CALL FOR PAPERS
Conference on Public Policies for Innovation
Hosted by the London Business School Campus
19-20 March 2026
Submission Deadline: Sunday 30 November 2025 (23:59 CET / 22:59 GMT)
London Business School, the Duke University Fuqua School of Business, and the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) invite submissions for a conference on Public Policies for Innovation at London Business School on 19-20 March 2026.
The goal of this conference is to advance research bridging the micro- and macroeconomic divide in economic studies of innovation and innovation policy. We aim to connect scholars of innovation in both micro- and macroeconomic traditions to each other’s work and explore how microeconomic evidence can inform macro research and models and vice versa. Participants will include microeconomists working with patent-, publication-, and firm-level data, macroeconomists studying the effects of innovation on aggregate TFP and GDP, applied theorists, and policymakers.
Confirmed participants include Philippe Aghion (Collège de France, INSEAD, London School of Economics, and CEPR), Stefanie Stantcheva (Harvard University, CEPR, and NBER) and John Van Reenen (London School of Economics, CEPR, and NBER). The conference will feature a policy panel discussing how government budget forecasters bridge the micro-macro divide led by Heidi Williams (Dartmouth College and NBER) featuring Richard Hughes (UK Office for Budget Responsibility), Doug Elmendorf (Harvard University and NBER), Devrim Demirel (US Congressional Budget Office), and Kent Smetters (University of Pennsylvania and NBER).
With this call for papers, we are soliciting completed research papers on the economic drivers of innovation and economic effects of innovation policy. We will prioritize research of an applied nature and with policy relevance, aiming to build a balanced agenda of micro- and macroeconomic research. The submission deadline is 30 November 2025. We will inform authors of a decision by 20 December. Only completed research papers will be considered for inclusion in the programme.
Schedule and Funding:
The conference will begin on Thursday 19 March at 9:00 GMT and end in the afternoon of Friday 20 March, allowing sufficient time for evening travel arrangements. Travel in economy class and up to three nights’ accommodation at the nearby Danubius Hotel will be provided to speakers. Conference dinner will take place at London Business School campus on the evening of March 19th.
Organisers:
Paolo Surico (London Business School and CEPR)
Daniel P. Gross (Duke University and NBER)
This conference is generously supported by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), London Business School, and Duke University Fuqua School of Business.
How to Apply
Authors who already have a CEPR HUB profile can upload their submission by:
Going to https://hub.cepr.org/ and logging in
After you have logged in, go to https://hub.cepr.org/event/4938
Click on "Step 1: Apply"
Under "Apply to Attend" click "Yes"
Tick the boxes that apply to you
Tick "Would you like to submit a paper?", upload your paper and supply the requested information.
Click "Submit form" to make the submission.
Authors who do not have a CEPR HUB profile can upload their submission by:
Creating a new profile here https://hub.cepr.org/user/register
After you have logged in, go to https://hub.cepr.org/event/4938
Click on "Step 1: Apply"
Under "Apply to Attend" click "Yes"
Tick the boxes that apply to you
Tick "Would you like to submit a paper?", upload your paper and supply the requested information.
Click "Submit form" to make the submission.
This conference is by invitation only. If you wish to attend without presenting, please register your interest to attend without submitting a paper on the submission website at: https://hub.cepr.org/event/4938 please include a brief description of your research and connection to the conference’s theme.
The deadline for submissions is Sunday 30 November 2025 (23:59 CET / 22:59 GMT). We cannot accept submissions received after this date.
If you have any difficulties submitting your paper, please contact Jemila Benchikh, CEPR Events Officer at jbenchikh@cepr.org.