final G-Forum 2024 Conference Program
Ecological assessment of the annual G-Forum 2024 conference
The 27th Annual Interdisciplinary Conference on Entrepreneurship, Innovation and SMEs
(G-Forum) will be held in Ingolstadt from September 25th to 27th, 2024. The lead partners of the FGF – Forschungsnetzwerk Entrepreneurship, Innovation und Mittelstand e.V. are the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt (KU) and the Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (THI). The conference presidents are Prof. Dr. Harald Pechlaner, Chair of Tourism and Head of the Center for Entrepreneurship as well as Founding Chair of the School of Transformation and Sustainability at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Daniel Großmann, Department of Engineering Informatics and Data Processing and Vice President for Knowledge and Technology Transfer at TH Ingolstadt.
Keynotes
Renowned keynote speakers will enrich the conference program. This year, Professor Dr. Sandra Rothenberger (Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management – Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) Belgium and Managing Director of the Dr. Helmut Rothenberger Holding GmbH) on the topic “Tradition – Transformation – Innovation: Five practical Insights for transformative Success” and Dr . Martin F. Köhler (Audi AG. Head of Innovation Management, Technical Development Ingolstadt) on the topic “Drive the Future – How can corporates adapt in times of rapid transformation?” will enrich the conference.
Theme
The overarching theme of the G-Forum 2024 in Ingolstadt is:
“Entrepreneurship and Transformation – Future Viability
in Times of Fundamental Change”
There is a lot of talk about crises and changes in the economy, society and politics, but also in the scientific system. In fact, society’s perception of crises is growing due to the increasingly tangible effects of these crises. “Polycrises” is the keyword to illustrate the interconnectedness of various crises and the complex chains of effects. The COVID-19 health crisis is just one, albeit drastic, global crisis which can be associated with environmental and climate crises, but also with shifts in societal values or economic and financial crises. In addition, demographic crises or political crises and, as an example, the energy crisis as a consequence of wars should be mentioned to give an idea of the fact that a significant change has affected various levels of actors, new interfaces are emerging, and assessing the influences and effects is becoming increasingly challenging for decision-makers. Ecological necessities, rapid technological developments and societal upheavals create new framework conditions: Digitalization, currently the disruptive developments related to the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), are causing enormous change processes in living environments, regardless of crises. An exemplary case in this regard is the change in the mobility sector. However, crises also present opportunities for new developments and entrepreneurial opportunities, especially in times of polycrises, even though it becomes more difficult to assess the conditions and speed of changes right. Global crises require specific solutions at international, national and regional level. The awareness of the simultaneity of futures is sharpened. Necessary transformations result from ecological framework conditions and planetary boundaries towards sustainable forms of living and economic activity; desirable transformations are prerequisite for the competitiveness of companies and entrepreneurial networks through proactive action and the development of resilience in terms of future viability. It is not just about the resilience of businesses to crises, but about anticipating developments. Emerging human-technology ecosystems are creating new ways of life and economic activities, and dealing with crises requires correspondingly new approaches and methods.
The following key questions can be identified:
- What consequences do these fundamental processes of change and the associated paradigm shift have for established SMEs as well as new ventures and start-ups?
- And how can successful entrepreneurial action be achieved in turbulent times?
- To what extent can entrepreneurship enable and/or support transformation in the economy, society, and politics?
- What specific role do young companies play when developing transformation competence for innovating products, services and markets?
Below are thematic focal points as a basis for future-oriented and transformation-conscious entrepreneurial action as inspiration for submitting proposals for the G-Forum 2024. The list does not claim to be exhaustive, and further considerations are very welcome:
- Innovation and transformation: business model innovation and social innovation and their interrelationship, digitalization and innovation
- Sustainability, responsibility and transformation: corporate social responsibility, socio-ecological transformation, technological developments and related ethical questions, social sustainability and diversity, female entrepreneurship, “Green Deal” and entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship as a catalyst in the development of sustainable production and consumption patterns
- Networks, ecosystems and transformation: globalization and re-globalization, value and supply chains, digitalization, virtualization and networking, entrepreneurial ecosystems and transformation
- Competencies and skills for transformation: dealing with disruptive developments, risk competence in dealing with uncertainties, relationships between people, methodological and professional skills
Topics
In addition to submissions addressing the guiding theme of the conference, the conference organizers expressly welcome any submission that corresponds to the three main thematic fields of the FGF e.V. These are the topics:
- Entrepreneurship
- Innovation
- SMEs
In this way, the G-Forum will fulfil its role as a central platform for the scientific community to exchange views on the current state of scientific discussion.
Science and practice
To enhance the exchange between science and practice, submissions “from both worlds” are expressly desired. Topic-specific sessions are offered based on submissions from science or practice. There will be two independent review processes to meet the different requirements of submissions from both realms.
Languages
The conference languages are German and English.
Submission types
It is possible to submit full papers (max. 30 pages excluding bibliography, graphics, and tables) to the G-Forum. Authors of full paper submissions will receive a developmental review from members of the G-Forum Review Board and can qualify for a approx. 20-minute presentation plus a 10-minute discussion. However, you can also submit proposals for presentations as an abstract. An abstract should not exceed 1,000 words. Short abstracts will qualify for shorter presentations (10 minutes) or poster presentations.
Please submit your full papers and abstracts as an anonymized pdf document (without author information) by May 10, 2024 (extended submission deadline May 31, 2024) via our G-Forum conference tool.
