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18th Annual Conference of the Institute of Economic Sciences: The International Scientific Conference on Innovation Economics, Policy and Entrepreneurship

October 20-21, 2026, Belgrade (Serbia) and online

Organised by

Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje
Institute of Economics - TBC

International Balkan University,
Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences

In collaboration with

  • Regional Cooperation Council - TBC
  • Policy ENLARGE Project
  • SAIGE Project

Conference Goals

 

The International Scientific Conference on Innovation Economics, Policy and Entrepreneurship aims to bring together scholars, policymakers, practitioners and international experts to advance research and dialogue at the intersection of innovation, economic transformation and public policy.

The Conference seeks to foster high-level academic exchange on the design, implementation and evaluation of innovation policies; the dynamics of entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems; and the strategic and technological dimensions of the digital and green transitions. Particular attention will be devoted to evidence-based policymaking, entrepreneurship, place-based innovation strategies, science diplomacy, and the role of innovation in addressing global challenges and geopolitical uncertainty. By integrating perspectives from innovation economics, management, public policy and international governance, the Conference aims to strengthen the science-policy interface and contribute to informed decision-making in both national and international contexts. It will also serve as a forum for networking, cross-border collaboration and the development of new partnerships, bringing together participants from Europe and beyond.

Keynote Speakers

 

  • Slavo Radošević

    Professor, University College London

  • Alasdair Reid

    Research and Innovation Policy Expert, European Forum for Industrial Strategy (EFIS) - TBC

  • To be confirmed

Topics

 

  • 1. INNOVATION POLICY, GOVERNANCE AND SYSTEMS

    Scope: This topic focuses on the design, implementation and evaluation of innovation and science policies, the functioning of innovation systems, and the role of institutions and governance frameworks at national and international levels. It also explores the role of scientific expertise in policy processes, including science in diplomacy and the international coordination of innovation policy.

     

    Sub-topics:

    • Design, implementation and evaluation of STI policies
    • Place-based innovation policy and regional development strategies
    • Smart Specialisation (S3), entrepreneurial discovery processes and regional transformation
    • Mission-oriented and transformative innovation policy
    • Public support for R&D and innovation
    • Regulatory frameworks for emerging technologies
    • Innovation policy and systems in small open and transition economies
    • Evaluation frameworks and impact assessment of innovation policies and instruments
    • Innovation metrics, indicators and performance measurement
    • Institutional capacity and governance quality in innovation policy implementation
    • Science diplomacy: the role of scientific expertise in foreign policy
    • Policy responses in times of crisis and geopolitical uncertainty
    • International coordination of innovation policy and global governance of emerging technologies
    • International research collaboration, mobility and brain circulation within innovation systems

  • 2. ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION ECOSYSTEMS

    Scope: This topic explores entrepreneurship as a key driver of innovation, economic transformation and value creation. It examines the dynamics of entrepreneurial ecosystems and the conditions that enable the creation, growth and scaling of innovative startups and SMEs. Particular attention is given to the role of institutions, networks and collaboration in shaping innovation-driven entrepreneurship at local, regional and global levels.

     

    Sub-topics:

    • Entrepreneurial ecosystems and startup dynamics
    • Scaling, growth models and barriers of innovative SMEs and startups
    • High-tech and digital entrepreneurship
    • Venture capital, alternative financing and innovation finance
    • University-industry collaboration, knowledge and technology transfer
    • Corporate entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship
    • Human capital and skills for innovation and entrepreneurship
    • Business model innovation and value creation strategies
    • Strategic management of innovation in SMEs and high-growth firms
    • Organizational and process innovation
    • Social, sustainable and inclusive entrepreneurship
    • Innovation ecosystems, clusters and regional innovation networks

  • 3. DIGITAL AND GREEN TRANSFORMATION: TECHNOLOGY, STRATEGY AND SUSTAINABILITY

    Scope: This topic focuses on the technological and strategic dimensions of the digital and green transitions and their implications for firms, industries and economic systems. It explores how emerging technologies, sustainability imperatives and regulatory shifts reshape innovation processes, business models and competitive dynamics. The track also examines capability building, technology governance and transformation strategies in response to digitalization, decarbonization and sustainability challenges.

