About

About the Centre

The Australian Centre for Entrepreneurship Research (ACE) is a hub in Australia for research-based knowledge in entrepreneurship, with interests extending into adjacent areas such as innovation and small business. We expand and continue to develop entrepreneurship research initiated at the QUT Business School in 2005 and are an internationally-recognised leader in scholarly research on entrepreneurship. ACE manages the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Australia, and is a member of the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC).

Our Centre is led by Director, Rui Torres de Oliveira, with the support of The Talbot Family Foundation Chair, Professor Per Davidsson. As experts in entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial ecosystems our team makes research-based knowledge accessible to business, media and government. Entrepreneurs, business advisors, governments and non-profit organisations draw on our expertise in their efforts to design policies, start businesses, innovate and improve performance.

Large-scale projects like the Comprehensive Australian Study of Entrepreneurial Emergence (CAUSEE) and the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) help us assess entrepreneurial activity in Australia. We’re discovering what works and doesn’t work for Australian start-ups and our specialised projects are helping segments of the population and industry.

See our Impact page for in-depth industry reports containing key findings, plus short vignettes for business and policy advice to practitioners.


Conferences and Events

We host and present a range of events throughout the year for practitioners and academics. One of the main events of our annual calendar is the the annual Australian Centre for Entrepreneurship Research Exchange (ACERE) conference which provides a supportive forum for entrepreneurship academics and research students to share insights and network.

The conference attracts exceptional speakers from around the world. It’s an opportunity for entrepreneurship academics and research students to share insights into academia and the research process, and network in a supportive environment.


ACE International Visiting Program

ACE is known globally as an inclusive and welcoming place where entrepreneurship researchers on many levels are encouraged to develop and build collaborative relationships, and to spend time focusing on their own projects and publications. Over the years ACE has hosted visitors who have come for varying durations of time, some have come just for a couple of weeks, many for 3-6 months, others for up to 12 months or more. You can read more HERE about how you might apply for a visiting sabbatical and how you might contribute to the positive research community at ACE. And although we cannot offer remuneration, we can offer a place to work, access to computer, internet, library etc.


Study with Us

If you’re passionate about entrepreneurship, and want to explore ideas, create knowledge and become an expert, why not join our team of PhD and masters students? Our supervisors are leaders in their fields and offer exceptional mentoring support. You’ll be part of a vibrant research culture, with regular seminars and workshops. Send your CV and proposed research topic to the QUT Business School Research Support Office and we can match you with a supervisor. For more information, please check the links below.


Don’t want to miss any updates?

Email us to receive information and updates on our seminars, news and events at acereconference@qut.edu.au.