Dieudonnee Cobben
Co-Chair — Doctoral Consortium | Member — Industry Team
Project Leader — Maastricht Municipality | Assistant Professor — Open Universiteit | the Netherlands
- Kaunas, Lithuania
- 4-5 November 2026
Call for Applications: WOIC 2026 Doctoral Consortium
Application deadline: September 7th, 2026
Acceptance notifications will be sent on on a rolling basis until the end of September 2026.
About the Consortium
The World Open Innovation Conference (WOIC) 2026 Doctoral Consortium is a one-day pre-conference event held in conjunction with the WOIC. It is designed to enrich academic excellence, collaboration, and career development for doctoral students and early career researchers working in Open Innovation and related disciplines such as Strategy, Innovation Management, and Entrepreneurship. Taking place on November 3rd, 2026, in Kaunas, Lithuania, the Doctoral Consortium offers mentorship for scholars, paper development sessions, expert-led research workshops, networking activities, and engagement with local innovation ecosystems.
Consortium Chairs
Consortium Chairs:
Maral Mahdad
Co-Chair — Doctoral Consortium
Assistant Professor — Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands
Attabik Awan
Lead — Digital Solutions | Member — Doctoral Consortium
Researcher — Eindhoven University of Technology & Tilburg University, the Netherlands
Salar Alizad Poursaeidi
Lead — Podcasts | Member — Doctoral Consortium
PhD Candidate — Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands
Farshad Hajiakbari
Member — Doctoral Consortium
PhD Candidate — Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands
Lukas Geryba
Co-Chair — Industry Program | Member — Communications & Digital Solutions Team
Head of Open Innovation Center — Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania
Zineb Benmya
Local Support
Project Coordinator — Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania
đź’ˇ What Will You Gain?
Feedback on your working paper from experienced scholars
Interactive workshops on academic development and publishing
Guidance on research methodologies and scholarly practice
Discussions with an international community of doctoral researchers
Networking with scholars working on related research topics
Access to the broader World Open Innovation Community
Opportunities for future academic collaboration and engagement
What’s New in 2026?
- New full-day Doctoral Consortium format
- Interactive workshops on academic development
- Sessions on publishing strategies and research methodologies
- Small-group discussions with constructive scholarly dialogue
- Developmental feedback on advanced research projects
- Dedicated support for working papers and conference papers
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 in Strategy, Innovation Management, or Entrepreneurship
- Doctoral students with a developed paper or research project
- Candidates seeking focused scholarly feedback on their work
- Researchers motivated to contribute actively to the academic community
Application Requirements
Please submit the following documents by September 7th, 2026:
- An extended abstract (max. 2,000 words) or a full paper that you would like to develop during the consortium;
- A motivation letter (max. 1 A4, font size 12) including your research focus, progress within your current doctoral program, and what you hope to gain from the doctoral consortium;
- A current CV;
*Applications must be submitted via the following link:
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Note: Participation requires registration for WOIC 2026.
Please Note
- Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; therefore, early submission is highly recommended. This is particularly important for applicants requiring a visa, as earlier notification facilitates timely travel arrangements;
- Any applications that do not adhere to the requirements mentioned above are unlikely to be considered for review;
- Participants selected for Doctoral Consortium are required to register for WOIC 2026;
Important Dates
- Application system will open: June 15th, 2026
- Application deadline: September 7th, 2026
- Notification of acceptance: on a rolling basis until the end of September 2026
- Consortium date: November 3rd, 2026
Testimonials from previous DC versions
“Personally, WOIC is more than a place for me to receive valuable research feedback; it is a family-oriented community where scholars gather in the spirit of companionship. As a PhD student, joining the WOIC Doctoral Colloquium is the best doorway to becoming part of this academic family, where mentorships and friendships with professors and fellow PhD students can flourish for years to come.”
Doctoral Student, WOIC 2025
“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
World Open Innovation
Partners
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.
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.
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