The discussions around the Gateway started as early as 2003 at the European Academy of Business in Society (then the European Academy of Business in Society, EABIS). In 2004, EABIS created an online directory as a follow-up activity to the first comprehensive “Survey on CSR Teaching and Research in Europe” (2003) conducted by the Nottingham University Business School’s International Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility (ICCSR) in partnership with the EABIS and with the support of the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD).

With the increased demand for knowledge and learning opportunities around the business in society issues, EFMD and EABIS discussed the need to broaden the scope of the directory and move to the format that enables dynamic tracking of changes in the field. With the Gateway in mind, EFMD and EABIS conducted a 2nd European Survey on Corporate Responsibility in Management Research, Education and Training in 2007. With over 100 extended submissions, the survey data laid a foundation for the Gateway. The Gateway was developed throughout 2007 and beginning of 2008 under the guidance of EABIS team and with strong EFMD support. The Gateway was officially launched in March 2008. Since March 2008, PPV Knowledge Networks [1] maintains the Gateway on behalf of EABIS and EFMD.