Call for Submissions
The ISPIM Connects Sendai Conference, “Innovating for a Resilient Future”, is a three-day event bringing together around 250 innovation management professionals from over 30 countries.
Sendai, the largest city in Japan’s Tohoku region, is globally recognised for its leadership in resilience and disaster risk reduction. Following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, the city has become a model for building back better, combining advanced research, technology and community-centred innovation. With leading institutions such as Tohoku University and its association with the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Sendai Framework, the city provides a compelling setting for exploring how innovation can strengthen societies and shape a more resilient future.
ISPIM encourages examples and insights into successful innovation practice, challenges or research from all regions of the world. If you are in doubt, please discuss your idea with an email to admin@ispim.org.
CONFERENCE THEMES
Local Focus Themes:
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Advanced Manufacturing & Resilient R&D
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Global Cooperation & SDG Leadership
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Green Transformation & Climate Adaptation
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Life Sciences & Innovation
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Smart & Human-Centred Cities
General Themes:
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Innovation Leadership & Organisational Culture (SIG)*
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Innovation Training, Teaching & Coaching (SIG)*
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ISO 56000 Family of Standards, Certification & System Approaches (SIG)*
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Knowledge & Technology Transfer
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Living Labs (SIG)*
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Methods & Skills for Innovation Management Research
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Open Innovation
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Platforms, Ecosystems and Supply Chains
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Regenerative & Resilient Futures (SIG)
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Responsible Innovation (SIG)*
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Social Innovation (SIG)*
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Values-based & Sustainability-Oriented Innovation Management (SIG)*
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Other Innovation-Related Submissions
SIG = ISPIM Special Interest Group
Submission Deadlines
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2 October 2026: Abstracts Only (All Submissions)*
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16 October 2026: Acceptance Notification*
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30 October 2026: Final Submissions (including papers & photos) PLUS registration and receipt of payment
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23 November 2026: Presentation Slides
* Abstracts will be evaluated on a weekly rolling basis from 8 September, with the final batch being evaluated per the above deadline. Early submission and acceptance notification is possible for all authors with external funding application deadlines. Contact admin@ispim.org
Proceedings
Accepted submissions will be scheduled for presentation in the conference programme in thematic sessions. Papers will be published in the Conference Proceedings with an ISBN and included online in EBSCOhost and ProQuest. Authors may withhold their papers from the proceedings on request.
Award
The Dick Marsh Award
for the paper that best demonstrates innovation management impact