G-Forum 2026
The Jackstädt Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Research (JZ) was represented at the 29th G-Forum, held in Cottbus from September 16 to 18, 2026, in a variety of roles, some of them highly visible. The FGF’s annual conference brought together around 175 participants and was held under the theme “Crossing Boundaries – Interdisciplinary Entrepreneurship between Technology, Health and Society.”
The Jackstädt Center was particularly visible through its Director, Prof. Dr. Christine Volkmann. She chaired the high-profile practitioner panel discussion “Successful Transfer of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Research into Practice: Ecosystems, Knowledge Transfer and Societal Impact.” Featuring representatives from organizations including the German Startups Association, the RKW Competence Center, Fraunhofer ISI, Deloitte, Berlin-Brandenburg Startup Factory, and Lausitz Science Park, the panel addressed one of the G-Forum’s central themes: how insights from entrepreneurship and innovation research can be transferred into practice and generate impact in ecosystems, business, and society. The JZ was thus prominently represented at the intersection of academic research, knowledge transfer, and societal impact.
Another key role was assumed by Prof. Dr. Diemo Urbig as an affiliated member of the Jackstädt Center. Representing BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, he was one of the two local Congress Presidents and played a major role in organizing and delivering the conference.
Other JZ Directors and Research Fellows were also present at the conference. Prof. Dr. Vivien Procher chaired the session “Diversity & Female Entrepreneurship” and contributed to several academic presentations. Prof. Dr. Werner Bönte attended the G-Forum as a guest and met with other JZ members and former doctoral researchers; Prof. Dr. Matthias Schulz was also present. Prof. Dr. Philip Steinberg participated online as a guest lecturer in the Post-Doc Workshop, which was offered for the first time this year. As part of the “International Career Paths & Collaborations” segment, he shared his experience and advised early-career researchers on international career paths and academic collaborations.
The Jackstädt Center’s research network was also represented in several sessions. Contributions involving Diemo Urbig, Vivien Procher, Philip Steinberg, and Faisal Saeed Malik addressed topics including innovation in multinational corporations, crowdfunding, female entrepreneurship, hybrid forms of entrepreneurship, and entrepreneurship and innovation in healthcare.
Overall, the Jackstädt Center’s presence extended well beyond individual research contributions. Its members, affiliated members, and Research Fellows were visible in conference organization, the chairing of panels and academic sessions, the support of early-career researchers, and the presentation of their own research. In particular, Diemo Urbig’s role as Congress President and local organizer, Christine Volkmann’s role as chair of the central knowledge-transfer panel, and Philip Steinberg’s contribution to the Post-Doc Workshop highlight the diverse presence of the JZ at the 2026 G-Forum.
