Compatible bedfellows? Engaged scholarship entrepreneurship and policy impact

Abstract

Background:This comment piece responds to points raised by Steve Johnson in ‘The policy impact of entrepreneurship research: challenging received wisdom’ (Evidence & Policy, Early view, https://doi.org/10.1332/174426422X16596963542147). Aims and objectives:The practical purpose of this commentary is to illustrate and discuss the relationship between entrepreneurship research, implementation, and policy impact. Commentary:The commentary offers insights into how researchers can make a difference to policy learning through engaged scholarship. Three contributions to knowledge on entrepreneurship research and policy learning are presented. Findings:First, the commentary develops the connection between engaged scholarship, entrepreneurship research and policy learning by highlighting the dynamics that underpin and sustain engaged scholarship. Second, entrepreneurship research and policy impact are brought into contact with engaged scholarship to develop practical relevance. Third, I illuminate the paradox between the theory and practise of policy integration. Discussion and conclusions:Building on the ideas presented by Steve Johnson in his paper, ‘The policy impact of entrepreneurship research: challenging received wisdom’, I address the gap between conceptualisation of entrepreneurship and the dynamics of implementation and policy learning, which all too often remains implicit within extant studies in entrepreneurship research.