Context Matters:
Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Industrial Policy
in the New Era of Geopolitics

The Industry Studies Conference Committee (ISCC), working with chairs of the research streams, have completed their review of paper submissions for the ISA 2025 annual conference, to be held at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, from June 4-6, 2025. 

We are now notifying those whose papers and panels are accepted for the 2025 Conference. The schedule will be finalized during April.  Registration for the conference is now open.  You must be a member to present a paper at the conference. Thus if you receive an acceptance email, we recommend that you establish, verify, or renew your ISA membership at the same time as you register.   

This year’s conference marks ISA’s 15th anniversary and celebrates the profound impact that industry studies research continues to have on academic scholarship, management practice, and public policy. Because of the very high number of submissions this year, which is straining the capacity of the space we have at MIT, and in line with the practice at most academic conferences, we are requiring that all presenters complete registration and membership activation by Wednesday April 23^rd.  Any paper that does not have at least one author registered by that date will be dropped from the program.  Registration fees will also rise after that date.  

Use these links:

• Registration
• Membership  

Guidance on hotels in relation to distance from MIT's Samberg Center can be found further down on this conference information page.  There is no official ISA hotel and no room block with special rates.  

Besides an unprecedented number of paper and panel sessions, we have a terrific program of plenaries and special sessions this year, as well as don’t-miss pre-conference activities such as excursions to see exciting examples of the leading industries around Cambridge/Boston plus the Professional Development Workshop (PDW) for doctoral students and junior faculty. 

Program Highlights

Wednesday June 4 Plenary

“The New Lunar Society” Book talk - David Mindell (author) & Richard Lester, MIT.

Prof. Richard Lester is Founding Director of the Industrial Performance Center at MIT, one of the original Sloan Foundation Centers, established 35 years ago. Sally Kornbluth, MIT President, will welcome everyone at the Wednesday evening reception (7pm) when ISA honors Richard Lester for his many contributions to industry studies research. 

Thursday June 5 Plenary

Digitalization & AI

Geoff Parker - Dartmouth

Jagjit Singh Srai – Institute for Manufacturing, U. Cambridge

Natan Linder – Co-founder and CEO, Tulip Interfaces

Liz Reynolds – MIT

Special Sessions (Date/Time TBD)

Industry Evolution Panel

Eleanor Westney - MIT

Gary Gereffi - Duke

Takafumi Kurosawa - Kyoto

Matthias Kipping - York

John Paul MacDuffie - Wharton School, U.Penn

Comparative Industrial Policy 

Sir Mike Gregory – U. Cambridge

Bill Janeway – U. Cambridge

Liz Reynolds - MIT

Chris Griswold - American Compass

Andrew Reamer - GWU

The Future of Biotechnology

Chris Love—MIT

Representatives from Amgen and Takeda (invited)

Workforce Development 

Layla O’Kane - Opportunity @Work

Chistophe Combemale - Carnegie Mellon

Nichola Lowe - University of Minnesota

Ben Armstrong - MIT

Supply Chain Governance in a Fragmented World

Monica Gorman - Crowell Global Advisors (former Special Assistant to the President for manufacturing & industrial policy)

Tim Sturgeon - MIT

Vasco Carvalho – U. Cambridge (invited)

Susan Helper – Case-Western

Hiram Samel - MIT

New Organizational Structures for Manufacturing

Suzanne Berger - MIT

Ben Armstrong - MIT

Miles Arnone - Rebuild 

Steve Cook - LFM Capital

Climate Policy, Environmental Politics, and Economic & Industrial Policy

Vanessa Chan—U.Penn (invited)

Jonas Nahm – Johns Hopkins (invited)

John Paul Helveston - GWU

Guidance on hotels

These hotels are organized by distance from MIT's Samberg Center.  Tthe links will lead directly to Google where you can see the rates for the dates of the conference for quick comparison. 

