TU Dublin's Professor Thomas M. Cooney Appointed Fellow of ISBE
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TU Dublin's Professor Thomas M. Cooney has been appointed a Fellow of the Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE) for 2026, in recognition of his significant contribution to the field of small business and entrepreneurship.
Professor Cooney is Professor of Entrepreneurship at TU Dublin and Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurial Behaviour, Inclusion and Innovation. His internationally recognised work spans entrepreneurship research, education, policy and practice, with a particular focus on inclusive entrepreneurship and supporting groups traditionally under-represented in entrepreneurial activity, including women, migrants, refugees and people with disabilities.
This commitment to inclusive entrepreneurship is reflected in Professor Cooney's work at TU Dublin, where he leads initiatives designed to widen access to entrepreneurship and skills development. Through tailored programmes delivered in partnership with organisations such as AIB and Open Doors, he supports people with disabilities and refugee and migrant communities in overcoming barriers, developing their skills, and pursuing entrepreneurial and career opportunities. This work demonstrates TU Dublin's commitment to making entrepreneurship more accessible and creating opportunities for diverse communities.
His contribution to entrepreneurship education was further recognised in 2026 when he received the European Entrepreneurship Education Award for advancing entrepreneurship education across Europe, particularly by supporting under-represented communities.
Professor Cooney has also held several prominent international leadership roles, serving as President of both the European Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship and the International Council for Small Business. He also founded INTRE (Ireland’s Network of Teachers and Researchers in Entrepreneurship), helping strengthen the entrepreneurship education and research community across the island of Ireland.
His appointment as an ISBE Fellow recognises his outstanding contribution to advancing entrepreneurship research, education and practice, while highlighting TU Dublin's role in shaping a more inclusive and accessible entrepreneurial landscape.
TU Dublin congratulates Professor Cooney on this well-deserved recognition and his continued contribution to advancing inclusive entrepreneurship.