The North-West University (NWU) continues to strengthen its contribution to entrepreneurship research and policy development through its active participation in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) South Africa Consortium, a partnership that is helping shape the future of entrepreneurship in South Africa.
The launch of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) South Africa Special Report 2026, Bridging the Gap: Realising South Africa's Entrepreneurial Potential, has once again highlighted the importance of evidence-based research in building an enabling environment for entrepreneurs. The report provides valuable insights into the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the country, while identifying practical interventions needed to unlock the entrepreneurial potential of South Africa.
Recognised as the leading research initiative on entrepreneurship in the world, the GEM examines entrepreneurial activity and the conditions that enable or hinder business creation across more than 50 countries.
Since 2024, the NWU has been represented in the GEM South Africa Consortium through the research contribution of Dr Leonie Greyling, senior manager for enterprise development at the Vanderbijlpark Campus. In 2025, the NWU officially became a consortium partner, further cementing its commitment to entrepreneurship research with national and international impact.
The 2026 report paints a mixed picture of the entrepreneurial landscape of South Africa. While the country boasts resilient, innovative and ambitious entrepreneurs, the report reveals that the broader support ecosystem continues to lag behind global peers. South Africa achieved a National Entrepreneurship Context Index score of 3,9 out of 10, below the global average of 4,7, indicating that barriers such as fragmented support systems, regulatory complexity, limited access to markets and finance and infrastructure challenges continue to constrain entrepreneurial growth.
Despite these challenges, the report concludes that South Africa possesses significant strengths, including a sophisticated financial sector, established universities, expanding business incubators, increasing digital adoption and a youthful population with strong entrepreneurial potential. These assets provide a solid foundation for creating a more inclusive and competitive entrepreneurial ecosystem.
To address challenges, the report recommends immediate action to improve coordination among government agencies, simplify regulatory processes, expand digital access for small businesses, strengthen entrepreneurship education and cultivate a culture that celebrates innovation and entrepreneurial risk-taking. It proposes interventions over the short, medium and long term to improve the entrepreneurial ecosystem of South Africa and unlock sustainable economic development.
For the NWU, participation in the GEM South Africa Consortium extends beyond research. It aligns with the broader commitment of the university to enterprise development, innovation, community impact and producing knowledge that contributes to solving complex societal and economic challenges.
As entrepreneurship increasingly becomes a critical driver of inclusive economic growth, employment creation and innovation, the continued contribution of the university to the GEM positions it among the institutions helping to shape the entrepreneurial future of South Africa through rigorous research, collaboration and evidence-based policy development.
“The NWU is proud to contribute to research that informs entrepreneurship policy and practice at both national and international levels. Through our involvement in the GEM South Africa Consortium, we are helping generate credible evidence that can guide interventions to strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems, create opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs and ultimately contribute to economic growth and job creation,” says Dr Greyling.
The GEM, established in 1999, is regarded as the most authoritative source of entrepreneurship data and analysis in the world. The South African report is produced through a partnership between Stellenbosch Business School, the University of Johannesburg, the NWU’s bhive Enterprise Development Centre and the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency, bringing together expertise from academia, the government and industry to strengthen entrepreneurship across the country.
