IESE is partnering with the Basque Government and the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council, through BIC Gipuzkoa, to co-launch the latest Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) in Europe, dedicated to quantum technologies. Starting in September 2025,the collaboration will run for five years, featuring annual mentoring cycles co-hosted by IESE, connecting startups with global experts and IESE MBA students, advancing quantum entrepreneurship. It also aligns with the UN’s International Year of Quantum Science. As part of this vision, IESE plans to enhance the MBA curriculum in this area. The initiative builds on IESE’s ongoing efforts to strengthen entrepreneurship in deep tech, boosting entrepreneurial innovation in Europe and beyond.

A new wave of startups in Spain and Portugal is focusing on AI and computing, according to a new study by CaixaBank and IESE, led by Professor Mª Julia Prats. Analysis of a new generation of startups in Spain and Portugal finds that 74% focus on AI and digital computing. Entrepreneurs see novel technologies as the main innovation driver, followed by new products and business models. Despite plans to create nearly 10,000 jobs in 2025, early-stage startups face funding hurdles amid investor caution. The report highlights the growing role of deep tech and business model innovation in shaping Spain and Portugal’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Find our more. 

IESE hosted the Ignite Bootcamp from July 28-30 in Barcelona, bringing together top European engineering students. Over 4 intensive days, 7 teams from 8 universities worked on transforming innovative ideas into market-ready solutions, guided by industry mentors and IESE professors. The event featured workshops, mentoring, and networking, with a focus on technology-driven sustainability challenges. As part of the EuroTeQ Universities Alliance, it strengthened collaboration between leading engineering institutions and business schools.

At the 2025 Academy of Management conference in Copenhagen, members of IESE's Entrepreneurship  faculty department lead two panels on cutting-edge themes: Developing Hyper-Scalable Business Models in the Age of AI and Hype in the Entrepreneurial Context. These sessions explored how emerging technologies and narratives shape innovation strategies in startups and corporations alike, reinforcing IESE’s thought leadership at the intersection of entrepreneurship, technology, and organizational theory.

IESE’s Munich campus hosted nearly 200 alumni, business leaders, and speakers from the DACH region for a day of connection and insight. Sessions explored corporate innovation, values-based investing, and scaling from Europe to the world. A panel of international founders and investors shared candid lessons on building with purpose, resilience, and community. Organized by the local chapter board, it was a powerful reminder that IESE’s entrepreneurial spirit is a global, enduring community force. Find out more.  

IESE’s Business Angels & Family Offices Network has opened registrations for the 2025–2026 academic year. The Network connects early-stage startups with investors seeking high-potential opportunities, with access to all the Network's forums, starting with the first on October 16 at 17:00, plus curated startup dossiers, sector-specific events, and connections with founders, investors, and collaborators. Members also gain access to exclusive entrepreneurial and investment activities throughout the year. Interested? Find out more.

Why are more companies breaking apart? In this Bloomberg News video interview, Professor Yuliya Snihur explores the strategic logic of corporate splits, drawing on research with Stanford’s Robert Burgelman and Llewellyn Thomas. When business models diverge, as seen in PayPal-eBay or HP-HPE, splits can unlock growth. Success hinges on fading synergies, increasing complexity, and capital market pressures. As Professor Snihur notes, managing divergent models is like riding a scooter and a skateboard at once: companies must pick a lane to move forward.

Looking for inspiration this summer? The IESE Library’s 2025 summer reading list offers thought-provoking titles to help navigate complexity and change. Whether you're on the beach or between projects, these curated reads deliver insight and perspective for uncertain times. The list also features the latest books by IESE faculty—available for borrowing. From innovation to venture-building, the right book can offer a much-needed pause, fresh perspective, and a sharper lens for the challenges ahead.