The 42nd Annual IMP Conference took place in Ancona, Italy, from 1 to 4 September 2026, hosted by the Department of Management at Università Politecnica delle Marche. Under the theme Building a Sustainable World Through Business Relationships and Networks, the conference brought together the international IMP community for four days of research discussions, knowledge exchange and networking.
This year’s conference featured contributions from over 220 authors representing 24 countries across five continents, reflecting the international reach and diversity of the IMP research community.
The event opened with the Doctoral Colloquium, chaired by Catherine Sutton-Brady, which provided doctoral researchers with an opportunity to present their work and receive feedback from experienced IMP scholars.
The main conference programme included regular and special track sessions addressing a broad range of topics related to business relationships, industrial networks, sustainability and emerging technologies. The Meet the Editors session offered further opportunities for participants to engage with leading academic journal editors and discuss research and publication opportunities.
Alongside the scientific programme, social activities and informal gatherings provided valuable opportunities to reconnect with colleagues, establish new relationships and enjoy Ancona and its surroundings.
A warm thank you to all participants, doctoral researchers, track chairs, reviewers, editors and everyone who contributed to the conference.
We look forward to continuing these conversations and meeting again at future IMP events!
