IMP Conference 2027
Business Networks for Uncertain Futures

  • 24-27 August 2027
  • Technical University Delft

TU Delft and The Industrial Marketing and Purchasing Group (IMP) are happy to welcome you to the 43rd IMP Conference in Delft, Netherlands, 24 - 27 August 2027.

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TU Delft and IMP Group welcome you to the 43nd IMP Conference in Delft, Netherlands, 24 – 27 August 2027.
The IMP 2027 conference theme – Business Networks for Uncertain Futures – explores how interaction mechanisms in business networks, like Actors, Resources and Activities (and other aspects), contribute to addressing current societal challenges at large and in specific industries and issues. In addition to regular IMP themes on b2b marketing, we encourage contributions that explore the role of business relationships and networks in advancing the role of B2B sales, market making, resilience, sustainability and the role of procurement. We also welcome processual studies, interdisciplinary approaches, and methodological innovations that extend the scope of IMP research.

About the conference

Delft University of Technology and the Industrial Marketing and Purchasing Group welcome you to the 43nd IMP Conference in Delft, Netherlands, 24 – 27 August 2027.

The IMP 2027 conference theme – Business Networks for Uncertain Futures – explores how interaction mechanisms in business networks, like Actors, Resources and Activities (and other aspects), contribute to addressing current societal challenges at large and in specific industries and issues.

In addition to regular IMP themes on b2b marketing, we encourage contributions that explore the role of business relationships and networks in advancing the role of B2B sales, market making, resilience, sustainability and the role of procurement. We also welcome processual studies, interdisciplinary approaches, and methodological innovations that extend the scope of IMP research.

Key dates

  • November 8th 2026
    Deadline for special tracks
  • November 16th 2026
    Notification on special tracks
  • December 1st 2026
    Extended abstract submission opens
  • January 22nd 2027
    Deadline for Extended Abstract submission
  • February 5th 2027
    Notification of Abstract acceptance incuding special track entry
  • April 16th 2027
    Deadline submission full paper
  • May 15th 2027
    Registration opens
    Early bird period starts
  • May 28th 2027
    Notification of full paper acceptance Including special track/ general conference decision
  • June 30th 2027
    End of Early Bird registration
  • August 24th - 27th 2027
    August 24: Doctoral Colloquium
    August 25 – 27: Main conference

Call for Papers

Polytechnic University of Marche – Department of Management, and The Industrial Marketing and Purchasing Group (IMP) are proud to welcome you to join the IMP Conference 2026 in Ancona, Italy on 01-04 September 2026.

The 42nd Annual IMP Conference invites contributions that examine how interaction and business networks evolve within changing business-to-business contexts, and how actors engage through networked relationships in both local and international settings.

The overarching theme for this edition is: Building a Sustainable World Through Business Relationships and Networks

The conference explores how interactions across networks can enable adaptation, resilience, and innovation in increasingly complex and uncertain environments. Scholars are particularly encouraged to address how relationships evolve in response to societal, technological, and policy changes.

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Special Tracks

We invite proposals for special tracks that align with the overall conference theme and the IMP research tradition.

Please articulate your foregrounding current or strategically important perspectives that you as track chair(s) wish to advance during the conference and probably afterwards when publishing the outcomes is involved.

Submission
Submission through the IMP2027 email: IMP2027@tudelft.nl

What to include (max 500 words + references):

  • Theme/title of the proposed track
  • Co-chairs (names, affiliations, and contact details)
  • Description and justification of the theme
    • aims,
    • relevance to the conference and IMP tradition,
    • anticipated scholarly contribution(s),
    • journal relationship(s) and
    • potential communities of interest
  • Relationship with Journals, Interest groups, PDW’s, special issues if any

Review process: 
Proposals will be assessed during November. We expect to accommodate 2–3 additional special tracks.
Where similar themes are submitted, we either choose one or suggest merging of proposals.

IMP 2026 Doctoral Colloquium

The IMP 2027 Doctoral Colloquium offers a unique forum for in-depth, informal discussions between PhD students working within the IMP tradition and experienced IMP researchers.

Presentations take place in small groups of around four students, with two senior researchers assigned as discussants for each participant. Every student will have 15 minutes to present their work, followed by 30 minutes of in-depth feedback and discussion.

