9th Paper Development Seminar on Entrepreneurship Process Research

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-07

The 9th Paper Development Seminar (9PDS) on Entrepreneurship Process Research brought together top scholars in Seville, Spain, on May 28-29, 2026. Co-organized by the University of Seville and the Observatorio del Ecosistema Emprendedor de Andalucia (OEEA), this event has become a must-attend for researchers studying how businesses start and grow. The OEEA also runs the GEM and GUESSS projects in the region, adding to its credibility. ### What Makes the 9PDS Special? The seminar's main goal is simple: help early-career and established researchers polish their work for top academic journals. To keep things productive, participation is capped at just 20 selected papers. That means every attendee gets real, focused attention. This year, participants came from all over Europe and beyond, creating a truly global conversation. Topics ranged widely, from ADHD symptoms and entrepreneurial bricolage to how frontier-tech ecosystems work in Africa. Researchers also explored AI's impact on founder well-being and failure paths in social ventures. It was a packed schedule that covered the full spectrum of entrepreneurship research. ### Gender and Entrepreneurship Take Center Stage A big highlight this year was the deep dive into gender and entrepreneurship dynamics. In partnership with the CreaVES project (backed by the Spanish Research Agency AEI), the 9PDS hosted a special session. This project looks at how social gender stereotypes and personal values shape business creation and venture types. It's a crucial topic, and the session sparked some of the most engaging discussions of the seminar. ### Mentorship from World-Class Editors The real gem of the 9PDS is the feedback from top journal editors. Each participant got written and oral input from at least two expert panelists. That's not just helpful—it's a game-changer for getting published in leading journals. Plenary sessions were led by some of the brightest minds in the field: - **Profs. Ulla Hytti (University of Turku) & 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 insider tips in her session, "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 event wrapped up with a round table on "Emerging topics and practices in entrepreneurship research," featuring Profs. Hytti, Liguori, Santos, and Stephan. They helped participants navigate the future of scholarly publishing. ### Celebrating Excellence The closing ceremony recognized standout work, sponsored by the European Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ECSB) through its Event Fund. The Best Paper Award went to PhD student Robert Hoyer from Leuphana University, who earned a free one-year ECSB membership. It's a well-deserved honor for a bright rising star. Overall, the 9PDS continues to push boundaries in entrepreneurship research. If you're a scholar looking to refine your work and connect with leaders in the field, this is the place to be. Keep an eye out for the 10th edition—it's bound to be even better.