Call for papers

The Continuous Innovation Network (CINet) is a global network set up to bring together researchers and practitioners working in the field of Continuous Innovation and related areas of research and practice. The mission of CINet is to progressively become a school of thought on Continuous Innovation. Consistent with this mission, CINet organizes an annual conference. This announcement concerns the 26th CINet conference, which will take place in Lucerne, Switzerland,  hosted by the Lucerne School of Business and the Lucerne School of Engineering and Architecture of the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU), on 7-9 September 2025.

• Theme
• Session tracks
• The format
• Paper development workshop
• Best paper award
• Special issues

Theme

The 26th Continuous Innovation Network (CINet) conference embraces the pivotal theme of "Bridging deep tech and people-centric innovation". In today's rapidly evolving world, the intersection of deep technology and human-centered innovation has never been more critical. The conference explores the imperative of connecting cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, quantum computing, robotics and biotechnology, with innovation practices that prioritize human needs, societal impact, and ethical considerations. For researchers, this bridge is key to unlocking the full potential of their innovations while ensuring they meet the evolving demands of people and society.

Deep Tech refers to highly advanced, disruptive technologies. These technologies are characterized by significant research and development intensity, transformative potential, and often long development cycles. Deep tech can revolutionize industries by offering groundbreaking solutions that redefine traditional processes and create new markets.

In contrast, People-Centric Innovation prioritizes the human aspects of innovation, emphasizing not only user needs and experiences but also the visionary, creative and emotional contributions of individuals and teams. This approach values individual and collaborative competencies necessary for effective innovation. Examples of people-centric innovation include fostering collaborative environments, encouraging creative thinking, and developing solutions that reflect the values and needs of diverse communities.

Firstly, aligning technology with human needs is fundamental. While deep tech offers transformative potential, its true value can only be realized when it addresses real-world challenges. Organizations must ensure their innovations are driven by the goal of improving lives and meeting societal demands, rather than technology for its own sake. Secondly, driving adoption depends on usability and trust. No matter how advanced a technology is, it must be accessible and intuitive to gain widespread acceptance. A people-centric approach to innovation ensures that new technologies resonate with users, building trust and fostering a sense of reliability. Thirdly, navigating the ethical and societal implications of deep tech is a responsibility that cannot be overlooked. As technologies like AI and biotechnology evolve, innovators must consider their broader impacts on society. A balanced approach that integrates human-centered thinking helps anticipate and mitigate potential risks, ensuring that technology serves society ethically and inclusively. Fourthly, fostering a culture of collaboration is increasingly important. Innovation thrives when different disciplines come together, blending technical expertise with social science perspectives. Innovators who can collaborate across fields are more likely to develop holistic solutions that consider both the technological possibilities and the human factors at play. Lastly, preparing future-ready innovation leaders requires a shift in focus. Successful leaders will not only need deep technological expertise but also a keen understanding of human behavior, empathy, and cultural awareness.
In summary, for innovation researchers, bridging the gap between deep tech and people-centric innovation is critical to developing strategies, theories and frameworks that will guide the future of responsible and impactful innovation. Understanding this balance will enable them to shape practices that not only foster cutting-edge technology but also ensure it is aligned with the needs and values of individuals, teams, organizations and the society.

The conference will serve as a platform for academics and practitioners to exchange insights, experiences, and challenges in organizing innovation in the era of deep tech innovations. It aims to shape a future in which people deal reflectively with the potentially disruptive innovation power of deep tech and can contribute their visions and human creativity to continuous innovation processes with smart approaches.

