Thinking about future research on entrepreneurship and innovation in the family business field

Although research on entrepreneurship and innovation in family firms has progressed over the last three decades, more attention is needed from academia. This paper is based on a brief literature review and an interview conducted with Professor Alfredo De Massis about past, present, and future research on entrepreneurship and innovation in family firms. It provides a critical perspective for advancing the academic debate and calls for more integrative, processual, and historical analysis through collaborations with colleagues from other disciplines. We suggest future research directions and note the methodological challenges faced in reducing the gap between theory and practitioners’ real needs.