2027 Annual Conference | Utah
Brigham Young University
Save the Date: May 26–28, 2027
BYU Marriott School of Business | Utah
Join the Industry Studies Association (ISA) for our 2027 annual conference at Brigham Young University in scenic Provo, Utah, May 26–28, 2027. Next year’s gathering builds on ISA’s tradition of advancing deep, context-rich industry research and celebrates the continued influence of industry studies on academic scholarship, managerial practice, and public policy. Founded in 2009 as an extension of the Sloan Foundation’s landmark industry studies programs (1990–2010), ISA remains committed to fostering interdisciplinary insights across a diverse array of sectors.
Get to Know ISA
ISA promotes rigorous, interdisciplinary research that investigates industries in context, examining the organizational, technological, policy, and competitive dynamics that shape them. Our members represent a vibrant mix of academic disciplines, think tanks, industry organizations, and government institutions. Through our annual conference, ISA facilitates collaboration among researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, ensuring that industry studies research continues to illuminate real-world challenges and inform impactful decisions.
Why BYU & Utah
Utah ranks among America’s best-performing state economies, and its Silicon Slopes area has become one of the nation’s fastest-growing innovation hubs, home to leading firms in software, advanced manufacturing, global humanitarian operations, and supply chain solutions. The state is also a national leader in healthcare, life sciences, aerospace, and defense, and has an expanding role in strategic minerals and mining. Behind these industries is one of the youngest, fastest-growing, and most entrepreneurial workforces in the country.
As one of the largest private universities in the country, BYU enrolls more than 35,000 students from 105 countries and hosts top-ranked programs in business and law. Its broad academic offerings and deep industry ties create strong opportunities for attendees to engage with practitioners and experience the intersection of academic research and industry practice. Provo’s striking mountain landscapes, vibrant outdoor culture, and proximity to Salt Lake City also make BYU an appealing destination for both professional engagement and recreation. For attendees looking to extend their stay, the campus sits less than four hours’ drive from Utah’s five celebrated national parks—Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion—placing some of the country’s most dramatic landscapes within easy reach.
Mark Your Calendars
We look forward to welcoming you to a memorable conference where academics, industry leaders, and policymakers come together to shape the future of industry studies.
Registration Opens Soon!
Stay tuned for updates on submissions, session topics, and plenary speakers at www.industrystudies.org.
Conference Highlights
- High-level plenaries featuring leading scholars, policymakers, and industry experts. Planned themes for 2027 include technological disruption and workforce transformation, the evolving geography of innovation, industrial resilience, and ethics in emerging technologies
- Networking and professional development opportunities for PhD students, junior faculty, and senior scholars, including workshops, mentoring sessions, and interactions with leaders across various industries
- Excursions and engagement activities such as visits to tech campuses and incubators within the Silicon Slopes business hub, global humanitarian operations, and world-class mountain resorts
Research Paper Sessions
Research paper sessions present 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 outside of the categories above that contributes to the understanding of industries and their evolution
Industry Studies Association Conference Committee (ISACC)
- Zach Wright, 2027 Conference Chair (Brigham Young University)
- Edward Anderson, 2026 ISA President (University of Texas, Austin)
- John Gray, ISA Past President (Ohio State University)
- Benn Lawson, ISA Non-U.S. Strategy and Programming (Oxford University)
- Darcy Fudge, ISA Membership (California State University, Sacramento)