Guidelines for submission (full paper and abstracts)
Research-and practice-oriented papers can be submitted. Please register as a user of the
G-Forum conference tool. Please do not forget to upload your anonymized submission as a PDF document. Submissions are possible in German or English. Submissions of scientific contributions should ideally be structured as follows:
- Problem definition (research gap / objective)
- Theoretical foundation
- Methodology / empirical research context
- Results
- Implications for entrepreneurship research and practice
Submissions of practical contributions should include a clear starting point, objectives, results, and implications for practice.
Review process
The selection of full papers and abstracts to be presented at the conference will be based on a double-blind review process. Only full paper submissions will receive a developmental review. The G-Forum review board is responsible for the review process. We will inform the authors on the acceptance of their submissions in mid-July 2024.
Awards
On the 27th G-Forum 2024 in Ingolstadt, various Best Research Paper Awards are presented for the following target groups and topics of the FGF:
- KSG Entrepreneurship Research Award 2024
The award, endowed with 4,000 euros and open to topics in the field of entrepreneurship, is supported by the Karl Schlecht Foundation. - Norbert Szyperski Technology and Innovation Management Research Award 2024
The prize, which is endowed with 2,000 euros and is open-topic in the area of technology and innovation management, is supported by the Szyperski Foundation. - Entrepreneurship Research Newcomer-Award 2024
The prize, endowed with 1,000 euros and open to topics in the field of entrepreneurship, is funded by the Stiftung für die Wissenschaft der Sparkassen Finanzgruppe and is explicitly aimed at doctoral candidates, habilitation candidates, and junior professors (lead author or main person responsible). - Family Business and Mittelstand Research Award 2024
The prize, endowed with 1,000 euros and open to topics in the areas of “Family Business” and “Mittelstand”, is supported by the EQUA Foundation.
With a full-paper submission to the G-Forum 2024, participants are automatically registered for one of the possible award nominations. Information about the awards is on our FGF homepage. We also recommend following the news within our German FGF newsletter.
Doctoral Colloquium
On September 25th, 2024, we invite interested doctoral students in the fields of Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Medium-sized companies to a doctoral colloquium. Experienced researchers introduce the following questions and themes:
- How to successfully master a PhD
- How to publish my doctoral research in reputable academic journals
- An introduction to the FGF structured doctoral program class of 2025
Moreover, selected doctoral students will have the opportunity to present their ongoing research projects in a developmental workshop atmosphere and to discuss them with experienced scholars. A proposal should contain a two- to three-page description with the following information:
- Topic
- Research question(s)
- Research design
- Hypothesis (hypotheses) and
- (If available) first results and information about questions for the colloquium.
Please register by email to Ulrich Knaup (knaup@fgf-ev.de) by July 30th, 2024, using the keyword “Doctoral Colloquium 2024”. Participation in the doctoral colloquium is linked to registration for the G-Forum 2024.
Conference Fees
- Members of FGF: € 340, –
- Non-members of FGF including FGF membership*: € 460, –
- Non-members of FGF without FGF membership: € 490, –
(* The participation fee already includes the amount of your FGF membership for 1 year (120,- Euro for 2025). The conditions from the association’s statutes apply.)
The conference fees include participation in all conference sessions, conference materials, and all meals during the conference (coffee and lunch breaks) and participation in the conference dinner
Students
A limited number of students (no doctoral students and no research associates) will be able to participate in the conference for a fee of € 100, -. Applications (informal request, copy of student ID card) must be sent to the email address knaup@fgf-ev.de. The decision will be communicated by email in September.
Overview of important dates
Doctoral Colloquium: September 25th, 2024
Registrations with the subject “Doctoral Colloquium 2024” by July 30th, 2024, by email to knaup@fgf-ev.de
Conference: September 26th – 27th, 2024
Submission of abstracts and full papers before May 10th, 2024 (extended submission deadline May 31, 2024) , via our G-Forum conference tool, notification of acceptance: mid-July 2024
Registration deadline for participants: September 15th, 2024
Accommodation
Hotels near the conference location (Ingolstadt) are available in various price ranges. Please reserve your hotel early (reservation quotas expire in July and August); shortly before the conference it will be very difficult to find free accommodation due to numerous other events in the Ingolstadt area.
We look forward to welcoming you in Ingolstadt!
Contact:
Responsible for the conference program
- Prof. Dr. Matthias Baum
Chair of Entrepreneurship and
Digital Business Models
University of Bayreuth - Prof. Dr. Jörn Block
Chair in Management
University of Trier - Prof. Dr.-Ing. Daniel Großmann
Department of Engineering Informatics and Data Processing as well as Vice President for Knowledge and Technology Transfer
Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (THI) - Prof. Dr. Andreas Kuckertz
Chair in Entrepreneurship
University of Hohenheim - Prof. Dr. Harald Pechlaner
Chair of Tourism and Head of the Center for Entrepreneurship as well as Founding Chair of the School of Transformation and Sustainability
Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
Organizer
Ulrich Knaup
FGF – Forschungsnetzwerk
Entrepreneurship, Innovation und Mittelstand e.V.
Gartenstraße 86
D-47798 Krefeld
Phone: +49 2151 777-508
E-Mail: knaup@fgf-ev.de
Internet
Local organization
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Daniel Großmann
Department of Engineering Informatics and Data Processing as well as Vice President for Knowledge and Technology Transfer
Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (THI)
E-Mail: Daniel.Grossmann@thi.de
Internet
Prof. Dr. Harald Pechlaner
Chair of Tourism and Head of the Center for Entrepreneurship as well as Founding Chair of the School of Transformation and Sustainability
Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
E-Mail: Harald.Pechlaner@ku.deInternet