ESU conferences

Leuphana University Lüneburg

7.-11. September 2026

We are delighted to announce the ESU 2026 Conference and Doctoral Program, which will take place at Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Germany, from September 7 to 11, 2026.

ESU Concept

The aim of ESU is to strengthen European research and networks in entrepreneurship by focusing on both academic sessions and the culture as well as heritage that the host country and region have to offer.

ESU also provides a friendly environment for young scholars to interact and bond within the research community, and to learn essential skills for their future careers. At ESU, supervisors, researchers, and doctoral students from international institutions active in entrepreneurship research and education come together to share experiences and build new international networks in a supportive environment.

The ESU Doctoral Program is organized in the following format:

1. Plenary sessions on specific topics with keynote speakers who will inspire and invite critical reflection on a variety of issues related to entrepreneurship. The topics typically include entrepreneurship, innovative methodologies, the publication and review process, and career paths in academia and beyond your PhD in entrepreneurship.
2. Group discussions and presentations, where you will have the opportunity to present your work in your group, discuss the work of your peers, and receive feedback from experienced scholars.

There will be three groups for the doctoral program:

• Early-Stage Group: Students in this group have not started their doctoral studies or are in their first year. They present their research proposals.
• Work in Progress Group: Students in this group are in the middle of their PhD studies and will present their early-stage research.
• Writing-up Group: Students in this group are in the final stages of their PhD research and will present papers based on their dissertation results.

Participating in the ESU Doctoral Program and completing all its tasks earns you up to 6 ECTS. The detailed description of the tasks is described here: ESU2026 Grading System!

The Conference Day

In addition to the Doctoral Program, the ESU Conference offers regular conference tracks open to all attendees. All presentations will take place on the Conference Day, Wednesday 9^th September 2026. In particular, we invite the following scholars to send their papers:

• Postdocs (holding a postdoctoral position). They are invited to present their own work and act as speakers in the conference sessions. They can also be invited to act as junior coaches for PhD students and have some dedicated group presentations.
• Experienced academics (Professors/Lecturers) are invited to present their own paper in the conference sessions. They can be invited as senior coaches for PhD students in group sessions and, in some cases, serve as keynote speakers in plenary sessions.

Submission

Submission Information

Important Dates

1^st May 2026: Deadline for submission of abstracts

31^st July 2026: Deadline for submission of full papers

31^st July 2026: Deadline for early registration (see registration information in the corresponding section)

15^th August 2026: Registration closes

Submission of abstracts

For both the PhD Program and the Conference: 500-word abstract, single spacing, Times New Roman 12pt, first capital letters in title, no more than ten words in title, brief reference list. Since all abstracts are reviewed using a double-blind review process, it is mandatory that no names or contact details appear in the text (other than in the appropriate fields of the template).

A template of the abstract is available here: Abstract-TemplateESU2026

Please email your abstract to: esu@leuphana.de

Submission of full papers

A template of the full paper is available here: PaperTemplate-ESU2026

Please send your paper by email to: esu@leuphana.de

The length limit for the paper varies depending on the nature of your submission (Please specify what kind of paper you submit):

PhD Program:

• A research proposal includes the main scope of the study, and the discussion should focus on the purpose, aim, potential research question, and methodological choices. A full version of the research proposal should not exceed 2,500 words.
• Developmental papers (research papers that are still in the early phase): a paper that is still only consisting of a research question and a theoretical framework, or a paper that has started on the analysis but has not yet been completed. The maximum limit of an extended version of a work in progress should not exceed 4,000 words.
• Results paper (papers at the end of the PhD process): consists of a presentation and discussion of the study’s results, along with a concluding analysis. The maximum limit of an extended version of the results paper should not exceed 5,000 words.

Conference Day:

• Full paper: a research paper ready for submission to a journal or equivalent. These papers will be presented at the Conference Day on Wednesday, 9 September 2026 (7,000 words).

Registration and Accommodation

Registration

To be published

Accommodation suggestions

• Altes Kaufhaus
• B&B
• Best Western
• Salzquartier
• Seminaris

Local Organizing Committee

	Prof. Dr. Markus ReihlenSpeaker Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship		Robert HoyerESU Conference Coordinator
	Prof. Dr. Boukje CnossenEntrepreneurship, Organization, and Culture		Prof. Dr. Paul DrewsDean of the School of Management and Technology Information Systems
	Prof. Dr. Steffen FarnySocial and Sustainable Entrepreneurship		Prof. Dr. Michael FresePsychology, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation
	Prof. Dr. Michael GielnikEntrepreneurship and Psychology		Prof. Dr. Stefanie HabersangDigital Transformation
	Prof. Dr. Pauline ReineckeStrategic Entrepreneurship		Prof. Dr. Henning SchröderEntrepreneurial Finance
	Prof. Dr. Reinhard SchulteNew Venture Management		Prof. Dr. Elke SchüsslerEntrepreneurship and Organization