𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Following our previous announcement on the Call for Extended Abstracts for the 22nd IEF Conference, we'd like to share a fuller introduction to this year’s theme: 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽, 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗜.

The IEF conferences offer opportunities for complex, creative, transdisciplinary discourse and exchange. They are more than venues for presenting research and evidence. This year will continue in the same vein. IEF'26 is intended as a platform to provoke thought, challenge assumptions, and stimulate meaningful dialogue among policymakers, businesses, entrepreneurs, thinkers, and academics. We therefore welcome empirical, conceptual research papers, essays, and policy notes that reflect the objectives of the IEF platform. We also warmly encourage those who may not wish to submit a paper to engage in the dialogue occurring across all panel discussions and paper presentation sessions.

The below document is a detailed introduction which sets out the six conference sub-themes and highlights the key issues within each of them. It is intended both as a general guide for prospective participants and as a practical reference point for those planning to submit papers (max. 2000 words).

As AI becomes increasingly embedded in decision-making, production, and creative processes, entrepreneurship is being reshaped in profound ways — creating new opportunities while also raising pressing ethical, psychological, and societal questions. At the same time, wider global uncertainties, including geopolitical instability, climate change, and institutional fragmentation, are intensifying the complexity within which entrepreneurship now unfolds.

To encourage rich discussion and varied forms of engagement, we enumerate below the different types of contributions:

1. 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗽𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀: Empirical or conceptual based on original research addressing any of the key issues under each sub-theme.
2. 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀: Papers that provide decision‑makers in government or industry a fast, clear, evidence‑based understanding of an issue and what actions they should take. They are short, focused, and written for busy readers who need to grasp the essentials quickly.
3. 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀:They are meant to show how your own experiences, knowledge, learning, and mindset connect with real entrepreneurial concepts and emerging technologies, combining self-assessment with theory and practice.

• 🎫 Registration period: 01 May – 15 August 2026
• 📅 Abstract submission window: 13 April – 31 July 2026
• 📧 Submit to: contact@iefplatform.com

IEF2026 An Introduction

REGISTER HERE