Contact Dr Zimu Xu
Background
Dr Zimu Xu is a lecturer in Entrepreneurship at the Bettany Centre for Entrepreneurship. Prior to which, having completed her PhD on 'Critical analysis of business growth in the UK digital gaming industry', Zimu worked as lecturer in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, and later lecturer in Business Analytics at Coventry University. Before that, Zimu studied the MSc Innovation and Entrepreneurship degree at the University of Warwick after completing the BSc in Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics and Economics.
Zimu's research interests and passion lie within entrepreneurship and technology and examines the nuances during businesses' growth trajectory. Prior to joining the teaching team at Coventry, she had worked in the research team for a number of years and participated in a range of research projects at the International Centre for Transformational Entrepreneurship. Selected project topics includes entrepreneurial ecosystems, innovation ecosystems and AI industry in China, digital skills gap in the UK healthcare sector, social enterprise, innovation and entrepreneurship in sports sector. As a result, Zimu has produced a range of publications including international reputable journals, book chapters, reports and conference papers.
Aside of her research and teaching activities, Zimu is also managing the Green Business Network that aims to help business to reduce their impact on the environment, and aims to build a collaborative environment among businesses to promote and implement sustainable practices.
Research opportunities
Zimu is interested in supervising and taking part in research projects that align with and/or further develop her current research profile. Some specific interested topics include Entrepreneurial ecosystems, entrepreneurship in technology intensive industry, business growth and entrepreneurship resilience, entrepreneurship and technology in creative industry (e.g. arts sector, digital gaming), digital transformation and intrapreneurship. Please get in contact if you are interested in pursing a doctorate in this area.
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Li Z & Xu Z. (2025). Digital technology and innovation: the impact of blockchain application on enterprise innovation. Technovation, 139
- Liu J, Zhu X & Xu Z. (2024). Exploring knowledge dynamics and change management in diverse corporate entrepreneurship ecosystems. Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 15(4)
- Xu Z, Maas G & Jones P. (2024). The Impact of Digital Technology on Entrepreneurial Ecosystems: Case of UK Digital Gaming Industry. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2024(1)
- Xu Z & Adams R. (2024). Navigating the Green Transition: A Mixed-Method Study of Pro-NetZero Actions in UK SMEs. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2024(1)
- Li Z & Xu Z. (2024). Faster, Higher,Stronger, Together? The Impact of Blockchain Application on Innovation. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2024(1)
- Li Z, Xu Z & Sukumar A. (2023). Digital resilience and firm internationalization: a study of Chinese listed companies. Journal of Enterprise Information Management, 37(5)
- Sukumar A, Sadeghi VJ, Xu Z & Tomlins R. (2022). Young students and desire to social entrepreneurship: the impact of government's role. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 46(4)
- Tomlins R, Xu Z, Jafari Sadeghi V & Sukumar A. (2022). Young students and desire to social entrepreneurship: the impact of government's role. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 46(4)
- Xu Z, Gonzalez-Serrano MH, Porreca R & Jones P. (2021). Innovative sports-embedded gambling promotion: A study of spectators’ enjoyment and gambling intention during XFL games. Journal of Business Research, 131(July)
- Xu S, Xu Z, Li F & Sukumar A. (2021). Redefining peer learning: Role of student entrepreneurs in teaching entrepreneurship in the UK higher education context. Industry and Higher Education, 35(4)
- Xu Z, Sukumar A, Sadeghi VJ, Li F & Tomlins R. (2021). Local-global design: entrepreneurial ecosystem approach for digital gaming industry. International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, 18(4)
- Xu Z, Sukumar A, Jafari Sadeghi V, Tomlins R & Li F. (2021). Local-global design: entrepreneurial ecosystem approach for digital gaming industry. International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, 18(4)
- Sukumar A, Sadeghi VJ & Xu Z. (2021). The influences of social media on Chinese start-up stage entrepreneurship. World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, 17(5)
- Sukumar A, Jafari Sadeghi V & Xu Z. (2021). The influences of social media on Chinese start-up stage entrepreneurship. World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, 17(5)
- Arenal A, Armuña C, Feijoo C, Ramos S, Xu Z, .... (2020). Innovation ecosystems theory revisited: The case of artificial intelligence in China. Telecommunications Policy, 44(6)
- Xu Z & Dobson S. (2019). Challenges of building entrepreneurial ecosystems in peripheral places. Journal of Entrepreneurship and Public Policy, 8(3)
Conference Papers
- Xu Z & Adams R. (2023). A configurational paths framework towards institutionalising innovation using QCA
- Xu Z, Li C & Xu S. (2022). Entrepreneurial resilience in time of crisis: Evidence from China in the era of COVID-19
- Xu Z, Maas G, Jones P & Lockyer J. Digital Gaming Industry in Global-Local Crossings: Comparative Study of UK, China and Brazil
- Xu Z. Behind the Game: Survival and Growth of Game Development Businesses
Books
- Xu Z. (2022). Returnee entrepreneurship in China: the multi-faced story in the travel of location, time and culture In Entrepreneurship as Practice. Springer.
- Xu Z. (2022). Returnee entrepreneurship in China: the multi-faced story in the travel of location, time and culture In Ratten V(ed.), Entrepreneurship as practice: Time for more managerial relevance. Springer.
- Sukumar A, Xu Z & Tomlins R. (2020). Student Social Enterprise Engagement: Capturing Process, Benefits and Measuring Social Value In Sukanlaya Sawang (ed.), Contributions to Management Science. Springer International Publishing.
- Xu Z & Maas G. (2019). Innovation and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems as Important Building Blocks In Maas G & Jones P (eds), Transformational Entrepreneurship Practices. Springer International Publishing.