November 30, 2024 — The future of Black-led research has ignited on the Prairies. What once began as an ambitious initiative from the federal government to support Black entrepreneurship across Canada through research-driven insights, has sparked a blaze of progress and potential for Black entrepreneurs and researchers alike. In just the first five months of the fiscal year, members of the Central Hub of the Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (BEKH) at the University of Alberta have collectively secured $3.6 million for Black-led research—potentially making this a record-setting year at the university. The excitement from the launch of the BEKH has spread beyond the Black entrepreneurship ecosystem and has ignited the sparks of new research initiatives led by Black academics.

How it Started
The Central Hub of the BEKH has been instrumental in reviewing and expanding research into Black entrepreneurship by conducting a scoping review of the existing literature in the area and leading the National Qualitative Study on Black Entrepreneurship. Not only has the BEKH been working to deliver insights into the current state of Black entrepreneurship in Canada, but it has also encouraged an upsurge of Black-led and Black-focused research across the country. It is not surprising, then, that the Hub conducting the scoping review, was one of the first to recognize the gaps in research on the Black community, and Black entrepreneurship more specifically. Recognizing that these gaps could hinder community development by overlooking the nuances specific to the Black experience—potentially resulting in ineffective solutions to community issues and deterring new researchers from contributing to the field—the Central Hub has taken a forward-thinking approach to the future of Black-centric research. By devising programs to nurture the next generation of analysts, the Hub is fanning the flames of Black-led research and creating unprecedented opportunities for Black scholars in the Prairies.

Tapping into the expertise of Dr Jared Wesley, leading expert into qualitative research, the Central Hub was tasked with conducting the National Qualitative study into Black entrepreneurship in Canada, a first of its kind endeavour for the Black entrepreneurship ecosystem. At the start, the expectation was that it would illuminate and illustrate Black entrepreneurs in Canada through a persona-based research approach. Interestingly though, one unexpected but welcomed outcome was the space it created for Black students interested in research at the University of Alberta. It gave students the opportunity to be apart of the research process, receive training in systemic design and critically evaluate the systems in their own university. This training has given students the opportunity to facilitate university policy discussions, providing them with access to decision-making spaces where they can see for themselves how decisions are made and influence their outcomes using the skills they’ve learnt from working with the Hub. The impact has been substantial: students not only gain a deeper understanding of systemic change but also get noticed for their contributions to real-world challenges.

The momentum generated through the national qualitative study did not stop with student involvement. It laid the groundwork for a broader program to support Black research excellence across the University. In evaluating its own systems for research, members of the Hub recognized that, much like Black entrepreneurs on the Prairies, the experiences of Black researchers on the Prairies differed significantly from Black researchers in urban centers with higher Black populations and would therefore require region specific solutions to foster their growth. Thus the Black-led Research Network Initiative (BRNI) was established to tackle the isolation and any lack of support Black researchers on the Prairies may face.

The Black-led Research Network Initiative (BRNI)
The initiative aims to build capacity for Black researchers and enhance Black research excellence at the University of Alberta, offering significant opportunities for Black students interested in research. From its early stages, BRNI focused on connecting researchers across the institution to build a supportive network, utilizing their expertise and reputation. This initiative assists emerging Black researchers in navigating challenges such as grant applications and fosters collaborative, community-driven projects.

Since its inception in 2022, the initiative has achieved remarkable success: research funding secured by Black researchers named as principal investigators has nearly doubled, jumping from $2.1 million to $4.1 million. In under two and a half years, Black researchers have already surpassed the funding they obtained in the eight years prior, building momentum for sustained growth among Black academics at the University of Alberta.

More recently, the initiative has invested $15,000 of externally sourced funds to support Natacha Louis, a professor of Science and Technology Education and an emerging Black researcher at the University of Alberta, and Shirley Anne Tate, Co-Lead for the Central Hub. This funding backs their collaboration with Black Canadian Women in Action to conduct research on Black women in STEM entrepreneurship in Canada.

By bringing together established and emerging scholars, BRNI facilitates experiential mentorship, providing early-career Black researchers with valuable guidance, knowledge, and support from experienced colleagues. This mentorship allows young Black academics to engage with research that is relevant to them and can have an impact on their communities. The network also seeks to create an expansive, long-term strategy to sustain Black-led research, deepen academic relationships, and highlight the value of Black research excellence, ensuring ongoing opportunities and a supportive environment for future Black researchers.

Student Focused Research Initiatives
Under the umbrella of the BRNI are the Experiential Learning in Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship (ELITE) Program for Black Youth led by Dr Andre McDonald, Co-lead of the Central Hub and the Black Youth for Social Innovation (BYSI) program, championed by Dr Wesley. Both initiatives offer research opportunities to students and early career researchers and form the Science and Technology and Social Science Branches of the BRNI respectively.

Since its inception in 2021, the Experiential Learning in Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship (ELITE) Program for Black Youth has secured over $4 million in funding, creating unique opportunities for them to access paid experiential learning and work-integrated training. Conceived, developed, and led at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Engineering in the College of Natural and Applied Sciences, the Program is bridging the gap in mentorship and internship opportunities for Black students, particularly in STEM, business, and psychology.

The ELITE Program also places a strong emphasis on fostering research skills and engaging Black youth in innovative scientific research. The Program encourages participants to delve into various areas of STEM, equipping them with the skills necessary to contribute to cutting-edge research projects and interdisciplinary studies. Emily Armstrong, a student at the Rehab Robotics Lab, describes the program as a "feeder," explaining, “You give students this opportunity and it encourages more Black students to apply for university, encourages more Black students to get into research.”

Through targeted mentorship and research-focused experiential learning, the BRNI alongside initiatives like the ELITE Program, and the Black Youth for Social Innovation (BYSI) Initiative, are nurturing a new generation of Black students who are prepared to conduct interdisciplinary research and tackle societal challenges. As Hamidat Bello, a first-year computer science student, puts it, “It’s a really good opportunity for motivated Black youth to just find a way in...”

The Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub is igniting meaningful change in Black research across Canada and the excitement from community members, youth, and researchers is heightened, as they see opportunities to build capacity, drive systemic change, and make a real difference. Sparking programs like the Black Research Network Initiative, the BEKH is not only deepening our understanding of Black entrepreneurship but also opening doors for Black students and researchers to shape systemic change. The momentum generated by BEKH is lighting the way to the path of sustainable Black research excellence, ensuring that the contributions of Black scholars are recognized and celebrated in academia and beyond.

BEKH Sparks Surge in Black-led Research at the University of Alberta

Q-BEKH x Black Inc. Podcast:

Bridging Futures: A Transformative Workshop on Black Entrepreneurship and Visionary Thinking