2. Industrial Policy Lab Annual Conference: Industrial Policy in an Age of (Geo)strategic Competition

Across advanced economies, industrial policy has re-emerged as an important topic in economic research and a widely used tool for policymaking. Recent developments - including shifts in global supply chains, geopolitical competition, rapid technological change, and the transition to a low-carbon economy - have renewed interest in the role of industrial policy in fostering innovation, strengthening resilience, supporting competitiveness, and facilitating structural transformation. At the same time, questions surrounding economic security, strategic industries, and critical technologies have become increasingly prominent. Finding effective policy responses to these developments has become a priority for advanced economies. 

We are delighted to welcome Chiara Criscuolo (OECD), Beata Javorcik (EBRD, University of Oxford) and Felix Tintelnot (Duke University).

 The organizing committee invites submissions of empirical and theoretical papers addressing policy-relevant questions, including but not limited to the following topics: 

• Innovation Policies 
• Clean Industrial Policies 
• Industrial Policy Design 
• Measuring and Evaluating Industrial Policy 
• Industrial Policy for Defence 
• Political Economy of Industrial Policies  
• Industrial Policy in Quantitative Models  
• Trade Policy as Industrial Policy  
• Industrial Policy for Global Value Chains 
• Industrial Policy and National Security 
• Decarbonizing Industry 

Both complete papers and extended abstracts will be considered. Every paper will receive dedicated time for presentation and discussion. Authors may submit multiple papers but can present only one paper at the conference. 

How to apply

Please submit your paper or extended abstract via industrialpolicylab@kielinstitut.de by September 20, 2026. Authors will be notified of acceptance by the end of September 2026, with detailed information provided at that time. The conference will begin on the morning of November 30, 2026. 

Download Call for Papers Submit here

Funding

In line with our travel guidelines, the sponsoring institutions can cover accommodation and travel for presenters and discussants. As funding is limited, we would like to ask more senior participants to draw on their own grants where possible.