Artur Steiner
Professor in Social Entrepreneurship and Community Development
Yunus CentreProfessor Artur Steiner is an internationally recognised scholar and academic leader in social entrepreneurship, community development, co-production and socially responsible innovation. He is Professor of Social Entrepreneurship and Community Development who leads the Community, Citizenship and Participation Research Theme within the Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health and serves on the Centre's Management Group. He also supports the University's preparation for REF2029 as Impact Lead for UoA20 and contributes to institutional leadership through equality, diversity and ethics-related initiatives.
Artur's research examines how social enterprises, community-led organisations and co-production approaches can address social inequalities, empower marginalised groups and strengthen community resilience, particularly among disadvantaged and hard-to-reach populations. His interdisciplinary work spans social entrepreneurship, public policy, rural development and health-related social sciences, with a strong emphasis on generating research that delivers meaningful societal impact.
He has secured over £7 million in competitive research funding from UK research councils, NIHR, the European Union, the Scottish Government and major charitable organisations. His research has directly influenced national policy, including informing the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 and contributing to the establishment of the National Asset Transfer Action Group. He is currently a partner in DATAVYSTS, a prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network exploring responsible, community-centred applications of artificial intelligence and data science for social good.
Professor Steiner has produced around 100 publications, including peer-reviewed journal articles, books, book chapters, policy reports and practitioner toolkits. He serves on the Editorial Boards of Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, the Journal of Social Entrepreneurship and the Social Enterprise Journal, reflecting his standing within the international academic community. He has also led and contributed to major evaluations of public and third-sector initiatives, examining their effectiveness in improving wellbeing, participation and social outcomes.
Methodologically, Artur brings expertise in mixed-methods and theory-driven research, including qualitative interviewing, ethnography, survey design, implementation studies and realist evaluation. He supervises PhD researchers across areas such as social enterprise, community empowerment, co-production and social innovation, and has extensive experience in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and doctoral examination.
Underpinned by entrepreneurial thinking, integrity and an asset-based approach to leadership, Professor Steiner is committed to fostering inclusive research environments and translating academic excellence into practical solutions for complex societal challenges. His combination of strategic leadership, funding success, policy influence and internationally recognised scholarship positions him as a leading academic figure in inclusive innovation and community-focused social change.