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«The most personal and nicest conference ever!»

«Rencontres de St-Gall»
A research conference with a long tradition

Every two years, SME researchers from all over the world meet for a week at the Rencontres de St-Gall in order to debate SME-specific issues.

The next «Rencontres de St-Gall» 2026 will take place 31. August to 2. September 2026 in St.Gallen. 

The next «Rencontres de St-Gall» 2024 will take place 2.-4. September 2024 in St.Gallen. Topic is «The Mechanical Turk and its Grandchildren ante portas: The Significance of Artificial Intelligence in Entrepreneurship Research and Practice».

They conference will again be «on invitation only».

In an interview with Prof. Dr. Friederike Welter, keynote speake at the Rencontres 2018, talks about the Silicon Valley and contextualisation of entrepreneurship.

Friederike Welter: Rencontres video statement «Beyond Silicon Valley»

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Rencontres de St-Gall

According to the records of the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Rencontres de St-Gall is the oldest conference of this kind world-wide (it first took place in 1948).

“Rencontres is now officially my favourite conference.
(confirmed 2024)”
Dimo Dimov, participant 2018, 2022, 2024
“It was energizing to attend. I suspect a great deal of what happened here is going to impact the course of my research.”
Rob Wuebker, participant 2024
“…has always been one of the very best in terms of intellectual stimulation and social interaction.”
Richard Harrison, 2022
“A particular climate that generates constructive relationships and effective knowledge sharing.”
Gilles Guieu, participant 2016
“Definitely my best conference this year, highly interactive, beneficial networking, great feedback.”
Martin Lukes, participant 2016
“The format was most appropriate for intellectual exchange of very high quality and the review process was constructive, in depth and highly critical. The theme was challenging, overarching and highly relevant to the global evolving context.”
«… and the audience was truly international and engaging.»
Lise Hunter, participant 2016
“It was again a very relevant, interesting, and enjoyable workshop. I like the breadth of the topics, the active participation of all throughout the whole program ..., and the friendly and collaborative atmosphere. I learned to know interesting new people!”
Sophie Manigart, participant 2016
“It was easily the most pleasant and interesting conference that I have ever attended - a very special meeting.”
Sara Carter, participant 2006
Rencontres de St-Gall in Wengen, 1968, Swiss television documentation
(only available in Switzerland)

Earlier conferences and proceedings

Entrepreneurship as Superpower or Destructive Force? Disentangling and Contextualizing the Bright, Constructive and Dark, Destructive Sides of Entrepreneurship

Conference proceedings

The conference had to cancelled in 2020 due to the restrictions of the Carona virus pandemic.

Beyond Silicon Valley: Moving towards a contextualized view of entrepreneurship

Conference proceedings

Institutional context and governance of SMEs and family firms: Trends and challenges

Conference proceedings

Leadership and the twin fields of entrepreneurship and small business management

Conference proceedings

In Search of a Dynamic Equilibrium: Exploring and Managing Tensions in Entrepreneurship and SMEs

Conference proceedings

Strategic Entrepreneurship – The Promise for Future Entrepreneurship, Family Business and SME Research?

Conference proceedings

Innovation, Competitiveness, Growth and Tradition in SMEs

Conference proceedings

Understanding the Regulatory Climate for Entrepreneurship and SMEs

Conference proceedings

Value Creation in Entrepreneurship and SMEs

Conference proceedings

Radical change in the world - will SMEs soar or crash?

Conference proceedings

SMEs in the 21th century - impulses, perspectives, concepts

Conference proceedings (PDF)

Renaissance of SMEs in a globalized economy

Conference proceedings (PDF)

Significance and Survival of SMEs in a Different Business Environment

see KMU-HSG library

Structures and Strategies in Small and Medium-sized enterprises as Impacts of Economic Recovery

see KMU-HSG library

A Changing World: Its Impact on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

see KMU-HSG library

Klein- und Mittelunternehmen im Zeichen von Internationalisierung, Technisierung und Qualifizierung
(Small business under the signs of internationalisation, technisation and qualification)

see KMU-HSG library

«Neue Ära»: Aufbruch oder Niedergang für KMU
(«New area: Revival or decline of small business)

see KMU-HSG library

1986 Bissone/Lugano
1984 Zermatt
1982 Flumserberg
1980 Montreux
1978 Lenzerheide-Valbella
1976 Merlingen/Lake Thun
1974 Les Diablerets
1972 Sils-Maria
1970 Hertenstein
1968 Wengen
1966 Sils-Maria
1964 Brissago
1963 Mont Pèlerin
1961 Zermatt
1959 Wildhaus
1958 Locarno
1956 Sils-Maria
1955 Lugano-Paradiso
1954 Baden
1953 Chexbres
1952 Lugano
1950 Scanfs
1949 Weissbad
1948 St.Gallen and Weggis

 

Proceedings and organisation

Heiko Bergmann

Prof. Dr.

Professor and Senior Lecturer for Entrepreneurship

KMU-HSG
Büro 1-348
Dufourstrasse 40a
9000 St. Gallen

Gabriela Preisig

Backoffice KMU-HSG and «KMU-HSG Connect»

KMU-HSG
Büro 1-321
Dufourstr. 40a
9000 St. Gallen

Walter Weber

lic.oec.HSG

Member of the KMU-HSG board

KMU-HSG
Büro 1-315
Dufourstrasse 40a
9000 St. Gallen
north