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Chair of Business Administration, in particular Empirical Management Research and Transformation Prof. Dr. Diemo Urbig

G-Forum 2026 in Cottbus CONFERENCE REPORT

29th Annual Interdisciplinary Conference on Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Mittelstand BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg und Medizinische Universität Lausitz - Carl Thiem (MUL-CT), Cottbus | 16.-18. September 2026

Scientific Significance, International Exchange, Knowledge Transfer, and Regional Impact

1. Conference Profile: Theme, Location, and International Reach

The 29th G-Forum - the Annual Interdisciplinary Conference on Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Mittelstand - took place in Cottbus from September 16 to 18, 2026, marking the first time the conference was held in Lusatia. The conference was organized under the auspices of the FGF (Forschungsnetzwerk Entrepreneurship, Innovation und Mittelstand e.V.) and was jointly hosted in Cottbus by Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) and Medizinische Universität Lausitz - Carl Thiem (MUL-CT), with BTU serving as the lead local partner. The local conference chairs were Prof. Dr. Eckhard Nagel for MUL-CT and Prof. Dr. Diemo Urbig for BTU. A total of 175 participants attended. The joint organization was also reflected in the venues: the Doctoral Colloquium and Post-Doc program on September 16 took place at MUL-CT, while the main conference on September 17 and 18 was held in BTU's Central Lecture Hall building (ZHG).

The G-Forum is the FGF's annual academic conference and an important platform for researcher in entrepreneurship, innovation, and Mittelstand in Germany and central Europe. In 2026, authors affiliated with institutions in 18 countries across six continents contributed to the work presented at the conference. In addition to academic contributions, the program emphasized international exchange, knowledge transfer, career development, and regional networking.

The theme of G-Forum 2026 was "Crossing Boundaries - Interdisciplinary Entrepreneurship between Technology, Health and Society." The conference focused on the intersection of entrepreneurial practice and innovation in healthcare, embedded in the broader FGF pillars of research on entrepreneurship, innovation, and Mittelstand.

The focus on health extended beyond conventional high-tech start-ups. Discussions addressed, among other topics, the transformation of healthcare systems, the transfer of innovations into practice, entrepreneurial competencies in medical and nursing contexts, and the specific conditions of a highly regulated healthcare sector.

The location gave these questions particular relevance. Lusatia is undergoing profound structural transformation, while the newly established MUL-CT connects research, medical care, and the transformation of the healthcare system. Together, MUL-CT and BTU provided a setting in which technological innovation, digitalization, healthcare, and entrepreneurship were not only discussed but were also part of ongoing regional transformation processes.

2. Academic Quality and Awards

Review Process and Proceedings

G-Forum 2026 combined thematic breadth with a formal academic review structure. Scientific full-paper submissions underwent a double-blind review process and also received a developmental review. Abstracts and practice-oriented contributions, as well as the various scientific poster presentations, went through an internal review process by the Conference Board. In this way, the conference combined academic research with contributions focused on implementation and practice. Abstracts of full papers, abstract-only submissions, practice papers, and posters are intended for inclusion in the new edition of the FGF Conference Proceedings, provided the authors have given their consent, thereby providing an additional record of the scientific results presented at the conference. An extensive awards program recognized particularly outstanding work among the full-paper submissions in the research fields represented by the FGF.

Awards

Five awards were presented at the Conference Dinner. They recognized research in entrepreneurship, early-career research, family business and Mittelstand research, technology and innovation management, and outstanding research at the master's level.

The supporting institutions and award amounts are listed in the following overview.

