SMS opens submissions for the 46th Annual Conference in Berlin

Submissions are now open for the 46th Annual Conference of the Strategic Management Society (SMS), which will take place from October 17th to 20th, 2026, in Berlin, Germany. The deadline for paper submissions is February 18th, 2026. 

Under the theme “Strategy in a Fragmented Geo Economic Landscape: Bridging Divides Across Markets, Institutions, and Technology”, the conference proposes a discussion on transformations in the global strategic landscape. The event is grounded in the context of the weakening of the post–Cold War consensus around open markets and global interdependence, marked by the consolidation of geopolitical blocs, regulatory divergence, and the rise of economic nationalism. 

The program addresses how economic instruments, such as sanctions, export controls, tariffs, and industrial policies, have increasingly been used as tools of geopolitical power. It also discusses the impacts of digital transformation and the fragmentation of innovation ecosystems, considering the uneven diffusion of new technologies, the challenges of data governance, and the centrality of digital infrastructures. 

The conference further reflects on the challenges faced by firms operating in environments shaped by different political systems, security interests, and institutional logics. In this context, building bridges across markets, institutions, and technologies becomes a central element of organizational strategies. 

Berlin was chosen as the host city due to its historical symbolism and its concentration of diverse economic, institutional, and technological actors, offering a suitable setting for reflection on contemporary strategic challenges. 

For more information, please visit the official conference website.