9th Paper Development Seminar: Entrepreneurship Research 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 solidified itself as 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 9PDS continues to push the boundaries of how we understand and study the entrepreneurial journey. ### What Makes the 9PDS Unique? 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 don't get at larger conferences. ### Diverse Research and a Focus on Gender 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. Other topics included the impact of AI on founder well-being and failure pathways in social ventures. A major milestone for this year's edition was a dedicated emphasis on gender and entrepreneurship dynamics. In collaboration with the CreaVES project, the 9PDS featured a special session on how social gender stereotypes and personal values influence firm creation and venture types. It was a powerful reminder that entrepreneurship isn't just about business plans, but about people and their identities. ### 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. This guidance helps them make the structural enhancements required for top-tier publication. The plenary sessions delivered invaluable masterclasses from some of the leading scholars in the field: - Profs. Ulla Hytti and Miruna Radu-Lefebvre kicked things off with a thought-provoking talk: "How about men entrepreneurs? Gender, masculinities and entrepreneurship." - Prof. Ute Stephan shared an indispensable insider framework during her session, "How to publish in top management and entrepreneurship journals." - Prof. Susana C. Santos 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." This brought 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 Best Paper Award was presented to PhD student Robert Hoyer from Leuphana University, granting him a free one-year membership to the ECSB. This recognition underscores the seminar's commitment to nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurship researchers. ### Key Takeaways for Researchers If you're an entrepreneurship researcher looking to publish in top journals, here's what the 9PDS teaches us: - **Seek intimate feedback environments:** Small, focused workshops like this one offer far more actionable advice than large conferences. - **Embrace diversity in research:** Topics ranging from ADHD to AI show that process research can tackle almost any angle of entrepreneurship. - **Don't overlook gender dynamics:** Understanding how gender shapes entrepreneurial behavior is becoming a critical area of study. - **Learn from the best:** Direct mentorship from journal editors is invaluable for navigating the publication process. The 9PDS continues to be a beacon for those serious about advancing entrepreneurship research. It's a reminder that the best ideas often come from collaborative, focused discussions among passionate scholars.