Institute of Family Business and Mittelstand
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Thought leader and think tank
The Institute of Family Business and Mittelstand at WHU (ifbm@WHU) is a thought leader in the field of family business and small and medium-sized enterprises. With a dedicated team of scholars and practitioners, we aim to study different aspects of family firms, hidden champions as well as small and medium-sized enterprises. Our most current research projects, for instance, aim to advance our understanding of innovation, leadership and employee satisfaction, succession, inertia, business ethics and financing of family firms as well as family offices.
Future of family firms
![Cover EY + WHU Podcast Serie | WHU Knowledge Cover EY + WHU Podcast Serie | WHU Knowledge](/fileadmin/_processed_/6/d/csm_Entrepreneurship_Innovation_Group_Template_e583d18d1c.jpg)
Professor Nadine Kammerlander as a guest in the podcast "Moment of Truth"
This episode sheds light on how family businesses, often considered the "hidden champions" of the economy, are facing up to the challenges of a transformation towards a climate-neutral economy.
![Professor Nadine Kammerlander as a guest in the podcast "Der Moment der Wahrheit"" Professor Nadine Kammerlander as a guest in the podcast "Der Moment der Wahrheit""](/fileadmin/_processed_/1/9/csm_Entrepreneurship_Innovation_Group_Podcast_NK_LinkedIn-Beitrag___1__16b6fe6c29.jpg)
Get in touch with our team
![Professor Nadine Kammerlander Professor Nadine Kammerlander](/fileadmin/_processed_/e/e/csm_WHU_Kammerlander_Nadine_portrait_f9601e1fbc.jpg)
![Professor Christina Günther Professor Christina Günther](/fileadmin/_processed_/3/8/csm_WHU_Guenther_Christina_portrait_7d2710e375.jpg)
![Katrin Schwarz Katrin Schwarz](/fileadmin/_processed_/5/2/csm_Schwarz_Katrin_160491296e.jpg)
![Michèle Kwiotek Michèle Kwiotek](/fileadmin/_processed_/f/0/csm_Kwiotek_Michele_30c5ffad06.jpg)
![Asst.-Professor Julia de Groote Asst.-Professor Julia de Groote](/fileadmin/_processed_/3/e/csm_WHU_de_Groote_Julia_portrait_bc347f8d01.jpg)
![Adjunct Prof. Franz W. Kellermanns, Ph.D. Adjunct Prof. Franz W. Kellermanns, Ph.D.](/fileadmin/_processed_/a/b/csm_WHU_Kellermanns_Franz_portrait_c5c67789e5.jpg)
![Honorary Professor emeritus Peter May Honorary Professor emeritus Peter May](/fileadmin/_processed_/0/6/csm_Entrepreneurship_Innovation_Group_May_Peter_e65ff61ed8.jpg)
Would you like to support us?
You can become our partner for
- the Chair of Family Business
- the Chair of Small and Medium Sized Businesses
- a project
- the WHU Campus for Family Business
*Please note that no donation receipt will be issued for donations up to an amount of €100.00. These can be recognized by the tax authorities even without receipts, provided that a list of expenses and the recipient is enclosed (e.g. booking confirmation from the bank as proof).
WHU Campus for Family Business
How can future generations be enthused for the own family business? How can a successful internationalisation be achieved? And how well are our hidden champions prepared for the digital transformation? The goal of the WHU Campus for Family Business is to transfer and discuss new findings from science and practice with keynotes and interactive workshops.
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Publications
Take a look at our research reports and studies.
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head over to our social media channels.