This introductory chapter provides an update on the Leuphana University of Lüneburg’s approach to entrepreneurship, representing the status at the end of 2023. The original case study, comprising the ensuing chapters 12.1 – 12.6, which remain unchanged, was written in 2015. Since then, Leuphana has developed its entrepreneurial profile further. It developed its curricular teaching of entrepreneurship, extra-curricular activities, research, and provision of services related to start-up support, knowledge transfer, and relevant external relationships.

Leuphana still takes a leading position in entrepreneurship teaching: In 2022, in an evaluation of entrepreneurship courses in the Federal State of Lower Saxony, where Leuphana is located, Leuphana took first place in the overall ranking as well as in "range of entrepreneurship teaching" and "entrepreneurship teaching diversity." Moreover, Leuphana has strongly emphasised integrating its extra-curricular activities into the regional entrepreneurship ecosystem in recent years. In 2016, Leuphana established the Cooperation Service, which actively contributes to developing new offers for knowledge transfer, commercialising research findings, and promoting a start-up culture. Regarding external relationships, Leuphana has established new entrepreneurship and SME-related initiatives and projects, particularly between 2017 and 2022.