4th International EM Normandie / UMASS Conference on Circular Economy, Business Strategy & Management

The transition to a circular economy is a global challenge requiring global perspectives. Addressing the complex issues of sustainability, innovation, resilience, governance, and organizational transformation demands collaboration across disciplines, institutions, and national boundaries.

Co-organized by EM Normandie Business School (France) and the College of Management at the University of Massachusetts Boston (USA), this conference serves as a bridge between North American and European scholars, creating a vibrant transatlantic research community dedicated to advancing management scholarship on circular economy transitions.

Monday 5th and Tuesday 6th October
EM Normandie Business School, Caen campus
France

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the partnership between UMass Boston, a top-tier American University, and EM Normandie, it is our pleasure to invite you to join us to the 4th International Conference on Circular Economy, Business Strategy & Management.

This conference brings together an exceptional program, which includes:

• An exclusive Working Papers Development Session, where editors and associate editors from leading academic journals, including the Journal of Knowledge Management, will provide developmental feedback to authors. This unique opportunity is designed to help scholars strengthen their research, improve publication readiness, and increase the impact of their work;
• Round table discussion on circular economy developments shaped practitioners, academics and policy makers;
• Constructive and engaging feedback on papers presentations;

In addition to those, attending our conference is superb opportunity to:

• Exchange with internationally recognized experts in circular economy and sustainability transitions;
• Expand your international research network and identify new collaboration opportunities;
• Showcase your work and compete for the Best Paper Award.

Download the Call for Papers

Keynote speakers include

Prof. Lutz Preuss Kedge Business School	Prof. Julian Kirchherr McKinsey & Company

The conference's hybrid format reinforces its commitment to building an inclusive and globally connected scholarly community.

Submission Deadline: July 31, 2026 (Long Abstract or Full Paper)
October 5–6, 2026 | Hybrid Conference | Caen, France & Online

Programme

October 5 – onsite event

Morning

09:00-09:30 - Welcome coffee

09:30-10:00 - Opening ceremony

• Anne-Sophie Courtier, Dean of EM Normandie Business School
• Venky Venkatachalam, Dean and Distinguished Professor College of Management University of Massachusetts Boston

10:00–10:45: Julian Kirchherr -  keynote speaker 1 ("Circular Economy at a Crossroads: Taking Stock and Moving Forward")

11:00–12:00: Round table: From Regional Strategy to Field Projects: How the Circular Economy Is Transforming Companies and Territories in Normandy

• Mathilde Yver – Project Officer, Circular Economy & Renewable Energy, Normandy Region
• Eglantine Lerendu – Business Development Officer (Circular Economy & Energy Transition), Caux Seine Développement
• Fabien Nadou – Professor in Regional Economy, Director of IMPACT’EM Institute, EM Normandie

Best paper award

Afternoon

Onsite papers’ presentations

October 6 – online event

Morning

10:30-12.00 - Prof. Lutz Preuss - keynote speaker 2

Afternoon

13:30 - 15:00 - Working papers development session with an associate editor of the Journal of Knowledge Management

15:30 - 17:30 - Online papers’ presentations

17:30 - Closing ceremony

Journal of Knowledge Management

Valentina Cillo - Pegaso Digital University - Italy
Lucia Pizzichini, Jönköping International Business School (Sweden); and Pegaso Digital University (Italy)

More info