Business Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Transformation
Objectives of the BEST Chair
The BEST Chair, founded in 2019 and led by Prof. Walid Nakara, is an ecosystem bringing together large and small businesses, higher education and research institutions, social and solidarity economy (SSE) organizations, and entrepreneurial support institutions and organizations.
Its mission is to promote social and inclusive entrepreneurship through research, teaching and training activities with strong social impact. The Chair turns social challenges into opportunities for impact and lights the way for entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds, particularly those facing precarity.
Its vision: a more inclusive and sustainable world, where every entrepreneur can leave a positive mark on society, and where social entrepreneurship transcends local contexts to foster the sharing of knowledge on a national and international scale.
Its approach: a crossroads of innovation and inclusion, where research meets practice, and where diversity, innovation and social responsibility are passed on to future leaders.
The Chair’s objectives are to:
– Work with and bring together the various players in the social and solidarity economy (SSE)
– Stimulate and encourage new initiatives to meet the challenge of environmental transition
– Foster a new, more inclusive economy in order to reduce inequality
– Contribute to local economic development by improving “impact investing”
The BEST Chair is structured around three main pillars: THINK, STUDY and BEST IMPACT.
STUDY: innovative education for social entrepreneurship
The BEST Chair places education at the heart of social innovation. The “Study” component is devoted to developing teaching programs for tomorrow’s student entrepreneurs:
– Impart solid theoretical knowledge of social entrepreneurship;
– Develop key skills: critical thinking, creativity, and the ability to innovate;
– Focus on solving social problems;
– Train changemakers capable of having a positive impact on society through innovative entrepreneurial solutions.
THINK: social innovation through research
The BEST Chair is committed to research that drives social innovation, combining academic expertise with practical perspectives:
– Explore new frontiers in social entrepreneurship;
– Carry out research projects that tackle social challenges;
– Understand and improve the impact of social enterprises;
– Collaborate with academics, industry experts and entrepreneurs to generate knowledge that shapes the future of social and sustainable entrepreneurship.
IMPACT: driving lasting change through entrepreneurship
The “Impact” component embodies the Chair’s commitment to turning theory into action:
– Support and showcase entrepreneurial projects with a positive social and/or environmental impact;
– Work with our partners to facilitate concrete initiatives that demonstrate the effectiveness of social entrepreneurship in addressing real-world problems;
– Assert the Chair’s role as a driving force for a more sustainable and inclusive economy.
Activities of the BEST Chair
Research
– Research projects on social and inclusive entrepreneurship, and entrepreneurship in contexts of precarity
– Publication of scientific and popular science articles
– Participation in national and international conferences
– Supervision of doctoral students and of Bachelor’s and Master’s theses
Teaching and Training
– Training MBS students in social entrepreneurship and the values of inclusion
– Support programs for project leaders who are far removed from employment
– Continuing education modules for professionals
Events
– Conferences and workshops with our partner ecosystem
– Yunus Social Business Award
– BEST IMPACT Program
See all our news:
https://chaire-best.fr/actualites/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/48838273/
Partners of the BEST Chair
https://www.linkedin.com/company/groupe-trial/home/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/francetravail/posts/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/banque-populaire-du-sud/posts/
https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mbs-1618/posts/
Management of the BEST Chair
Dr. Walid NAKARA
Full Professor, MBS School of Business, France.
Academic Members
Prof. Annabelle JAOUEN
Full Professor, MBS School of Business, France.
Dr Wael ROUATBI
Associate Professor, MBS School of Business, France.
Dr Alexandra GAIDOS
Assistant Professor, MBS School of Business, France.
Dr Marroi LAARAJ
Assistant Professor, ISC Paris, France.
Dr Rahma LAOUITI
Assistant Professor, Brest Business School, France.
Insaf BEKIR
Universitaire, IHEC Sousse, Tunisia.
Dr Hayet SAADAOUI
Assistant Professor, University of Gafsa, Tunisia.
PhD Students and Research Assistants
Yaser GHANEI
Doctorant, Université de Montpellier – MBS School of Business, France.
Safa BEN BOUZAIENNE
Doctorante, Université de Montpellier – MBS School of Business, France.
Activity Report
Rapport BEST IMPACT 2026
Academic Articles
Douaihy, C., Messeghem, K., & Nakara, W. A. (2026). Structure and dynamics of a precarious entrepreneurial sub-ecosystem in a developed country. Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, 1–23.
Ghanei, Y., Jaouen, A., Nakara, W.-A. and Sammut, S. (2025). Exploring Conflict Dynamics in Entrepreneurial Founding Teams: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Research Agenda. Revue de l’Entrepreneuriat / Review of Entrepreneurship, 24(3), 93-125.
Jaouen, A., Shahidi, N., Barlette, Y., Theodoraki, C., & Breysse, M. (2026). Unravelling Motivations, Collaborative Behaviour and Success of Lifestyle Entrepreneurs: A Cluster Analysis. Entrepreneurship Research Journal, (0).
Gaidos, A., Aumais, N., & Germain, O. (2026). # Balancetastartup: digital feminist activism and backlash in entrepreneurial ecosystems. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 32(7), 1912-1930.
Kaczmarek, T., Demir, E., Rouatbi, W., & Zaremba, A. (2026). When War Moves Oil: Energy Dependence and Global Equity Responses to the 2026 Iran Conflict. Finance Research Letters, 110577.
Nakara, W. A., Ramaroson, A., Douaihy, C., & Messeghem, K. (2025). From poverty to prosperity: innovation as a key factor in new venture survival. Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, 1–22.
News and Events
Actualités de la Chaire : https://chaire-best.fr/actualites/
Site de la Chaire BEST : https://chaire-best.fr/
Suivez la Chaire BEST sur LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/48838273/
