9th Paper Development Seminar: Advancing Entrepreneurship Research

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-07

### A Hub for Entrepreneurship Scholarship On May 28th and 29th, 2026, the University of Seville turned into a buzzing hub for entrepreneurship research. The 9th Paper Development Seminar (9PDS) on Entrepreneurship Process Research has become a big deal in the global academic scene. Co-organized by the University of Seville and the Observatorio del Ecosistema Emprendedor de Andalucia (OEEA), this event keeps pushing the envelope on how we study the entrepreneurial journey. ### What Makes 9PDS Special? The main goal of the 9PDS is simple: give both early-career and experienced researchers a place to polish their work for top-tier journals. To keep things focused, they only accepted up to 20 proposals and papers. That's it. No more. This intimate setup means everyone gets real, hands-on feedback. ### Diverse Research Topics People came from all over Europe and beyond for this two-day event. The presentations covered a wide range of topics, all through a process lens. Here's a taste of what was discussed: - ADHD symptoms and entrepreneurial bricolage - How frontier-tech ecosystems work in Africa - AI's impact on founder well-being - Failure pathways in social ventures ### A Special Focus on Gender This year, a big highlight was the emphasis on gender and entrepreneurship dynamics. Teaming up with the CreaVES project, which is backed by the Spanish Research Agency (AEI), the 9PDS hosted a special session. They looked at how social gender stereotypes and personal values shape business creation. ### World-Class Editors and Mentorship The real gem of the 9PDS is the mentorship from top journal editors. Participants got written and oral feedback from at least two experts. This guidance helps them nail the structural tweaks needed for publication. ### Plenary Sessions Worth Noting The plenary sessions were packed with insights from leading scholars: - **Profs. Ulla Hytti and Miruna Radu-Lefebvre** kicked things off with "How about men entrepreneurs? Gender, masculinities and entrepreneurship." - **Prof. Ute Stephan** shared her playbook in "How to publish in top management and entrepreneurship journals." - **Prof. Susana C. Santos** 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. ### Celebrating Excellence The closing ceremony was all about celebrating top-notch work. Sponsored by the European Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ECSB), the Best Paper Award went to PhD student Robert Hoyer from Leuphana University. He got a free one-year membership to the ECSB. > "This seminar is a game-changer for anyone serious about publishing in entrepreneurship journals." - A participant's take. ### Final Thoughts The 9PDS is more than just a seminar. It's a community where ideas get sharper and connections deepen. If you're in the entrepreneurship research space, this is the place to be. The focus on process research and real-world impact makes it stand out. Can't wait to see what the next edition brings.