9th Paper Development Seminar: Entrepreneurship Insights

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-07

This past May 28th and 29th, 2026, the University of Seville buzzed with energy again. It became a hub for entrepreneurship scholarship. The Paper Development Seminar (PDS) on Entrepreneurship Process Research has become a key event in the global academic calendar. Co-organized by the University of Seville and the Observatorio del Ecosistema Emprendedor de Andalucia (OEEA)—the group behind the GEM and GUESSS projects in the region—the 9PDS pushes boundaries. It helps us understand the entrepreneurial journey better. ### What Makes the 9PDS Special? The main goal of the 9PDS is simple: give early-career and established researchers a collaborative space to improve their papers for top journals. To keep it productive, participation is limited to 20 selected proposals. That's it. Small group, big focus. This year, attendees came from all over Europe and beyond. Over two days, presentations covered many topics. They used a process lens. Discussions ranged from ADHD symptoms and entrepreneurial bricolage to frontier-technology ecosystems in Africa. They also looked at AI's impact on founder well-being and failure pathways in social ventures. ### Gender and Entrepreneurship A big highlight this year was the focus on gender and entrepreneurship dynamics. In partnership with the CreaVES project—approved by the Spanish Research Agency (AEI)—the 9PDS featured a special session. This project analyzes how social gender stereotypes and personal values shape firm creation and venture types. ### Keynotes from Top Editors Beyond peer discussions, the 9PDS shines because of feedback and mentorship from top journal editors. Each participant got written and oral feedback from at least two expert panelists. This guidance helps them make structural changes needed for top-tier publication. Plenary sessions were masterclasses from leading scholars: - Profs. Ulla Hytti (University of Turku) and Miruna Radu-Lefebvre (Audencia Business School) kicked things off with "How about men entrepreneurs? Gender, masculinities and entrepreneurship." - Prof. Ute Stephan (King's College London) shared insights in "How to publish in top management and entrepreneurship journals." - Prof. Susana C. Santos (Florida State University) gave a powerful talk on "Entrepreneurship amid war." The program ended with a Round Table on "Emerging topics and practices in entrepreneurship research." Profs. Hytti, Liguori, Santos, and Stephan shared their wisdom to help participants navigate the future of scholarly publishing. ### Celebrating Excellence The closing ceremony celebrated the quality of work presented. Sponsored by the European Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ECSB) through the ECSB Event Fund, the Best Paper Award went to PhD student Robert Hoyer from Leuphana University. He received a free one-year membership to the organization. This seminar is a must-attend for anyone serious about entrepreneurship research. It's a place where ideas grow and connections form. If you're working on a paper, consider applying next year. The experience is invaluable.