The theme of R&D Management Conference 2026 is “Creativity and resilience in an era of technological disruption” and this has elicited a tremendous response from the community. The current and future impact of AI is one of the threads winding through the tracks.
This year’s conference will explore how creativity and resilience—across individual, organisational, ecosystem, and societal levels—shape our ability to navigate, respond to, and harness technological disruption.
A summary of the tracks is included below but full information along with contact details for the convenors is now available from the conference website.
If you would like to submit a paper, this is done via the ConfTool website
** New deadline February 13th 2026 – deadline for extended abstracts. Acceptance confirmed in April.
May 29th 2026 – deadline for full paper of 2,500 and 4,000 words (where abstract has been confirmed)
For doctorial students attending the conference there is also an opportunity to attend the colloquium, this is free of charge thanks to sponsorship from RADMA.
R&D Management Conference 2026 tracks
To see full details of the tracks – click here
Theme 1. Creative Resilience: designing and reimagining innovation for turbulent times
Theme 2. Business model innovation in a disrupted world
Theme 3. Innovating together: communities, crowds and cross-boundary partnerships
Theme 4. Ecosystems as engines of transformation
Theme 5. Innovation in a fractured world: geopolitics, resource shocks, and resilient R&D strategies
Theme 6. Resilient futures: innovation strategy, management, and policy under disruption
Theme 7. Power and protection: how IP shapes innovation
Theme 8. Open innovation 2.0: people, platforms, and AI
Theme 9. R&D up close: AI, people, and the hidden work of innovation
Theme 10. Bridging research and practice in R&D and innovation management
About the R&D Management Conference
The R&D Management Conference is an international event, which brings together academics, managers and practitioners involved in R&D, technology and innovation management.
It is hosted by the Research and Development Management Association (RADMA) which is an independent charity that supports education, research and innovation in the field of R&D management. RADMA provides a number of grants for post-graduate students including support for a Colloquium at the conference.
It is hosted by a different institution each year and in 2026 it is organised by Manchester Institute of Innovation Research at Alliance Manchester Business School of The University of Manchester.
Find out more and get in touch with the organisers
www.rnd2026.org
[email protected]
