DCU Institute for Business and Society launched

Dublin City University Business School has launched DCU Institute for Business and Society this week, a multidisciplinary research institute focused on trust, work, family business, and digital harms. Bringing together leading experts, the institute aims to address critical societal and business challenges through high-impact research.

Speaking at the launch, Prof Dáire Keogh, President of Dublin City University said:

“The launch of the Institute marks an important milestone in DCU Business School’s research output and impact. With its focused remit, the Institute will explore and address a range of pressing issues affecting both our society and the business world. By gathering a multidisciplinary team, the initiative also allows for new collaborations that will deliver additional impact. ”

Institute Director, Professor Colm O’Gorman, highlighted its role in shaping policy and practice:

“From trust in technology to the future of work and online harms in sport, our research will drive meaningful change.”

Key Research Areas

The institute houses several leading research groups:

trustLAB (Led by Prof. Lisa van der Werff) – One of Europe’s largest trust research groups, studying trust in AI, cloud computing, and digital privacy.

OBAIR (Led by Dr. Margaret Heffernan) – Examining job security, remote work, and the impact of technology on work and well-being.

Centre for Family Business (Led by Dr. Eric Clinton) – Exploring family business sustainability and entrepreneurship across generations.

International Network for Online Harms in Sport (Led by Dr. Gary Sinclair) – Investigating digital abuse in sport, collaborating with FIA, GAA, and Sky Sports.

Collaboration & Impact

The institute partners with leading Business Schools from across the globe including partners from the European Consortium of Innovative Universities, and leading European and US Business Schools, industry organisations like Show Racism the Red Card and many private sector businesses, government departments and state bodies.. Through its research, DCU Business & Society will inform policy, enhance business practices, and contribute to positive social change.