GRONEN 2026 Research Conference

JUNE 7-10, 2026

ESADE Business School, Barcelona

Rethinking Sustainability for a Disrupted World

 

As part of GRONEN’s ongoing mission to foster high-quality research on organizations and the natural environment, the GRONEN Research Conference—held every two years—serves as a vital platform for advancing rigorous and impactful scholarship. In 2026, the conference turns its focus to the critical task of rethinking sustainability in a world disrupted by interconnected crises.

🔑 Conference Theme

Rethinking Sustainability for a Disrupted World
As we confront accelerating environmental degradation, deepening social fractures, and eroding geopolitical consensus, organizations face both pressures and opportunities. GRONEN 2026 calls for research that critically examines how firms adapt, retrench, or lead in response to systemic disruptions—and how these responses shape the future of sustainability in business and society.

🎓 Doctoral Consortium
A dedicated Doctoral Consortium for PhD students will precede the main conference, providing mentoring and feedback in an inclusive and supportive environment. Separate applications are required for participation.

🛠️ Professional Development Workshops (PDWs)
We also invite PDW proposals that engage participants in interactive, skill-building, or exploratory sessions focused on research, pedagogy, or academic development.

🎙️ Conference Dates and Key Deadlines

  • December 4, 2025 – Submission system opens
  • January 31, 2026 – Deadline for paper submissions, PDW proposals, and PhD consortium applications
  • March 15, 2026 – Notification of acceptance
  • April 15, 2026 – Early bird rate registration deadline
  • May 15, 2026 – Final registration deadline
  • June 7–8, 2026 – Doctoral Consortium
  • June 8–10, 2026 – GRONEN Research Conference

💸 Registration Fees

  Regular participants PhD students
Early bird rate 510€ 230€
Standard rate 570€ 290€

👉 Conference Registration

See instructions as for the confirmation email you received.

🌍 Venue

Barcelona combines Mediterranean character with a cultural scene shaped by centuries of history. Its architecture spans from the Gothic Quarter and medieval churches to celebrated Modernist landmarks, including major works by Antoni Gaudí. The city is also defined by its public spaces, from grand avenues and plazas to a waterfront transformed after the 1992 Olympic Games and reopened to the sea. We hope you will have the opportunity to discover Barcelona during your stay.

The GRONEN 2026 Research Conference will take place at ESADE Business School, Barcelona. ESADE is a leading international institution committed to innovation, academic excellence, and societal impact. Set in one of Europe’s most vibrant cities, the campus offers a stimulating environment for critical exchange and intellectual growth.

📍 The Esade campus in Barcelona is located in Pedralbes (Av. Pedralbes 60-62).

Most sessions will be held in Building 2; plenaries will be in Building 1, located next to each other on the same campus. Signage and staff will be available on site to help you move between both buildings.

 

How to get there:

  • Esade is only 15 minutes away by car from the Barcelona-El Prat Airport.
  • The area is easy to access by car and public transport.

  • Bus – Several city bus lines have stops near Esade H4, 63, 68, 75, 78, and 113

  • Metro – The closest stop to Building 1 is María Cristina (L3); to Building 3 it’s Palau Reial (L3). Both stops are approximately 500 meters from the respective buildings.
  • Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGGC) – The closest commuter train station is Reina Elisenda (L6), approximately 250 m from Esade.

For more information, please refer to the PDF guide.

 

📆 Accommodation

Please book your hotel well in advance. June is a peak month in Barcelona, with multiple large events taking place across the city. In addition, an official papal visit to Barcelona for the inauguration of Sagrada Familia is scheduled for 10 June 2026, which is expected to increase demand for accommodation and transport. Here are some suggestions for hotels close to the conference (more options are available in the area).

  • AC SUITE VICTORIA 4*
    Carrer de Beltrán i Rózpide, 7-9, Les Corts, 08034 Barcelona
    (10 minutes’ walk to the Esade Barcelona campus)
  • ATIRAM ARENAS 4*
    Carrer del Capità Arenas, 20, Les Corts, 08034 Barcelona
    (20 minutes’ walk to the Esade Barcelona campus)
  • TRES TORRES HOTEL 3*
    Carrer de Calatrava, 32, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, 08017 Barcelona
    (25 minutes’ walk to the Esade Barcelona campus)
  • UPPER DIAGONAL 4*
    Passeig de Manuel Girona, 7, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, 08034 Barcelona
    (10 minutes’ walk to the Esade Barcelona campus)
  • MOXY BARCELONA
    Carrer de Mallorca, 1, 23, Sants-Montjuïc, 08014 Barcelona

 

📘 See the full Travel Guide HERE

 

🌐 More Information
For inquiries, please email: gronen2026@esade.edu

We look forward to welcoming you to Barcelona in June 2026!

The GRONEN 2026 Organizing Committee