About the Consortium

The WOIC 2025 Doctoral Consortium is a one-day pre-conference event designed to foster academic excellence, community, and career development for doctoral students and early career researchers working in Open Innovation and related disciplines such as Strategy, Innovation Management, and Entrepreneurship.

Held on November 4, 2025, in Bilbao, Spain, the Consortium offers a dynamic program featuring:

  • Mentorship from renowned scholars
  • Paper development workshops
  • Structured networking opportunities
  • Real-world innovation ecosystem exposure


As part of the World Open Innovation Conference (WOIC), the consortium bridges state-of-the-art research and practice in open innovation.

Consortium Chairs

Consortium Chairs:

MaralMahdad-web
Maral Mahdad
Assistant Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Wageningen University and Research, the Netherlands
Nederland, Eindhoven, 26-06-2023 ; Serie portretten van hoogleraren en onderzoekers, tbv van de websites en database.
Netherlands, Eindhoven, 26-06-2023; Portraits of students, scientists, professors of the TU/e.

Photography; Vincent van den Hoogen
Attabik Awan
Researcher in Open & Collaborative Innovation
Eindhoven University of Technology / Tilburg University / the Netherlands
DrDieudonnee Cobben
Dieudonnee Cobben
Assistant Professor of Open Innovation Ecosystems
Assistant Professor, Open Universiteit / Project Leader, Maastricht Municipality
Salar Alizad Poursaeidi
Salar Alizad Poursaeidi
Phd Candidate in Innovation Management
Eindhoven University of Technology

đź’ˇ What Will You Gain?

  • Tailored feedback on your research
  • Mentorship on academic trajectory and publishing
  • Keynotes from global OI experts
  • Networking dinner and social activities
  • Post-conference site visit to Bilbao’s innovation hubs
  • Visibility through the WOIC Social Media Challenge
  • Access to the WOIC community and exclusive events

✨ What’s New in 2025?

  • Need-based scholarships for registration fee support.
  • Networking Reception with roundtables & speed networking
  • Social Media Challenge: Win a copy of The Oxford Handbook of Open Innovation (€150 value)
  • Post-Conference Ecosystem Visit: Explore innovation in action in Bilbao

âś… Eligibility

The consortium is open to:

  • Doctoral students approximately two years or more into their PhD
  • Researchers working on Open Innovation or adjacent topics
  • Candidates who show strong motivation to contribute actively to the community

📝 Application Requirements

Please submit the following by September 11, 2025:

 

  1. PhD paper, extended abstract (max. 2,000 words), or PhD proposal
    (Choose based on your current progress.)
  2. Motivation letter (max 1 page, font size 12)
    Prompt: “Why would you like to participate in the Doctoral Consortium, and what do you hope to gain from the experience (e.g., research development, mentorship, or community building)?”
  3. Short CV (max 2 pages)
  4. (Optional) Statement of financial need*
    If you are applying for a scholarship, please include a short (max. 200 words) explanation of your financial situation (e.g., lack of institutional support, travel costs).

 

*To support broader participation, we are pleased to offer registration fee support for a limited number of applicants who demonstrate financial need. We warmly encourage those who may benefit from this to submit a statement of financial need.

 

Applications must be submitted via this form.

 

Note: Participation requires registration for WOIC 2025.

Important Dates

  • Application deadline: September 11, 2025
  • Notification of acceptance: September 25, 2025
  • Consortium date: November 4, 2025

Testimonials from WOIC 2023

“The WOIC Doctoral Consortium accelerated my growth as an early career researcher. From one-on-one paper feedback to deep discussions on publishing, I left inspired and better equipped to contribute meaningfully to the field.”

Doctoral Student, WOIC 2023

“Mentoring at WOIC was a rich experience. The curiosity and dedication of the participants stood out. I left with new connections, great conversations, and a strong sense of community.”

Consortium Mentor, WOIC 2023

Contact

 

For questions about the doctoral consortium, please contact:
đź“§ dieudonnee.cobben@ou.nl

About us

The World Open Innovation Conference (WOIC) brings theory and practice closer together. We seek the latest in academic research on open innovation, and combine this in our program with challenges faced by industry executives and policymakers who manage open innovation in their organizations.

READ MORE

About us

The World Open Innovation Conference (WOIC) brings theory and practice closer together. We seek the latest in academic research on open innovation, and combine this in our program with challenges faced by industry executives and policymakers who manage open innovation in their organizations.

READ MORE

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