AwardAwardeesAward-Winning ContributionSupport
KSG Entrepreneurship Research Award 2026Jana Riemann; Dr. Carolin Krieweth; Prof. Dr. Malte BrettelTechnology hype and new venture funding: The role of collective expectations and location in entrepreneurial hubsKarl Schlecht Stiftung (KSG) | EUR 4,000
Entrepreneurship Research Newcomer Award 2026Anika ThurowThe Lone(ly) Wolf: How Loneliness in Entrepreneurs Relates to Exploration and Exploitation Behaviors - The Role of Need MotivationStiftung für die Wissenschaft der Sparkassen Finanzgruppe | EUR 1,000
Family Business and Mittelstand Research Award 2026David Sauer; Prof. Dr. Nadine Kammerlander; Prof. Dr. Andreas Hack; Dr. Fergus Neville; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Niklas K. SteffensThe "Dark Side" of Identification in Family Firms: How Identification Fosters Unethical Pro-Organizational BehaviorEQUA-Stiftung | EUR 1,000
Norbert Szyperski Technologie- und Innovationsmanagement Award 2026Prof. Dr. Michael Mödl; Marcos BalmacedaPlatform Certification as a Substitute for Reputation: Effects of Mandatory AI DisclosureSzyperski Stiftung | EUR 2,000
Student Award 2026Käthe WalzPatterns and Dynamics of Entrepreneurial Fraud: A Qualitative Analysis of SEC ComplaintsBTU Gründungsservice and Chair of Business Administration, in particular Planning, Innovation and Start-ups | EUR 1,500 to support G-Forum participation for all three nominated authors

This academic breadth was also reflected in the international keynotes and the central debates of the main conference program.

3. International Keynotes and Academic Debate

International Keynotes

The opening plenary featured two international keynote speakers whose profiles closely matched the conference theme. Prof. Phillip H. Phan of Johns Hopkins University works at the intersection of strategy, entrepreneurship, technological innovation, and healthcare. His keynote, "Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Health Services in the Age of Artificial Intelligence," directly connected these perspectives.

Phillip H. Phan's involvement extended beyond the plenary. He participated in the Publishing Panel and was available during the Post-Doc Workshop for individual one-to-one conversations on research profiles and career development.

Prof. Dr. Ole Petter Ottersen brought a complementary profile as a physician, neuroscientist, and experienced university leader. He previously served as president of Karolinska Institutet and rector of the University of Oslo. His keynote, "Beyond Publications: How Universities Transform Health through Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Strategic Partnerships," addressed the role of universities in translating research into institutional, clinical, and societal impact, with a particular emphasis on prevention.

Additional keynote contributions came from Christian Lüdtke of the Bryck Startup Alliance, who delivered "Entrepreneurship is Champions League" during the joint program of the FGF Doctoral Colloquium and Post-Doc Workshop, and from Tobias Dünow, State Secretary for Science, Research and Culture of the State of Brandenburg, during the Conference Dinner.

Tobias Dünow emphasized connections between research, entrepreneurship, and application, as well as the development of an innovation ecosystem in Lusatia. During the Conference Dinner, he also engaged in in-depth conversations with researchers to gather ideas and perspectives for the further development of entrepreneurship and innovation in Brandenburg.

Publishing-Panel

The first major panel, "Successfully Publishing at the Intersection of Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Healthcare Systems, and Medicine," featured Brian S. Anderson (University of Kansas), Jörn Block (Trier University), Carina Lomberg (DTU, Denmark), Ole Petter Ottersen (MUL-CT), and Phillip H. Phan (Johns Hopkins University). The panel was chaired by Prof. Matthias Baum (University of Bayreuth), President of the FGF.

The panelists brought together expertise in strategic entrepreneurship, research methods, innovation management, psychology, medicine, and health innovation. The central question was how interdisciplinary research can be positioned convincingly and published within publication structures that remain strongly organized along disciplinary lines.

4. Knowledge Transfer, Practice, and Regional Networking

Practice Panel

The second panel focused on "Erfolgreicher Transfer von Entrepreneurship- und Innovationsforschung in die Praxis: Ökosysteme, Wissenstransfer und gesellschaftlicher Impact" (successful transfer of entrepreneurship and innovation research into practice). Panelists were Julia Backhaus (MUL-CT), Jannis Gilde (Startup Verband), Dr. Natalia Gorynia-Pfeffer (RKW Kompetenzzentrum), Christoph Krüger (JUNI, Berlin-Brandenburg Startup Factory), Dr. Francesco Pisani (Deloitte), Dr. Steffen Preissler (Fraunhofer ISI), and Dr. Markus Schwenke (Lausitz Science Park / Gründungsökosystem Lausitz).