This IMP 2027 Doctoral Colloquium is your opportunity to:

  • Connect with leading scholars in the IMP community
  • Share your research ideas in a supportive, informal environment
  • Gain valuable, constructive feedback to strengthen your PhD journey
  • Build meaningful academic networks that can shape your future career
  • Relate your work to publications in leading journals in our field

 

And the best part?

By registering for the Doctoral Colloquium at a discounted rate, you’ll also receive full access to the main IMP Conference, making this an excellent opportunity to engage with the broader IMP community.

Key Dates

Short proposal submission (max. 1,500 words) 26 February 2027

Once accepted Full proposal (up to 20 pages,) 2 August 2027

 How to Apply

Submit your short proposal to catherine.suttonbrady@sydney.edu.au with cc. to IMP2027@tudelft.nl by 26th February 2027

For information: the full proposals should include the following sections:

  • Abstract
  • Introduction (outlining the project, the research area and research question)
  • Literature /theory
  • Methodology
  • Description of the empirical study (or the planned study)
  • Provisional analysis of the empirical study
  • Discussion & reflection

Hope to see you at IMP 2027 in Delft!
Catherine & Team

 

Program

Download program

Keynotes

“Ezio Marinato”

Head of Innovation Ecosystem Management – Terna SpA

Commitees

Conference chair

Andrea Perna

scientific committee

Enrico Baraldi, Roberta Bocconcelli, Gian Luca Gregori, Antonella La Rocca, Andrea Perna, Alexandra Waluszewski

organizing committee

Alessandro Cinti, Alessandra Cioli, Nicole Lillini, Federica Pascucci, Andrea Sabatini

Venues & Accomodation

The detailed venues program will be announced soon.

Event sessions

September 1-4, 2026

Facoltà di Economia “Giorgio Fuà”
Piazzale Martelli, 8
Ancona (AN)
www.univpm.it
www.econ.univpm.it

Accommodation (Hotels & B&Bs) and Restaurants

Explore a selection of carefully chosen accommodation and dining options for your stay during the IMP Conference 2026. Below, you will find a list of hotels, B&Bs, and restaurants to suit a range of preferences.

Accomodation and restaurants
Restaurant guide

IMP2026 Special Issues

Two Special Issues will be associated with the conference:

Industrial Marketing Management

This Special Issue is exclusive to the conference. A small number of papers presented at IMP 2026 will be invited by the Special Issue Guest Editors to submit to the journal. All invited papers will undergo IMM’s standard peer-review process in accordance with the journal’s guidelines.

Topic:

Building a Sustainable World Through Business Relationships and Networks (Further details will follow.)

Important Note:

When submitting their final 8-page papers via the EasyChair system, conference participants will have the option to select “Consider this paper for a potential Industrial Marketing Management invitation.” Final selections will be made by the Special Issue Guest Editors, based on criteria including relevance to the conference theme.


Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing


A Special Issue in JBIM will also be associated with the conference, which is open to all.

Topic:
Analysing business networks in the age of AI, digital technologies, and new forms of organizing 

Registration & Fees

Full Participant:
€600 (paid before June 30th, 2026)
€700 (paid after June 30th, 2026)

Doctoral colloquium participant:
€320

Accompanying person:
– €320 (paid before June 30th, 2026; subject to accepting or not after June 30th, 2026, based on availability)

Register here

Conference organisers

Department of Management

Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona (Italy)

Email: imp2026@univpm.it

Travel to Ancona

Ancona is located in the Marche region, in central Italy, and is well connected by air, rail, road, and sea.

By plane

 

The nearest airport is Ancona Falconara Airport (AOI), located about 15 km from the city center. The airport offers direct flights to several European destinations.
From the airport, you can reach Ancona by taxi, shuttle bus, or regional train:

By train

 

Ancona Centrale railway station is served by high-speed and regional trains, with frequent connections from major Italian cities such as Rome, Milan, Bologna, and Venice.
The station is close to the city center and conference venues.
It is also possible to consult the official timetable of Ferrovie dello Stato for precise and targeted information.

By car

 

Ancona can be reached via the A14 motorway, which runs along the Adriatic coast and connects the city with northern and southern Italy. Parking options are available in different parts of the city.

By ferry

 

Ancona is also an important port on the Adriatic Sea, with regular ferry connections to Croatia, Greece, and Albania

IMP Group @2026

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