     

    Sub-topics:

    • Digital transformation and Industry 4.0
    • Artificial intelligence, automation and emerging technologies
    • Platform economy, digital markets and data governance
    • Data-driven innovation and digital business models
    • Adoption and economic impact of digital technologies in firms and industries
    • Green innovation and circular economy
    • Energy transition, decarbonization and climate technologies
    • ESG, sustainable finance and corporate sustainability strategies
    • Capability building and organizational transformation in the twin transition
    • Innovation management under digital and green transformation
    • Market and regulatory incentives for green innovation
    • Digital infrastructure, cybersecurity and technological resilience

Committees

Scientific Committee

  • Lazar Živković, PhD, President of the Scientific Committee, Institute of Economic Sciences, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Dijana Štrbac, PhD, Institute of Economic Sciences, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Marija Mosurović, PhD, Institute of Economic Sciences, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Sonja Đuričin, PhD, Institute of Economic Sciences, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Isidora Beraha, PhD, Institute of Economic Sciences, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Aleksandra Bradić-Martinović, PhD, Institute of Economic Sciences, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Marija Lazarević, PhD, Institute of Economic Sciences, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Zoran Aralica, PhD, Economic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
  • Ivana Rasic, PhD, Economic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
  • Ljiljana Božić, PhD, Economic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
  • Jaroslava Szudi, PhD, Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic, Slovakia
  • Svetlana Klessova, PhD, G.A.C. Group, France
  • Justino M.R. Lourenço, PhD, ISPGAYA, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
  • Jovan Zubović, PhD, Institute of Economic Sciences, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Gabor Szudi, PhD, Zentrum for Social Innovation, Austria
  • Olivera Jovanović, PhD, Institute of Economic Sciences, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Nándor Petrovics, PhD, Corvinus University of Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
  • Gianluigi M. Riva, PhD, Senior Research Fellow, Bocconi University, Italy
  • Petar Mitić, PhD, Institute of Economic Sciences, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Slavica Stevanović, PhD, Institute of Economic Sciences, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Prof. Antonio Portugal Duarte, University of Coimbra, Portugal
  • Prof. Sonja Radenković, Belgrade Business Academy, Serbia
  • Prof. Tsotne Zhghenti, Business and Technology University (BTU), Georgia
  • Zorica Mitrović, PhD, Faculty of Organisational Sciences, Serbia
  • Prof. Diana Kopeva, University of National and World Economy, Bulgaria
  • Mihailo Paunović, PhD, Institute of Economic Sciences, Belgrade, Serbia

Organizing Committee

  • Aleksandra Bradić-Martinović, PhD, President of the Organizing Committee, Institute of Economic Sciences, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Nikola Vasilić, PhD, Secretary of the Organizing Committee, Institute of Economic Sciences, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Jelena Williams, PhD, Institute of Economic Sciences, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Đina Ivanović, PhD, Institute of Economic Sciences, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Petar Vićentić, Institute of Economic Sciences, Belgrade, Serbia

Important Dates

June 12, 2026: Deadline for extended abstract submission

June 26, 2026: Notification of Acceptance/Revisions of Extended Abstracts

July 10, 2026: Due Date for Submission of Final Extended Abstracts to Proceedings Book

September 10, 2026: Deadline for registration

20-21.10.2026: Conference days

Conference Output & Publishing Opportunities

All accepted extended abstracts will be published in the Book of Abstracts. Authors of selected extended abstracts will be invited to submit full papers for potential publication in the following journals:

  • Journal of Women's Entrepreneurship and Education (JWEE) - indexed in Scopus (Q3)
  • Economic Analysis - an open-access journal indexed in DOAJ, CEEOL, ERIH PLUS, EBSCO, and RePEc

Please note that all submitted manuscripts will undergo the journal's standard peer-review process.

Authors are kindly invited to prepare their extended abstracts in accordance with the official template available here: Download Extended Abstract Template (Word)

Extended abstracts should be submitted by e-mail to: ies.conference@ien.bg.ac.rs by June 12, 2026.

Please note that information regarding registration and logistics will be provided after the abstract evaluation process.

Participation on the conference is free of charge.

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