Eniko Matyus, a PhD student at HuManiS Research Center, defended her dissertation on the role of business incubators in the sustainable regional development of small towns (“Le rôle des incubateurs d'entreprises en faveur des petites villes pour un développement régional durable”) on May 5, 2025, at the Bucharest University of Economic Studies.
The dissertation committee was made up of the following individuals:
- Gilles Lambert, University of Strasbourg, PhD Adviser
- Carmen Pàunescu, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, PhD Co-adviser
- Léo-Paul Dana, Dalhousie University (Halifax, Canada), Reporting Examiner
- Christina Theodoraki, Aix-Marseille University, Reporting Examiner
- Anca Bogdan, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, President
- Adrian Curaj, National School for Political and Administration Studies in Bucharest, Examiner
We have a testimonial from her:
"After a five-year PhD journey—of which four years were spent in an international joint PhD program—I had the honor of publicly defending my doctoral dissertation at the beginning of May. My research focuses on the role of business incubators in supporting smaller cities and their contribution to sustainable regional development.
The defence took place in Bucharest, in one of the symbolic rooms of the Bucharest University of Economic Studies. The dissertation committee was composed of
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Anca Bogdan – Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Romania,
- Prof. Dr. Christina Theodoraki – Aix-Marseille University, France,
- Prof. Dr. Léo-Paul Dana – Dalhousie University, Canada, and
- Prof. Dr. Adrian Curaj – National School for Political and Administration Studies in Bucharest, Romania.
My co-advisers were Prof. Dr. Carmen Păunescu – Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Romania, and Prof. Dr. Gilles Lambert – University of Strasbourg, France.
The international joint PhD program significantly enriched my dissertation. Working under the guidance of two highly accomplished advisers provided me with complementary academic perspectives and critical support in shaping the direction of my research. It also enabled me to enhance the relevance of my findings for theory, practice, and policy development.
Participating in a joint program granted access to a broader range of academic resources and international perspectives and allowed me to pursue a more comprehensive research trajectory in addressing my questions.
My public defence was a deeply meaningful moment, attended by two of my fellow PhD colleagues, my husband, and our seven-day-old daughter.
I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Augustin Cournot Doctoral School and for the guidance and mentorship of Professor Gilles Lambert, to whom I will remain sincerely thankful."
We'd like to congratulate her warmly on this fine achievement!