Walking Distance

The Kendall Hotel: https://maps.app.goo.gl/CLzWdPbhYV5oczzFA

Boston Marriott Cambridge: https://maps.app.goo.gl/koeEm462zJ6hyq1LA

Residence Inn Boston Cambridge: https://maps.app.goo.gl/UMZut6ZovBh6zarx8

Short Uber or approx. 20-25 Minute Walk 

Holiday Inn Express Boston-Cambridge: https://maps.app.goo.gl/C6bhc879sMpsmxKZ6

• We have a limited number of rooms blocked at Holiday Inn Express Boston-Cambridge. 
• The rate is $279.99-$299.00 The last day to book this rate is May 4^th, Code ISA. 
• Please book at this link.

Sonder 907 Main: https://maps.app.goo.gl/MdW2KoiTrCEXAzqc7

The Royal Sonesta Boston: https://maps.app.goo.gl/oRs4G7XZfD7ayXRD6

Kimpton Marlowe Hotel: https://maps.app.goo.gl/a7x5V8pLKfQ5ZzsV9

Beacon Hill Hotel: https://maps.app.goo.gl/UrBwZBS9paQ71Xk66

 Close to Trains 

 The Godfrey Hotel: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qTTqcYngqM4btwaG8 (4 Stops)

Hotel AKA Boston Common: https://maps.app.goo.gl/MERc2y428LXVBRHi6 (3 Stops)

The Whitney Hotel Boston: https://maps.app.goo.gl/zxWoiH8bvQyGRk1W8 (1 Stop)

Wyndham Boston Beacon Hill: https://maps.app.goo.gl/T1EJyigwDG887u9k7 (1 Stop)

AC Hotel Boston Cambridge: https://maps.app.goo.gl/kUr3T77dAgkHQpxe8 (5 Stops)

Cambria Hotel Boston Downtown – Seaport: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qZNuUcvQgKcBD9m48  (6 Stops)

Transit Friendly – 1 Transfer 

Copley Square Hotel: https://maps.app.goo.gl/3ULuAEbixs3Af9GZ8  

Hotel AKA Back Bay: https://maps.app.goo.gl/5ZrEdndh84JQkn2fA

The Westin Copley Place, Boston: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZtYEXKgtCJ6A4gRt7

The Lenox Hotel: https://maps.app.goo.gl/7sT16N7fogDzxmjS9

Hilton Boston Park Plaza: https://maps.app.goo.gl/5KWy93j3FkwC3y758

Why Cambridge and MIT?

Cambridge, a world-renowned hub of innovation and research, offers a unique backdrop for this milestone conference. MIT, at the heart of this vibrant ecosystem, is synonymous with cutting-edge breakthroughs in technology, entrepreneurship, and industrial strategy.

Located just across the river from Boston, a city steeped in history and brimming with cultural, academic, and industrial excellence, Cambridge is home to a thriving biotechnology and innovation scene. From the innovation-driven startup culture to top-tier research institutions and pioneering public policy, this region embodies the spirit of interdisciplinary collaboration that ISA is proud to champion.

MORE INFORMATION

This page - ISA 2025 Conference Information - is the location for the most up-to-date information on all aspects of the conference.  That is where the conference program details will be posted, once finalized. 

• Learn more about the Industry Studies Association's history and mission
• See the conference research streams, the basis for parallel paper tracks
• Read up on ISA's five awards for outstanding industry studies research, presented at each year's annual conference

See you in June!  This promises to be a landmark event for the ISA community. It is our fifteenth anniversary.  We'll be at MIT, where the very first Sloan Foundation Industry Studies centers were located and a strong institutional supporter of the creation of ISA. Cambridge awaits—with its historic charm, cutting-edge research, and proximity to the innovation capital of Boston.  It's a can't-miss event!

Hiram Samel, 2025 Conference Chair (MIT)

JP Helveston, 2026 Conference Chair (George Washington University)

Anant Mishra, 2027 Conference Chair (University of Minnesota)

John Gray, 2025 ISA President (Ohio State University)

Tonya Boone, 2025 ISA Past-President (William & Mary)

Jeff Furman, 2025 Early Career Development Committee Chair (Boston University)

John Paul MacDuffie, 2025 ISA Chief Fiscal Officer (Wharton, UPenn)