9th Paper Development Seminar: Entrepreneurship Insights

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-07

This past May 28th and 29th, 2026, the University of Seville once again transformed into a vibrant hub for entrepreneurship scholarship. The Paper Development Seminar (PDS) on Entrepreneurship Process Research has become a notable event in the global academic calendar. Co-organized by the University of Seville and the Observatorio del Ecosistema Emprendedor de Andalucia (OEEA)—the institution behind the GEM and GUESSS projects in the region—the 9PDS continues to push the boundaries of how we understand and study the entrepreneurial journey. ### A Unique Collaborative Space The primary aim of the 9PDS remains uniquely focused: to provide early-career and established researchers with a highly collaborative space to refine their research into papers suitable for top-tier academic journals. To maintain an intimate, productive workspace, participation has again been strictly limited to a maximum of 20 selected proposals and papers. This exclusivity ensures deep, meaningful feedback that you just can't get at larger conferences. ### Diverse Research Topics This year, participants came to Seville from across Europe and beyond. Over the two-day seminar, presentations covered a diverse array of topics applying a process lens. Research discussions spanned from the intersection of ADHD symptoms and entrepreneurial bricolage, to the operational mechanics of frontier-technology ecosystems in Africa, the impact of AI on founder well-being, and failure pathways in social ventures. It's a real mix of cutting-edge stuff. ### Focus on Gender and Entrepreneurship A major milestone for this year's edition was a dedicated emphasis on gender and entrepreneurship dynamics. In collaboration with the CreaVES project—an initiative approved by the Spanish Research Agency (AEI) analyzing how social gender stereotypes and personal values influence firm creation and venture types—the 9PDS featured a special session on this relevant topic. This is a conversation that's long overdue in the field. ### Keynotes and Mentorship from World-Class Editors Beyond peer discussions, the defining asset of the 9PDS is the structural feedback and mentorship provided by its panel of internationally renowned journal editors. Participants received dedicated written and oral feedback from at least two expert panelists, guiding them on structural enhancements required for top-tier publication. You can't put a price on that kind of direct access. The plenary sessions delivered invaluable masterclasses from some of the leading scholars in the field: - Profs. Ulla Hytti (University of Turku) and Miruna Radu-Lefebvre (Audencia Business School) kicked off the plenary sessions with a thought-provoking talk: "How about men entrepreneurs? Gender, masculinities and entrepreneurship." - Prof. Ute Stephan (King's College London) shared an indispensable insider framework during her session, "How to publish in top management and entrepreneurship journals." - Prof. Susana C. Santos (Florida State University) provided a powerful, urgent perspective with her plenary speech, "Entrepreneurship amid war." The academic programming culminated in an interactive Round Table focused on "Emerging topics and practices in entrepreneurship research," bringing together the collective wisdom of Profs. Hytti, Liguori, Santos, and Stephan to help participants navigate the future landscape of scholarly publishing. ### Celebrating Academic Excellence The closing ceremony highlighted the exceptional quality of work presented this year. Sponsored generously by the European Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ECSB) through the ECSB Event Fund initiative, the event celebrated the best of the best. The Best Paper Award was presented to PhD student Robert Hoyer from Leuphana University, granting him a free one-year membership to the ECSB. It's a well-deserved honor that underscores the high caliber of research coming out of this seminar. > "The 9PDS is not just a conference; it's a launchpad for the next generation of entrepreneurship research." — This sentiment echoed throughout the halls of the University of Seville, reminding everyone why this event matters. Overall, the 9th PDS proved once again that when you bring passionate researchers together in an intimate setting, magic happens. The insights gained here will undoubtedly shape the future of entrepreneurship scholarship for years to come.