4th EUROPEAN DIGITAL PLATFORM RESEARCH NETWORK (EU-DPRN) SUMMIT
Aalto University, Finland | June 11 & 12, 2026
Local hosts
Kimmo Karhu, Andrey Indukaev (Aalto University), and Mikko Heiskala (Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, Aalto University),
Organizing committee
Joost Rietveld (UCL School of Management), Carmelo Cennamo (Copenhagen Business School), and Panos Constantinides (Manchester University)
The annual European Digital Platform Research Network (EU-DPRN) summit aims to consolidate, integrate, and further develop research on digital platforms and ecosystems. It is meant to provide a forum for European researchers from different disciplinary backgrounds (e.g., strategy, entrepreneurship, marketing, information systems, economics) to share their latest research and deepen their professional networks.
The conference takes place over two days, June 11 & 12, 2026 at Aalto University, Finland.
June 12: At the heart of the EU-DPRN summit is a one-day plenary track comprising paper presentations, developmental feedback, a panel discussion, and a keynote presentation by a leading scholar of digital innovation, Kalle Lyytinen (Case Western Reserve University). The program features a curated set of high-quality papers from a mix of junior and senior faculty. The panel will feature speakers from inside and outside academia, such as experts on platform strategy and technology practitioners. The program affords ample time for socializing, supported by good food, drinks, the Aalto campus, and beautiful Finnish nature.
June 11: The summit further features a one-day doctoral workshop to provide opportunities for PhD students to present their work and receive feedback from senior scholars. The workshop program includes a panel consisting of leading scholars and journal editors.
We welcome full paper submissions in various topics of platform economy, using both quantitative and qualitative approaches or conceptual theorizing. This year we in particular encourage submissions focusing on the role of digital in platform strategy, including the importance of data, the rise of Generative AI, and how they are enabling novel information and innovation platforms to be built.
In general, we welcome contributions that explore a variety of topics, including but not limited to:
- Platform competition and competition within platforms
- Platform strategies and ecosystems in traditional industries
- Platform/ecosystem governance: objectives driving choices and their consequences
- Platform dominance, antitrust, and (data) regulation
- Design and organizing principles of platform markets and ecosystems
- Decentralized and open platforms, and societal perspective
- Heterogeneity and dynamics of network effects
- The role of digital in platform design, governance and orchestration
- Future of digital innovation platforms (data, Generative AI, quantum computing)
Faculty interested in presenting at the main event are invited to submit full-length working papers (~40 pages, Word/PDF). PhD students interested in presenting in the doctoral workshop should follow the same guidelines as the regular paper track submissions. However, we will also consider short(-er) papers for the PhD workshop (~6-10 pages). The deadline for submissions is January 31, 2026. Submissions can be made through this Google Form link.
Papers will be selected based on a review process. Submitting authors will be notified of acceptance or otherwise by March 31, 2026.
Please send any questions or comments to: eudprn@gmail.com.
------------------------------
Joost Rietveld
UCL School of Management
j.rietveld@ucl.ac.uk------------------------------