Session tracks

The 26th CINet Conference invites rigorous research-based papers and research notes as well as practitioner presentations aimed at developing theory and/or practical recommendations related to the conference theme, “Bridging deep tech and people-centric innovation”, including:

• Integrating Deep Tech into Innovation Strategies: Exploring methodologies for integrating deep technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, biotechnology, nanotechnology, cleantech, quantum computing, and robotics into existing innovation frameworks, while assessing how these technologies are transforming various industries to drive innovation and create competitive advantages.
• Human-Centered Design in Tech-Driven Innovations: Focusing on techniques and tools that embed human-centered design into technology development, this section highlights the balance between user experience and technological capabilities, emphasizing how participatory design and user feedback influence the effectiveness of tech-driven innovations.
• Bridging Tensions through Innovation Ecosystems: Presenting models and frameworks that support effective collaboration across sectors within innovation ecosystems, with a focus on the role of governance, leadership, and cultural development. The use of technologies like blockchain, digital platforms, and AI-based knowledge management helps address governance challenges and enhance ecosystem efficiency.
• Generative AI and the Implications for Innovation Consulting: Examining how generative AI is reshaping creativity and innovation consulting processes by enabling co-creation between consultants and AI systems, leading to more dynamic problem-solving approaches and enhanced innovation consulting outcomes.
• Ethical and Social Implications of Deep Tech Innovations: Addressing the ethical concerns related to the development and deployment of deep technologies, this section explores the impact of these innovations on societal norms and values. It also discusses ethical dilemmas that arise during implementation and highlights strategies to ensure equitable access to technology-driven innovations.
• Sustainable Innovation: Balancing Technological and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): Exploring innovations that promote sustainability by assessing the impact of deep technologies on sustainable development. This section also focuses on methods of teaching and coaching that combine sustainability goals with innovation objectives, fostering responsible technological advancements.
• Innovation Leadership and Technology Innovation: Managing tensions across all organizational levels requires multi-level ambidexterity capabilities to address innovation paradoxes. This section covers change management strategies for transitioning to tech-centric models, the importance of creating an innovation culture that integrates deep tech with human-centered design, and leadership in Human–Machine Teaming.
• Data-Driven Innovation and Decision-Making: Leveraging big data and analytics to fuel innovation, this section highlights the importance of fostering a data culture that balances data-centric and people-centric decision-making. It also explores the implications of digital twins for innovation and provides tools and methodologies for effective data utilization in knowledge management.
• Future Trends and Emerging Technologies in Innovation Management: Forecasting future technological advancements and emerging trends in innovation management, this section explores the future of creativity in the AI era and prepares organizations for the next wave of technological disruption, focusing on strategic foresight and adaptability.

In addition, papers addressing a broader set of themes within continuous innovation are welcome. These themes include:

• Continuous innovation strategies, practices and performance.
• Continuous innovation in products, services and operations.
• Organizing for continuous and/or discontinuous innovation.
• Innovation with external partners. 
• Management of ideas and creativity.
• Design thinking and continuous innovation.
• Continuous innovation in public settings.

The format

CINet accepts:

• “Full papers” of up to 5,000 words – to report research that has been completed.
• “Research notes” of up to 2,000 words – to propose a research idea, seek research collaboration, present a literature review, describe a research design, or report work-in-progress.
• Practitioner presentations – primarily focused on sharing and discussing (continuous) innovation practice and experience. 

By accepting shorter full papers, we facilitate the development of your work into journal articles, while avoiding self-plagiarism. Furthermore, CINet wants to be a place where not only completed research but also ideas for research or collaboration and different stages of work-in-progress are presented and discussed. The “research notes” support the latter purpose. And, last but not least, CINet want to be the place where theory and practice meet. The submission of ideas for practitioner presentations will be greatly appreciated.

Paper development workshop

While most papers presented at the conference are not ready for publication, many provide a good starting point but require additional work before they are publishable. So, true to its nature, CINet selects a number of papers for possible development into a special issue paper, based on their potential and, then, organizes one or more paper development workshops, in the form of a Teams or Zoom event. In these workshops, which will take place late October or early November 2025, the special issue editors will work together with experienced reviewers, to help the invited authors to develop their paper to publishable standard.

Best paper awards

Every year, CINet selects two award-winning papers: the John Bessant Best Paper Award and the Mariano Corso Best Practical Implications Award, the paper must meet the following criteria.

Special issues

The best papers presented at the conference will be considered for publication in a special issue of Creativity and Innovation Management (CIM).