Conference Theme

Conference Theme 2026: Are We Really Ready for the Digital Revolution?

Digital technologies are reshaping how organizations organize, coordinate and innovate, giving rise to digital business systems that operate across organizational and institutional boundaries (Bharadwaj et al., 2013; Yoo et al., 2012; Verhoef et al., 2021). These systems integrate digital infrastructures, organizational capabilities and multi-actor coordination mechanisms, enabling new forms of entrepreneurial innovation and value creation, often structured around ecosystems and platform-based logics (Adner, 2017; Jacobides et al., 2018; Compagnucci et al., 2025; Francksen et al., 2025). In this context, digital transformation extends beyond technological adoption to encompass changes in business models, organizational processes and strategic alignment, increasingly linked to data-driven capabilities and organizational redesign (Vial, 2019; Verhoef et al., 2021; Hess, 2024; Olan et al., 2024; Hajli et al., 2025).

From a strategy and innovation perspective, the Dynamic Capabilities framework provides a relevant lens to understand how organizations respond to these transformations, through their ability to sense opportunities, seize them and reconfigure resources (Teece et al., 1997; Teece, 2007; Helfat et al., 2007). More recent research has examined the micro-foundations of these capabilities and their role in digital transformation contexts, including the importance of foundational capabilities and change readiness (Eisenhardt and Martin, 2000; Barreto, 2010; Leso et al., 2024; Rummel et al., 2022; Dirnböck et al., 2025).

ICIEMC 2026 focuses on digital transformation challenges from both organizational and individual perspectives, addressing themes such as enterprise adaptation, individual practices, digital agents and digital twins, and issues related to change management, working practices, privacy and ethics.

The following Special Tracks will be open for paper submissions in 2026:

  • Digital transformation of enterprises (organizational adaptation)
  • Digital transformation of people & individual practices (personal adaptation)
  • Use of digital agents & digital twins, AI Agents
  • Change management, well-being, working practices, privacy, ethics

The following Regular Tracks will be open for paper submission in 2026:

  • Business Innovation Strategies
  • Business Models
  • Consumer Behaviour & Neurosciences 
  • Creativity & Serious Games
  • Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Small Business Marketing
  • Marketing Communications, Social Media, Public Relations, Advertising & Promotion
  • Marketing in Specific Industries 
  • Relationship Marketing, Sensory & Experiential Marketing
  • Strategic Marketing & Value Creation
  • Services Marketing & Customer Experience 
  • Sustainable Marketing, Social Responsibility & Ethics
  • Teaching & Learning in Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Marketing 
  • Tourism Marketing

Publication opportunities will be available for best conference papers, including a Special Issue in Systems (Q1 – Open Source publication – note that publication fees apply in this case, and additional reviews will be performed in accordance with Systems rules). Best Thesis Awards will be granted, too.

Best thesis per category is also awarded and the finalists are invited to attend ICIEMC 2026 and present their thesis with no registration cost.