IIMB to host the 17th Annual IMR Doctoral Conference on January 9-10, 2026
Premier doctoral colloquium to feature keynote by Prof. Vanitha Swaminathan, University of Pittsburgh, on strategic brand marketing
03 December, 2025, Bangalore: The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) is pleased to announce the 17th Annual IMR Doctoral Conference (IMRDC), to be held on January 9–10, 2026. Over the years, IMRDC has earned its position as one of India’s foremost doctoral colloquia in Management Sciences and allied disciplines, known for its emphasis on scholarly rigour, intellectual depth, and the uniquely constructive feedback it offers to emerging researchers.
Delegate registration available here: https://www.iimb.ac.in/imrdc2026/delegate-registration.php
Established in 2009 by IIMB Management Review (IMR), the Institute’s flagship research journal, the conference was envisioned as a platform to recognise and support high-quality doctoral research in India. Its founding mission continues to guide the event: to empower doctoral scholars with meaningful academic engagement, enable interdisciplinary collaboration, and strengthen the standards of management research through structured and rigorous review mechanisms.
A signature feature of IMRDC is its ‘exclusive discussant per paper’ format, ensuring each presenting scholar receives focused, expert-level commentary. This dedication to high-quality feedback has made IMRDC a benchmark event in India’s doctoral community and a valued forum for both senior researchers and emerging scholars.
The upcoming edition of the conference will host a distinguished keynote address titled ‘Hyper-Digital Marketing: Six Pillars of Strategic Brand Marketing in an AI-powered World’ by Professor Vanitha Swaminathan, Thomas Marshall Professor of Marketing and Director, Center for Branding, University of Pittsburgh. Her session will offer forward-looking insights into the evolving landscape of marketing strategy, digital transformation, and brand leadership.
Panel Discussion
This year’s agenda features two high-value panels designed to address crucial aspects of academic progression and publishing:
- Panel 1: Navigating the Academic Job Market—Directors’ Insights
- Panel 2: Cracking the Code: How to Publish in Top-tier Journals
IMRDC 2026 will showcase 11 shortlisted papers selected from 114 submissions through a rigorous three-tier review process. Each accepted paper will be assigned an Exclusive Discussant, continuing the conference’s commitment to detailed and actionable scholarly feedback. The conference will also present a Best Paper Award, determined by the Conference Chairs, Discussants, and Faculty Review Committee. Papers presented at previous editions of IMRDC have gone on to appear in top-tier international journals, and several past award winners are now faculty members at globally reputed institutions, including the IIMs, the London School of Economics, and IÉSEG School of Management, France.
Delegate Registration
IMRDC 2026 invites faculty members, doctoral students, researchers, and practitioners from management and allied fields to participate as in-person or virtual delegates. In-person delegates are required to complete the registration process and pay the applicable fee through the online payment gateway provided.
IIMB to host the 17th Annual IMR Doctoral Conference on January 9-10, 2026
Premier doctoral colloquium to feature keynote by Prof. Vanitha Swaminathan, University of Pittsburgh, on strategic brand marketing
03 December, 2025, Bangalore: The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) is pleased to announce the 17th Annual IMR Doctoral Conference (IMRDC), to be held on January 9–10, 2026. Over the years, IMRDC has earned its position as one of India’s foremost doctoral colloquia in Management Sciences and allied disciplines, known for its emphasis on scholarly rigour, intellectual depth, and the uniquely constructive feedback it offers to emerging researchers.
Delegate registration available here: https://www.iimb.ac.in/imrdc2026/delegate-registration.php
Established in 2009 by IIMB Management Review (IMR), the Institute’s flagship research journal, the conference was envisioned as a platform to recognise and support high-quality doctoral research in India. Its founding mission continues to guide the event: to empower doctoral scholars with meaningful academic engagement, enable interdisciplinary collaboration, and strengthen the standards of management research through structured and rigorous review mechanisms.
A signature feature of IMRDC is its ‘exclusive discussant per paper’ format, ensuring each presenting scholar receives focused, expert-level commentary. This dedication to high-quality feedback has made IMRDC a benchmark event in India’s doctoral community and a valued forum for both senior researchers and emerging scholars.
The upcoming edition of the conference will host a distinguished keynote address titled ‘Hyper-Digital Marketing: Six Pillars of Strategic Brand Marketing in an AI-powered World’ by Professor Vanitha Swaminathan, Thomas Marshall Professor of Marketing and Director, Center for Branding, University of Pittsburgh. Her session will offer forward-looking insights into the evolving landscape of marketing strategy, digital transformation, and brand leadership.
Panel Discussion
This year’s agenda features two high-value panels designed to address crucial aspects of academic progression and publishing:
- Panel 1: Navigating the Academic Job Market—Directors’ Insights
- Panel 2: Cracking the Code: How to Publish in Top-tier Journals
IMRDC 2026 will showcase 11 shortlisted papers selected from 114 submissions through a rigorous three-tier review process. Each accepted paper will be assigned an Exclusive Discussant, continuing the conference’s commitment to detailed and actionable scholarly feedback. The conference will also present a Best Paper Award, determined by the Conference Chairs, Discussants, and Faculty Review Committee. Papers presented at previous editions of IMRDC have gone on to appear in top-tier international journals, and several past award winners are now faculty members at globally reputed institutions, including the IIMs, the London School of Economics, and IÉSEG School of Management, France.
Delegate Registration
IMRDC 2026 invites faculty members, doctoral students, researchers, and practitioners from management and allied fields to participate as in-person or virtual delegates. In-person delegates are required to complete the registration process and pay the applicable fee through the online payment gateway provided.