Prof. Dr. Christine Volkmann (Bergische Universität Wuppertal / Jackstädtzentrum für Unternehmertums- und Innovationsforschung) chaired the panel. Dr. Markus Schwenke opened the session with an impulse from the work of the Lausitz Science Park and the regional start-up ecosystem. The combination of research and ecosystem perspectives connected academic knowledge with transfer, business practice, healthcare, and regional innovation policy.

The conference foyer also made the exchange between academia, publishing practice, and the regional innovation ecosystem visible. Springer and Nomos presented their publishing programs, while the Lausitz Science Park showcased its activities and the development of the regional innovation ecosystem. The stands were located directly by the coffee and cake stations outside the session rooms and were therefore integrated into participants' informal exchange during breaks.

STAR*PARADE and the Regional Start-Up Ecosystem

Parallel to the main conference, the STAR*PARADE Pitch Day in the "Health" category, organized by MUL-CT, took place on September 17, 2026, in the immediate vicinity of BTU.

The health pitches were streamed live to the conference foyer. This brought the academic discussion of entrepreneurship and innovation into direct contact with concrete entrepreneurial ideas from the regional ecosystem.

Alongside transfer and application, G-Forum also placed strong emphasis on the development of entrepreneurial competencies, academic careers, and empirical research.

5. Entrepreneurship Education, Career Development, and Research Infrastructure

At the same time, the FGF expanded its career-development offerings. In addition to the established FGF Doctoral Colloquium, a dedicated Post-Doc Workshop was held for the first time. The new Student Award 2026 for master's theses was also introduced. Together, these formats addressed several stages of academic development.

FGF Doctoral Colloquium

The FGF Doctoral Colloquium provided doctoral researchers with a dedicated setting for discussing ongoing projects with established scholars. The joint opening by Prof. Dr. Eckhard Nagel, Prof. Dr. Matthias Baum, Prof. Dr. Christoph Stöckmann, and Prof. Dr. Diemo Urbig connected MUL-CT, FGF, and BTU.

The program included sessions on FGF meets health / MUL-CT, AI, Evaluation & Innovation, Representation & Narratives, Decisions & Communication, and Innovation, Platforms & Borders. The focus was on developing ongoing research through exchange with experienced scholars.

Post-Doc Workshop

A new element in 2026 was the first dedicated FGF Post-Doc Workshop. It addressed career paths and profile development, international collaboration, applications and academic positioning, careers at universities of applied sciences, and strategies for the postdoctoral phase.

International perspectives were provided by, among others, Prof. Brian Anderson of the University of Kansas and researchers from Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands.

A particularly important element was the opportunity for individual conversations with experienced researchers. Participants indicated their preferences and could receive two one-to-one conversations of 25 minutes each.

The available Senior Scholars included Professors Brian Anderson, Matthias Baum, Jörn Block, Julia Kensbock, Andreas Kuckertz, Nils Högsdal, Phillip H. Phan, Philip Steinberg, and Christoph Stöckmann.

The format enabled concrete conversations about research development, publication strategy, international positioning, career decisions, and potential collaborations, directly embedding the international dimension of the conference in mentoring.

Entrepreneurship Education and Innovative Pedagogy

Entrepreneurship Education was represented in the program through both academic and practice-oriented formats. Stefanie Schiemenz addressed early Entrepreneurship Education in "Gründung und Nachfolge gehören in die Grundschule." Additional contributions examined the co-creation of international curricula and the influence of entrepreneurial stereotypes on perceived fit. A poster on the iCCiEE project added an intercultural perspective. Particularly practice-oriented was Janina Rüger-Aamot's workshop "PraxisLab Rollenspiel," in which participants experienced leadership and succession situations in a fictitious family business, made decisions under uncertainty, and reflected on their actions. The spectrum therefore ranged from early education and curriculum development to experiential learning formats.

ZEW Workshop: Access to Research Infrastructure

Another very well received component was the ZEW workshop led by Elisa Rodepeter, "The IAB/ZEW start-up panel: a hands-on introduction for applied researchers."

The session introduced the IAB/ZEW start-up panel, a representative longitudinal dataset on newly founded firms in Germany collected since 2008. It covered the dataset's design, sampling structure, questionnaires, core variables, research opportunities, and data access. Its hands-on character also helped participants assess the dataset's relevance for their own research and its suitability for empirical projects.

