Research Contributions Presented at IPDMC 2026
From June 10–12, 2026, the 33rd Innovation and Product Development Management Conference (IPDMC) took place in Stockholm, Sweden, and online. The conference is one of the leading academic events in the fields of innovation, entrepreneurship, and product development management.
Prof. Dr. Julia de Groote, Chair of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Research at the University of Wuppertal, contributed to the conference with two research papers addressing creativity, leadership, and AI-enabled innovation.
Together with Prof. Dr. Julia Backmann and Prof. Dr. Stefan Razinskas, she presented the paper “Unlocking Daily Creativity: When Paradoxical Leadership Activates Creative Self-Efficacy.” The study explores how paradoxical leadership approaches can strengthen employees’ confidence in their creative abilities and foster creativity in everyday work contexts.
In addition, the research paper “Enabling Innovation through AI: Measuring Strategic AI Orientation in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises” was presented. The study examines how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can strategically position themselves to leverage artificial intelligence as a driver of innovation.
Participation in IPDMC 2026 provided valuable opportunities for scholarly exchange with international researchers and for discussing current developments in innovation and entrepreneurship research.
