Research Impact Conference

Advancing meaningful research impact requires more than individual institutional efforts - it depends on a broader ecosystem that shapes incentives and expectations in academia. Accreditation bodies, ranking organizations, disciplinary societies, journals, and funding agencies all influence how research excellence is defined and rewarded. This session will explore how these systems collectively shape the research landscape and examine whether current systems enable, or unintentionally constrain, impactful research. Panelists will discuss opportunities for greater alignment across these stakeholders and consider how they might work together, and sometimes differently, to better support research that delivers meaningful contributions to business, policy, and society.

Enjoy refreshments while connecting with colleagues and peers. Take this opportunity to visit the Exhibitor Showcase and discover new ideas and partnerships.

How can business schools better support faculty in translating research into insights that influence practice and policy? While impactful research often begins with strong academic foundations, the pathways through which it reaches practitioners are often less clear. This session explores how schools can strengthen the dissemination and translation of research, including new models for engaging external stakeholders. Speakers will examine different approaches to cultivating, translating, and disseminating research to external stakeholders so that it can most effectively enhance its real-world impact.

Enjoy refreshments while connecting with colleagues and peers. Take this opportunity to visit the Exhibitor Showcase and discover new ideas and partnerships.

Achieving meaningful research impact requires more than new metrics, it demands institutional leadership and cultural change. This session highlights business schools that are experimenting with new approaches to promotion and tenure systems, faculty incentives, and research support structures to better align research excellence with societal and practice impact.

Make the most of your midday break with a convenient grab and go lunch. Whether you are catching up with colleagues or taking a quiet moment to recharge, feel free to take your lunch and enjoy it wherever you feel most comfortable.

Artificial intelligence is beginning to transform how research is conducted, reviewed, and disseminated. From AI-assisted literature reviews and automated analysis to rapidly increasing publication volumes, new tools are accelerating the pace of knowledge production. But this shift raises critical questions about research quality, credibility, and the future role of scholars. How will AI reshape academic publishing, research productivity, and the way knowledge is discovered and evaluated? And if AI dramatically increases the volume of research output, how will the academic system distinguish meaningful contributions from noise? This session explores how organizations are responding to these emerging challenges and opportunities.

Enjoy refreshments while connecting with colleagues and peers. Take this opportunity to visit the Exhibitor Showcase and discover new ideas and partnerships.

Business schools produce thousands of research articles each year, yet only a small fraction shape policy decisions, organizational strategy, or leadership practice. What enables some research to influence real-world decision-making while other insights remain within academia? This session explores the pathways through which management research informs policy and practice, including within universities themselves. Speakers will share examples of research that has shaped decisions and discuss the mechanisms that help translate academic insights into action, from policy engagement and advisory roles to thought leadership and practitioner collaboration.