The workshop was very positively received and also attracted interest from international guests, including Prof. Phillip H. Phan. It added an immediately usable point of access to high-quality research infrastructure.

6. FGF Working Groups and Research Community

Several FGF working groups also met during this year's G-Forum to exchange ideas on current research topics. These included the FGF Working Group on Family Business, led by Prof. Andreas Hack (University of Bern), and the FGF Working Group: Inclusive Entrepreneurship, led by Prof. Simone Chlosta (FOM University of Applied Sciences). In addition, Prof. Hannes Thees (Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt) and Dr. Florian Täube (RKW Kompetenzzentrum) invited participants to establish the new FGF Working Group Entrepreneurship Transfer, Policy & Practice (ETPP). In the related workshop, potential research topics and forms of collaboration were discussed based on contributions from Prof. Jörn Block (Trier University), Dr. Armgard Wippler (BMWE), Jannis Gilde (Startup Verband), and Philipp Flauger (MYCO). This created a structure through which questions of entrepreneurship transfer, public policy, ecosystem development, and practical implementation can continue to be addressed beyond the conference.

In addition to these formal research and development formats, informal encounters were also an important part of the conference.

7. Informal Exchange and Conference Culture

Get Together on Wednesday

On the evening of September 16, a joint Get Together was held at Strandpromenade/Almhütte Cottbus for participants in the FGF Doctoral Colloquium, the Post-Doc Workshop, and the main conference. Financial support from MUL-CT made it possible to provide a buffet at no additional cost and created an informal setting for early exchange among doctoral researchers, postdocs, Senior Scholars, international guests, and other conference participants.

Conference Dinner

The Conference Dinner on September 17 took place at the Alte Chemiefabrik in Cottbus. The venue reflects Cottbus' industrial history: the historic building complex originated in the context of the city's textile industry and was later used by the Chemische Werke Cottbus. The Alte Chemiefabrik therefore provided a fitting regional-historical setting for a conference that also addressed transformation and structural change. The evening combined the official program, a keynote by Tobias Dünow, State Secretary for Science, Research and Culture of the State of Brandenburg, and the presentation of the scientific awards and the Student Award with a distinctly convivial atmosphere. Excellent food, in-depth personal conversations, and a celebration during which many participants danced until midnight made the Conference Dinner a social highlight of the conference.

The variety of academic, transfer-oriented, and social formats was made possible only through broad institutional and personal support.

8. Organization and Support

The implementation of G-Forum 2026 relied on broad institutional and personal support. MUL-CT, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, and the Lausitz Science Park made substantial financial and organizational contributions. BTU's Knowledge and Technology Transfer unit provided essential support for implementation. Special recognition is due to Katrin Erb for her organizational commitment to planning and implementation on the BTU side.

In addition, numerous colleagues, researchers, and students contributed to the practical implementation of the conference. Overall, the support structure extended well beyond the academic program committee and connected BTU, MUL-CT, Lausitz Science Park, Knowledge and Technology Transfer, entrepreneurship infrastructure, and the FGF.

9. Overall Significance of G-Forum 2026 in Cottbus

Overall, G-Forum 2026 combined academic quality, international expertise, interdisciplinarity, career development, practice orientation, and regional embeddedness. Keynotes, panels, and award-winning contributions demonstrated the thematic breadth of entrepreneurship, innovation, health, and Mittelstand research.

Beyond traditional conference formats, the FGF Doctoral Colloquium, the first Post-Doc Workshop, Entrepreneurship Education, the FGF working groups, and the ZEW Workshop provided concrete opportunities for development and learning.

The practice-oriented discussions, the STAR*PARADE in the conference foyer, and the exchange with State Secretary for Science, Research and Culture Tobias Dünow directly connected the academic community with regional entrepreneurship, knowledge transfer, and science policy.

For Cottbus and Lusatia, the particular significance of the conference lay in bringing a national and international research community to a region in which structural transformation, new university structures, health innovation, entrepreneurship, and ecosystem development are advancing simultaneously. The distinctive value of G-Forum therefore lay in the density of connections across disciplines, career stages, academia, practice, policy, and regional transformation.