The ability of firms to innovate is a central component in the processes of gaining and sustaining competitive advantage. Empirical studies demonstrate that innovative firms show higher profits, higher market value, better credit ratings, higher market share and higher probabilities of survival in the market. Innovation, however, does not guarantee competitive success, as the degree to which firms are able to benefit from their innovative efforts varies widely. This conference aims to explore the determinants and consequences of this heterogeneity. Following the two first highly successful conferences held in 2010 and 2012 by Tilburg University, the third conference will be held by Copenhagen Business School.

Please join us for two days of intensive discussion and dialogue in the luxurious atmosphere of the “Skodsborg Kurhotel & Spa” resort, just north of Copenhagen. The conference will take place at the Skodsborg Kurhotel & Spa resort, that also offers ample possibility for accommodation. We encourage all conference participants to stay at the conference venue due to co‐location benefits and scarcity of alternative hotels nearby. The conference will start with a dinner Friday January 17th and end with lunch Sunday January 19th.

We are open to a variety of theoretical perspectives and welcome papers that incorporate various levels that can affect innovation e.g. nations, sectors, networks, clusters, single organizations, business units, teams or individuals—as long as the papers recognize and contribute to the understanding of innovation and entrepreneurship as organizational phenomena. We are looking mainly for papers with a strong empirical component, but strong, forward‐looking theoretical contributions are also welcome.

Central issues for discussion include but are not limited to the following questions:

What organizational capabilities are needed to deploy and govern innovative activities effectively, especially in fast‐changing environments and across great distances?
How does organizational structure affect the learning inputs and outcomes involved in innovation?
What are the costs and benefits of tapping into sources of external knowledge for innovation?
Why are markets for technology not larger, given the level of spending on research and development?
How do institutional forces affect the innovative performance of organizations?
What are the organizational factors affecting survival for high‐tech startups?
Any other contributions pertaining to entrepreneurship, innovation strategy, organization of innovation and organizational learning for innovation are also welcome.

There is no registration fee, and presenting authors will have their accommodation expenses covered.

Keynote speakers

Maryann Feldman (UNC Chapel Hill)
Alfonso Gambardella (Bocconi)
Scott Stern (MIT Sloan School)
Organizing Committee

Jörg Claussen (CBS), Keld Laursen (CBS), Marius Meeus (Tilburg), Niels Noorderhaven (Tilburg) and Valentina Tartari (CBS)

Scientific Committee

Linus Dahlander (ESMT Berlin), Joachim Henkel (TUM), Marco Giarratana (Bocconi), Ajia Leiponen (Cornell), Francesco Lissoni (Bordeaux IV), Stefano Brusoni (ETH Zurich)

Submission process

Please submit a full paper to cruise.ino@cbs.dk by October 20, 2013. The authors of selected papers will be notified by November 15, 2013.