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"Industry, Innovation, and Policy in Uncertain Times"
Save the Date: ISA 2026 Conference
June 3-5, 2026 | Washington, D.C.
Join the Industry Studies Association (ISA) for our 2026 annual conference in central Washington, D.C. from June 3-5, 2026. Next year’s conference celebrates the profound impact that industry studies research continues to have on both academic scholarship and public policy. The ISA was established in 2009 as an offshoot of the Sloan Foundation’s influential industry studies research in vehicle, banking, construction, and semiconductor industries, among others (1990-2010).
Get to Know ISA:
ISA promotes interdisciplinary research that delves deeply into the context of industries, addressing phenomena and issues that are critical to both managerial practice and public policy. Our members come from a diverse range of academic disciplines, think tanks, government agencies, and industry sectors, creating a vibrant community focused on bridging research and real-world applications. Through our annual conference, ISA fosters collaboration among scholars, policymakers, and industry practitioners, driving impactful insights into the challenges and opportunities facing modern industries.
Why D.C.?
Washington, D.C., the nation’s capital and a global center of policy, governance, and strategic decision-making, offers an unparalleled backdrop for next year’s conference. We will be in the heart of D.C.’s thriving ecosystem of think tanks, government agencies, and international organizations. The city’s unique concentration of policy expertise, regulatory institutions, and global headquarters creates an ideal environment for examining industry dynamics and their intersection with public policy.
From the policy-driven research culture to world-class governmental and non-governmental institutions and innovative public-private partnerships, this region embodies the spirit of interdisciplinary collaboration between industry, academia, and government that ISA is proud to champion.
Conference Highlights:
High-level plenaries featuring leading researchers, policymakers, and practitioners. For example, our 2025 conference plenary topics were “Digitalization, Platforms, and Ecosystems”, The New Lunar Society” Book Talk & Fireside Chat, and “Industry Evolution”. For 2026, planned topics include decision-making under uncertainty, industrial policy, and sustainable innovation.
Research paper sessions presenting cutting-edge findings across several key streams:
• Sustainable Innovation, Energy, and Mobility: Explore sustainability challenges in energy, the future of mobility (including electric vehicles), and industrial decarbonization
• Health Systems, Biotechnology, and Pharmaceuticals: Present research on healthcare systems, biotechnology, and the evolving pharmaceutical landscape
• Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and AI-Driven Transformation: Examine how AI and digital technologies are reshaping innovation ecosystems and entrepreneurship
• Public Policy and Global Competitiveness: Investigate the role of public policy in shaping industrial competitiveness, market structures, and firm strategies
• Labor Markets, Organizations, and the Future of Work: Discuss labor relations, organizational structures, and the evolving nature of work
• Operations, Supply Chain, and AI-Enhanced Industry 4.0: Delve into the technological innovations driving efficiency and transformation in supply chains and operations
• General Industry Studies: A flexible stream for high-quality research that doesn’t fit into the above categories but contributes to the understanding of industries and their evolution
Networking and professional development opportunities for PhD students, junior faculty, and senior scholars, including workshops, tours of D.C., and excursions to local think tanks to engage with experts who have served in a variety of government roles in prior administrations.
Mark Your Calendars:
We look forward to hosting a memorable conference where academics, industry leaders, and policymakers come together to shape the future of industry studies and public policy.
Registration Opens Soon!
Stay tuned for updates on submission deadlines, session topics, and plenary speakers via our website www.industrystudies.org.
Washington, D.C. Awaits:
With its historic significance, world-class policy institutions, and position as the global capital of governance and international affairs, this promises to be a landmark event for the ISA community. Don’t miss it!
Industry Studies Association Conference Committee (ISACC):
• John Paul Helveston, 2026 Conference Chair (George Washington University)
• John Gray, 2025 ISA President (Ohio State University)
• Ed Anderson, 2025 ISA Vice President (University of Texas, Austin)
• David M. Hart, 2025 ISACC (George Mason University)
• Andrew Reamer, ISA Industrial Policy (George Washington University)
• Benn Lawson, ISA Non-U.S. Strategy and Programming (Oxford University)
• Allison Forbes, 2025 ISACC (Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness)
• Monica Gorman, ISA Industrial Policy (Crowell Global Advisors)
• Jeff Furman, 2025 Early Career Development Committee Chair (Boston University)
• Zach Wright, 2027 Conference Chair (Brigham Young University)
The Microsoft CMT service was used for managing the peer-reviewing process for this conference. This service was provided for free by Microsoft and they bore all expenses, including costs for Azure cloud services as well as for software development and support.
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