Public Defence: Dimitrios Polychronopoulos

Dimitrios Polychronopoulos is defending his doctoral thesis in management. This dissertation analyzes how entrepreneurship support programs in Norway support migrants’ integration into society and the economy, focusing on why transnational entrepreneurship is crucial for global and local growth.

16 Feb

Practical information

  • Date: 16 February 2026
  • Time: 10.00 - 15.00
  • Location: Drammen, room A5508
  • Download calendar file

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    Link to digital participation 

    Programme 

    10.00. Trial lecture: Entrepreneurship in the age of cheap expertise: How AI reshapes access to opportunity and competitive advantage

    12.00. Public Defence: Migrant entrepreneurship support in Norway: Insights on transnational entrepreneurship

    Assessment committee

    • First opponent: Professor Christina Ungerer, Hochschule Konstanz, Germany
    • Second opponent: Professor Ilias Pappas, NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)
    • Administrator: Professor Guðrún Helgadóttir, USN School of Business, University of South-Eastern Norway

    Supervisors

    • Principal supervisor:  Professor Anh Nguyen Duc, USN School of Business, University of South-Eastern Norway
    • Co-supervisor: Associate Professor Yngve Dahle, University of South-Eastern Norway
    • Co-supervisor: Professor David Guttormsen, University of South-Eastern Norway
Any questions?

Dimitrios Polychronopoulos will defend his thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at the University of South-Eastern Norway.

He has completed the doctoral programme in management at USN School of Business, as a Ph.d. Research Fellow at Faculty of Health and Social Sciences

All interested are welcome to attend the trial lecture and the defence of the thesis.

Summary

The dissertation concludes that entrepreneurship support programs (ESPs) in Norway play a significant role in shaping migrant entrepreneurs’ integration into society and the economy, particularly through fostering transnational entrepreneurship.

Dimitrios Polychronopoulos, Universitetet i Sørøst-NrgeKey findings reveal that human capital—such as skills, education, and experience—is a near-necessary condition for engaging in transnational ventures. However, its combination with either social capital (networks and relationships) or financial capital is sufficient to enable cross-border entrepreneurial success.

The study also highlights unexpected patterns of similarity between migrant and non-migrant entrepreneurs, challenging assumptions of uniformity within these groups and refining the theory of mixed embeddedness.

The research demonstrates that ESPs can amplify the potential of migrant entrepreneurs by leveraging their unique resources and connecting them to opportunity structures. However, the findings suggest a need for differentiated ESP tracks tailored to participants’ backgrounds, resources, and market orientation.

For example, experienced entrepreneurs with strong human capital may require more advanced, market-specific support, while newcomers may benefit from foundational skill-building and network access.

These insights have practical implications for policymakers and program designers. To optimize outcomes, entrepreneurship support policies should account for the diverse profiles of migrants and focus on fostering transnational entrepreneurship, which is essential for a globally connected economy.

By enhancing the ability of migrants to create cross-border ventures, ESPs can contribute to economic innovation, job creation, and societal integration. The research also provides valuable lessons for other export-oriented economies aiming to balance integration goals with entrepreneurship-driven growth.