This edited collection showcases the evolution of rural entrepreneurship research over the first quarter of the 21st Century. Contributions examine what we have learnt about different aspects of rural entrepreneurship and what still needs to be understood. Each chapter looks for inspiration from the past to consider opportunities and challenges for the future. Critiques of current understandings of the dynamic rural economic landscape acknowledge the need for agility and new ideas to inform future research and policy challenges.

The book has been motivated by the growing community of researchers that participate in an annual Rural Entrepreneurship Conference. Further strengthening that community, chapters are co-authored by experienced and early-career scholars, forming new connections that blend past and future perspectives to address prescient challenges facing rural economies. After 20 years of fertilising exchange of ideas between rural stakeholders and academics, this edited collection sets a marker in the timeline of the evolution of an increasingly international network of rural entrepreneurship researchers.

Gary Bosworth is Research Lead in the Department of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Strategy and part of the iNCITE research centre at Northumbria University.

Polly Chapman is CEO of HISEZ, which owns and operates Impact Hub Inverness, a coworking space that is part of the international network of Impact Hubs. As well as running the Hub she is also a business adviser working to support social enterprises and SMEs in the Highlands and islands of Scotland.

Robert Newbery is a Professor of Entrepreneurship and Head of the Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Strategy department at Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University.

Artur Steiner is a Professor in Social Entrepreneurship and Community Development. He leads the Community, Citizenship and Participation Research Group at the Yunus Centre, Glasgow Caledonian University.

Don J Webber has a background in applied economics but is better described as a researcher of policy-relevant, social science issues. Specifically he is interested in research that puts people and social issues (rather than money) at the core of economic concern.