Call for Abstracts
OIS Research Conference 2026
11-13 May | Copenhagen Business School, Denmark
We invite you to join the discussion about openness and collaboration in scientific research at the upcoming 7th OIS Research Conference.
OIS research investigates whether, how, and under which conditions open and collaborative practices influence the productivity and societal impact of scientific research. We strive for a balanced view that recognizes important contingency factors on the individual, organizational, and ecosystem-level.
The 2026 special conference theme focuses on Science-Policy Relations: What is the role of openness and collaboration?
Science-based input into policy decisions is more crucial than ever to address complex global challenges such as climate change, digital transformation, and geopolitical instability. Existing channels such as scientific services in national parliaments, one-way consultations, or ad hoc advisory roles help, but they often fall short of providing scientific expertise in ways that are timely, transparent, and attuned to broader societal contexts. Rising mistrust in science adds to the strain. Yet the relationship is not one-way: while science informs policy, policy priorities, incentives, and rules also shape what gets researched, how quickly results are produced, and how evidence is framed.
Openness and collaboration offer promising avenues to reimagine these relationships. Open access to publications, data, and methods can enable broader reuse and engagement, while AI tools may enhance scalability and integration into policy processes. Beyond access, sustained co-development of policies between scientists and policymakers – and at times, with citizens or other stakeholders – may strengthen the relevance, transparency, and legitimacy of outcomes. Yet these models also raise questions about credibility, responsibility, and alignment with democratic processes. Hence, this year’s theme explores science-policy interactions as a two-way, evolving relationship, asking how openness and collaboration can both enable and complicate the pursuit of evidence that is usable, trustworthy, and aligned with democratic values.
► Conference tracks
Submissions both empirical and conceptual in nature are welcome. Extended abstracts (500-1000 words) for advanced papers and short abstracts (250-500 words) for early-stage projects can be submitted related to this year’s special conference theme or to one of the three following general OIS research tracks:
Track 1: Open and collaborative approaches along the entire scientific research process, including opportunities, challenges, and contingency factors. Possible topics include but are not limited to:
- Crowdfunding/crowdsourcing science and citizen science
- (Open) university-industry collaborations
- Open data/material sharing/re-use
- Platforms facilitating open and collaborative approaches to scientific research
Track 2: Ecosystems and organizational designs facilitating or constraining open and collaborative research approaches. Possible topics include but are not limited to:
- Institutional factors
- Local and national policies
- Intellectual property rights
- Incentive and impact measurement systems
Track 3: Micro-foundations of open and collaborative research approaches. Possible topics include but are not limited to:
- Scientists’ motives for engaging in open and collaborative research
- Skills and capabilities for open and collaborative research
- Attitudes and beliefs supporting or blocking open and collaborative research
- Characteristics and motives of institutional entrepreneurs in research organizations
Submissions related to this year’s special conference theme (Science-Policy Relations: What is the role of openness and collaboration?) are also welcomed.
Please also note that:
- We welcome submissions of both early-stage and advanced research projects.
- The research to be presented must not have been accepted for journal publication.
- Participation in the conference is initially reserved for those whose abstract has been accepted for presentation or who have been invited to contribute as a speaker, discussant, panelist, or session facilitator. Registration for any remaining spots without a presentation will open in February on a first-come, first-served basis.
► Submission
To submit your abstract, please use this link: https://ois-research-conference.org/submission
The submission deadline is December 21, 2025. All submissions will be reviewed by the Organizing Team, and notifications of acceptance will be sent by January 18, 2026.
Submission
Submission deadline: December 21, 2025.
Downloads
Blog
Read more about OIS research and previous iterations of the annual OIS Research Conference in our blog.
The 2026 OIS Research Conference is organized by:
The 2026 organizing team:
Susanne Beck (Warwick Business School)
Christoph Grimpe (Copenhagen Business School)
Maria Theresa Norn (Aarhus University & DTU)
Marion Poetz (Copenhagen Business School)
Henry Sauermann (ESMT Berlin)
Astrid Ulv Thomsen (Copenhagen Business School)
► Conference program
In addition to inspirational Paper Sessions, the conference program includes plenary sessions related to this year’s conference theme (Science-Policy Relations: What is the role of openness and collaboration?) such as a Keynote speech by Ben Jones (Professor at Northwestern University), an OIS Debate with – among others – Brandi Geurkink (Executive Director of the Coalition for Independent Tech Research), Dietmar Harhoff (Director at Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition), and Reinhilde Veugelers (Professor at KU Leuven), and an OIS Experiment where we “walk the talk“ by engaging in and reflecting on novel ways of doing research. The 2026-conference will additionally feature a special session on open university-industry collaboration, sponsored by the Center for Open Innovation in Science at Aarhus University.
The conference also organizes a Junior Paper Development Workshop on May 13 in the afternoon. Junior scholars (PhDs and post-docs) can indicate their interest in participating and receiving personalized in-depth feedback from senior mentors during the abstract submission process.
► Practicalities and conference fee
The conference will be an in-person meeting at Copenhagen Business School, with online streaming for selected sessions to enable participation for a broader audience. The core conference program will commence on May 11 early afternoon and conclude on May 13 early afternoon. We expect participants to attend the entire program.
The conference fee is 250 Euros. PhD students facing financial constraints can pay a reduced fee of 100 Euros upon request. The conference fee covers all meals including a fabulous conference dinner.
Contact
Please contact us for any questions or to be added to our conference mailing list, which will ensure that you receive the latest updates about the annual OIS Research Conference.