ERC researchers  were in London on 29-30 November kicking off a 2-year European study on SME resilience funded by the JP Morgan Chase Foundation. This is a landmark project profiling the resilience of new and small firms and early-stage entrepreneurs (i.e., nascent entrepreneurs) to external shocks. The focus will be on 5 EU economies (U.K, Germany, France, Spain and Italy), key cities in those countries (London, Paris, Frankfurt, Milan and Madrid) and the specific challenges facing disadvantaged groups as well as ethnic minority business owners and women-led businesses. The overall aim is to develop a detailed understanding of the challenges to building resilient businesses among different groups of business owners and identify appropriate practical interventions.