B2B Connect Research Symposium: Advancing B2B Research Together

May 2025 - EMAC 2025 conference, Madrid, Spain

The 2nd B2B Connect Research Symposium, cohosted by the American Marketing Association (AMA) Interorganizational Special Interest Group (IOSIG), the European Marketing Academy (EMAC) B2B Marketing Special Interest Group, and the Australian & New Zealand Marketing Academy (ANZMAC) B2B Marketing Special Interest Group, will be held in May 2025 at the EMAC Conference in Madrid, Spain. 

Building on the remarkable success of our inaugural symposium in 2023, which brought together 83 B2B scholars from 66 universities and 26 countries in Odense, Denmark, we are committed to fostering a vibrant and collaborative platform for advancing B2B research. (Symposium 2023)

For the 2025 symposium, we are delighted to offer an opportunity for collaboration with one of the six research groups led by distinguished B2B thought leaders:

If you're interested in joining one of these groups, we encourage you to apply promptly by completing the survey. Selected participants will work closely (virtually) with your group to develop a research idea in the lead-up to the B2B Connect Symposium. Each group will then present its project at the B2B Connect Symposium, which will be held at EMAC in Madrid in May 2025. 

For those who are eager to participate but do not see a research topic or group that aligns with your specific interests, we invite you to indicate this on the survey. In addition to the core six working groups, Group VII: The Collaborative Catalyst Group will offer a unique open-forum format, fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration and unstructured idea exchange. This is an exciting opportunity to explore novel concepts outside predefined themes. 

Due to the competitive nature and limited availability, participants will be carefully selected based on their research interests and fit with the groups. To be considered, please complete the survey by September 30, 2024.

We look forward to your participation and the exciting exchange of ideas that will shape the future of B2B research!

Participation:

Please kindly apply to participate before September 30, 2024.

Working groups :

Group I : RTM (Route To Market) Strategy and Inclusive Growth

Thought Leaders: Sandy Jap (Emory University)

Panelists: Ali Shamsollahi (ESSEC Business School), Katja Schroeder (Columbia University), Manish Kacker (McMaster University), Manisha Shukla (University of Arkansas), Ranjit Voola (University of Sydney), Shekhar Misra (University of Galway), Stefan Hurtak (Leeds University Business School)

Abstract

Group II: Cheese, Chalk and Channels: New technologies for food safety

Thought Leader: Sourav Ray (University of Guelph)

Panelists: Amrita Mitra (University of Melbourne), Elham Ghazimatin (University of Stavanger), Mrinal Ghosh (University of Arizona)

Abstract

Group III: B2B Influencer Marketing

Thought Leader: Raji Srinivasan (The University of Texas at Austin)

Panelists: Aditya Gupta (Texas State University), Dubravka Sinčić (University of Zagreb), Ezgi Akpinar (Sabanci University), Rupinder Jindal (University of Washington Tacoma), Tuba Yilmaz (BI Norwegian Business School), Xi (Stanley) Wang (Emory University)

Abstract

Group IV: Digital, Disrupted and Distributed: Evolving B2B Sales Role in a Generative Age

Thought Leaders: Detelina Marinova (University of Missouri) and Jagdip Singh (Case Western University)

Panelists: Boas Bamberger (University of Cologne), Christine Lai (Emlyon Business School), Johanna Zimmermann (University of Passau), Orhan Bahadır Doğan (University of Oklahoma)

Abstract

Group V: The Value of Human Touch in Tech-Disrupted B2B Relationships

Thought Leader: Andrea Ordanini (Università Bocconi)

Panelists: Jessica Hoppner (George Mason University), Laura Ingrid Maria Colm (Bocconi University), Torsten Bornemann (Goethe University Frankfurt)

Abstract

Group VI: Selling Paradigms and Customer Experience Management in B2B Markets: A Customer-Centric Exploration

Thought Leaders: Manfred Krafft (Universität Münster), P. K. Kannan (University of Maryland)

Collaborators: Victoria Kramer (Universität Münster), Tim Kalwey (Universität Münster)

Panelists: Agata Leszkiewicz (University of Twente), Christian Kowalkowski (Linköping University), Aline Lanzrath (University of Mannheim), Drew Franklin (University of Auckland), Giang (Jane) Dao (University of Twente and University of Muenster), Imane Ouazzani Touhami (Ibn Tofail University), Joona Keränen (RMIT University), Mahabubur Rahman (ESC Rennes School of Business), Maria Smirnova (University of Bamberg), Martin Wetzels (EDHEC Business School), Murali K. Mantrala (University of Kansas), Nadia Pomirleanu (University of Nevada, Las Vegas), Roberto Mora Cortez (Morehouse College & Southern Denmark University), Saeed Shekari (William Paterson University), Victoria Kramer (University of Münster), Youngchan KIM (Yonsei University)

Abstract

Group VII: Collaborative Catalyst Group

Thought Leader: Michel van der Borgh (Copenhagen Business School)

Collaborators: Amir Alisha Syed (University of Kansas), Baris Kocaman (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), Deva Rangarajan (IESEG School of Management), Mohammad Sakif Amin (Western Michigan University), Ruiqi Wei (Emlyon Business School)

Abstract

Past Events:

The Inaugural 2023 Inaugural Symposium (Odense, Denmark) laid the foundation for a global network of B2B researchers. Held with great success, the 2023 event brought together scholars and practitioners to explore cutting-edge topics in B2B marketing and research collaboration.  

Symposium Steering Committee:

AMA IOSIG Leadership Team (Qiong Wang and Jody Crosno), EMAC B2B Leadership Team (Vishal Kashyap and Elham Ghazimatin), and ANZMAC (Erik Mooi and Maggie Dong)

Acknowledgment of Sponsorships: 

The International Journal of Research in Marketing (IJRM)

Institute for the Study of Business Markets (ISBM)

For more information, please contact: 

Qiong Wang

University of Oklahoma

qiongwang@ou.edu

Jody Crosno

West Virginia University

JLCrosno@mail.wvu.edu