isabel Keulen welcomes her first batch of startups into SSE’s incubator, the scene is set for an AI boom. Today, SSE Business Lab announces its largest intake of companies ever – 15 startups, of which an impressive 60% are built on AI technology. Among the new founders are both serial entrepreneurs and senior executives.

The rise of generative AI (GenAI) is challenging the idea that AI is only useful for automation and efficiency and suggests it’s time to rethink human-AI collaboration. A new research article by HOI researcher Sebastian Krakowski recently published in Information & Organization, argues that GenAI can enhance creativity, democratize AI access, and fundamentally change the way organizations function.

Sophia Nabil (b. 2002) is being awarded this year's Anders Wall Scholarship in collaboration with SSE Business Lab. The scholarship amount is 200,000 SEK.