History

For a long time, however, academic research largely neglected family firms, focusing predominantly on large, publicly traded corporations where family involvement was either overlooked or deemed irrelevant. Over recent decades, the academic landscape has dramatically shifted, and family firms have emerged as a dynamic and respected area of inquiry. Central to this transformation has been the pioneering work of the Centre for Family Entrepreneurship and Ownership (CeFEO) at Jönköping International Business School (JIBS), whose influential research, publications, and educational initiatives have significantly shaped the global family business studies field. This impact is evident in the widespread establishment of dedicated research programs, endowed professorships, and specialized centers worldwide.

In 1994, Jönköping International Business School (JIBS) was established with the clear vision of becoming a leading business school in the areas of entrepreneurship, internationalization, and business renewal. Based on this overall profile of the new school, it was soon realized that a focus on family firms and ownership matters was both important and relevant. Accordingly, JIBS became a pioneer in Scandinavia, establishing a group of scholars devoted to the fields of family business and ownership in terms of both research and teaching. In 1996, Professor Leif Melin obtained the first research grant from the Carl-Olof and Jenz Hamrin Foundation with the purpose of building a research program on “The Dynamics of Family Firms”. This first donation made it possible to develop the critical mass that would later be the base for the foundation of the Centre for Family Entereprise and Ownership (CeFEO). Professor Melin hired a number of Ph.D. candidates and senior researchers for the program. From the beginning, the research was interdisciplinary, involving researchers from management, commercial law and accounting. The new research coincided with a strong, increased interest in important issues related to family firms and ownership both in Sweden and internationally. Additional research grants meant that more people could be employed to conduct research and teach about family entrepreneurship and ownership. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the number of Ph.D. candidates and senior researchers grew.

In 2001, Per-Olof Bjuggren, Lars-Göran Sund, Annika Hall, Leif Melin, and Mattias Nordqvist published the first two JIBS articles in Family Business Review. Lars-Göran Sund published a comprehensive monograph-based study on family business succession and the gift and inheritance tax regime in Sweden, and in the spring of 2002, Emilia Florin Samuelsson defended the first doctoral dissertation on a family business topic at JIBS. Since then, researchers from JIBS working in CeFEO have published numerous articles, books, dissertations, book chapters, and reports both nationally and internationally. Relatedly, several awards and scholarships have been awarded to CeFEO researchers in recognition of the quality of their research.

CeFEO was established during the fall of 2005 thanks to a generous donation from the Carl-Olof and Jenz Hamrin Foundation. The official inauguration was held on November 23rd, 2005. Leif Melin led the centre as CeFEO Director until 2012, with the support of Mattias Nordqvist as Co-Director. Over the years, the continually growing research and teaching activities focusing on family business and ownership issues have become an integrated part of the internationally leading position that JIBS has achieved within the area of entrepreneurship, ownership and business renewal.

In 2011, the Carl-Olof and Jenz Hamrin Foundation financed a Research Chair in Family Business and the "Hamrin Visiting Professor Program". In 2012, the Hamrin Professor in Family Business Strategy Mattias Nordqvist succeeded as CeFEO Director and kept this role until 2019, with the support of Francesco Chirico as Co-Director. In 2013, CeFEO achieved another landmark with the publication of the influential SAGE Handbook of Family Business. Edited by Leif Melin, Mattias Nordqvist, and Pramodita Sharma, this comprehensive volume involved 78 distinguished scholars and provided a foundational synthesis of the field while outlining future research agendas. Between 2009 and 2016, substantial support from the Henry and Sylvia Toft Foundation and the Hamrin Foundation enabled the establishment of the CeFEO Visiting Scholar Program, hosting over 40 prominent international scholars in Jönköping. These visits significantly boosted CeFEO’s global research profile and academic network.

Until 2017, CeFEO was financed through external funding from different types of sources: national research councils, foundations, companies, private individuals, and government authorities. In 2018, CeFEO achieved greater financial stability through strategic internal funding commitments from JIBS—a support that continues today. This institutional backing facilitated organizational restructuring and the formation of a new leadership team, comprising Mattias Nordqvist (Director), Francesco Chirico (Head of Research), Massimo Baù (Head of Education), and Kajsa Haag (Head of Outreach). Building on its academic success, CeFEO expanded its educational offerings in 2019 with the launch of an executive program in Family Business Management, alongside new undergraduate and graduate courses.

In 2020, CeFEO transitioned to a dual leadership model with Co-Directors Kajsa Haag and Massimo Baù. Later that year, Massimo Baù assumed the role of Director, while Kajsa Haag took on responsibilities as Associate Dean of Faculty for Business Administration. Reflecting its strategic alignment with JIBS, the center adopted its current name, the Centre for Family Entrepreneurship and Ownership. CeFEO further strengthened its global connections in 2021 by partnering with the International Family Enterprise Research Academy (IFERA) to launch the annual IFERA Summer School, an international doctoral program on family business research methods now boasting over 100 alumni. In 2022, substantial funding from the Kamprad Family Foundation, totaling 17.5 million SEK, enabled CeFEO to expand research in foundation ownership, rural entrepreneurship, and sustainable countryside development. Further extending its outreach and practical impact, CeFEO partnered in 2023 with Formue in Sweden and Norway to deliver an executive program dedicated to Responsible Ownership.

As CeFEO celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2025, several ambitious initiatives mark the milestone. These include the Family Entrepreneurship Schools Tournament—a case competition engaging high school students in exploring family business dynamics—and Ägarlyftet, a comprehensive regional program supported by a 3 million SEK grant from the Nörrheds Foundation to enhance ownership competencies. The celebratory year also features prestigious academic events, such as the 20th EIASM Workshop on Family Firm Management Research (hosted by CeFEO since 2005) and the organization of the international IFERA conference held in Zadar.

Today, CeFEO encompasses over 50 faculty members and 30 affiliated scholars. Supported by strategic investments from JIBS and Jönköping University, and recognized by AACSB and EQUIS accreditation bodies as a critical strategic asset, CeFEO continues to play an essential role in establishing JIBS among Europe's and the world's leading business schools.