9th Paper Development Seminar: Insights on Entrepreneurship Research

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-07

The 9th Paper Development Seminar (9PDS) on Entrepreneurship Process Research took place May 28-29, 2026, at the University of Seville. This event has become a key gathering for entrepreneurship scholars worldwide. Co-organized by the University of Seville and the Observatorio del Ecosistema Emprendedor de Andalucia (OEEA), which runs the GEM and GUESSS projects in the region, the seminar continues to shape how we study the entrepreneurial journey. ### What Makes the 9PDS Unique? The main goal of the 9PDS is simple: give researchers a collaborative space to polish their work for top academic journals. To keep things productive, participation is capped at just 20 selected proposals and papers. That means every attendee gets real, focused attention. ### Topics That Sparked Conversation Participants came from across Europe and beyond. Over two days, they explored a wide range of topics through a process lens. Here are some of the research areas covered: - How ADHD symptoms relate to entrepreneurial bricolage - How frontier technology ecosystems work in Africa - The impact of AI on founder well-being - Failure pathways in social ventures A big highlight this year was a special focus on gender and entrepreneurship. This came through the CreaVES project, approved by the Spanish Research Agency (AEI), which looks at how gender stereotypes and personal values shape business creation. ### Learning from Top Editors What really sets the 9PDS apart is the mentorship from world-class journal editors. Each participant got written and oral feedback from at least two expert panelists. This guidance helps them make the structural changes needed for publication in top journals. ### Keynote Sessions That Inspired The plenary sessions featured some of the best minds in the field: - **Ulla Hytti and Miruna Radu-Lefebvre** kicked things off with a talk titled "How About Men Entrepreneurs? Gender, Masculinities and Entrepreneurship." - **Ute Stephan** from King's College London shared insider tips in her session "How to Publish in Top Management and Entrepreneurship Journals." - **Susana C. Santos** from Florida State University gave a powerful talk on "Entrepreneurship Amid War." The seminar ended with a round table on "Emerging Topics and Practices in Entrepreneurship Research," featuring Hytti, Liguori, Santos, and Stephan. They helped participants navigate the future of academic publishing. ### Celebrating Excellence The closing ceremony recognized outstanding work. Thanks to the European Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ECSB) and its Event Fund initiative, the Best Paper Award went to PhD student Robert Hoyer from Leuphana University. He received a free one-year membership to the ECSB. ### Why This Matters The 9PDS is more than just a conference. It's a community that pushes entrepreneurship research forward. For anyone serious about publishing in this field, it's a must-attend event. The combination of small group size, expert feedback, and cutting-edge topics makes it a standout in the academic calendar.