IPDMC 2026 became a real example of innovation in times of unrest
With 446 participants, 14 digital tracks, and a global collaboration, the IPDMC 2026 conference, held this year under the theme “Innovation in times of unrest,” became a vivid example of innovation in turbulent times.
From 10–12 June 2026, KTH hosted the 33rd edition of the Innovation and Product Development Management Conference (IPDMC), one of the most established international conferences in innovation research and product development. This year’s theme was ‘Innovation in times of unrest’ which is also something that the organizers got to experience in real life. The conference became far more than just a scientific forum—it also served as a powerful example of how academic networks can mobilize and collaborate in response to an unexpected situation.
On 1 April 2026, EIASM (the European Institute for Advanced Studies in Management), the non-profit organization that had administered IPDMC and several other international research conferences since 1971, filed for bankruptcy. The announcement came as a surprise and meant that a planned in-person event had to be rapidly reconfigured. For the organizers at KTH, the situation meant that an event that had been planned for more than three years suddenly found itself without an administrative structure or financial framework. Within just a few weeks, an entirely new organization and technical infrastructure had to be built from scratch—without a budget—in order for the conference to take place.
The result exceeded expectations. IPDMC 2026 was successfully delivered in a fully digital format, attracting a total of 446 registered participants from around the world. At the same time, more than 140 participants still chose to travel to Stockholm, where they met informally on the KTH campus during the conference days with support from the local organizing team.
Zoom Tracks and a Hybrid Doctoral Workshop
During the two conference days, 14 parallel Zoom tracks hosted research presentations and academic discussions. In addition, a hybrid doctoral workshop was organized in the Innovation Studio at the Department of Machine Design (MMK), with support from the Journal of Product Innovation Management (JPIM).
A real test of ‘Innovation in times of unrest’
The fact that IPDMC 2026 could be held at all is remarkable. That the conference was also successfully delivered demonstrates the strength of the international research community and the collective commitment that exists within academia when circumstances demand it. It also became a tangible illustration of this year’s conference theme: Innovation in Turbulent Times. Behind the conference was the local organizing team at KTH: Jennie Björk, Johan Arekrans, Gunilla Ölundh Sandström, Mats Magnusson, Mats Engwall, Susanne Nilsson, and Sofia Ritzén. Working under intense time pressure and without a regular budget, the team effectively rebuilt the conference from the ground up. The large number of track chairs and Zoom hosts who voluntarily took responsibility for different parts of the conference were also crucial to its success.
