Call for Papers: EMANES Annual Conference 2026

EMANES ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2026: "Green Industrialization in the EU, Mediterranean, and Africa: Pathways to a Just and Resilient Transition"

The EMANES Annual Conference provides a forum for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to explore socio-economic trends and regional integration across Europe, the Mediterranean, and Africa. Each year, the conference addresses a key theme reflecting global transformations and policy priorities. In 2026, EMANES celebrates its eleventh year since the launch of the network.

The 2026 edition explores pathways to accelerate green industrialization, through a paradigm shift that seeks to align State-led investments with climate goals, environmental sustainability, and inclusive economic growth. Amid accelerating climate change, geopolitical fragmentation, and shifting global value chains, countries across Europe, the Mediterranean and Africa face the urgent need to redesign their industrial policies. 

This includes fostering low-carbon production systems, strengthening resilience, ensuring energy security, and promoting technological innovation while advancing social inclusion and competitiveness.
The conference aims to explore how green industrial policies can support structural transformation, economic diversification, competitiveness and regional cooperation and integration—while addressing inequalities and ensuring a just transition.

AIMS AND TOPICS

The EMANES Annual Conference 2026 invites contributions that examine the design, implementation, and impacts of green industrial strategies in Europe, the MENA region, and Africa.

This year’s conference aims to:

• Advance theoretical and empirical understanding of green industrial transformation;
• Explore policy frameworks that align industrial development with climate and sustainability goals;
• Examine the role of innovation, finance, and governance in enabling green industrialization;
• Promote regional integration and cooperation across the EU, the Mediterranean and Africa;
• Understand the potential distributive dimensions across income groups, regions and gender;
• Provide actionable insights for policymakers to foster inclusive and resilient green economies.

TOPICS OF INTEREST

We welcome submissions of high-quality, unpublished manuscripts addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

1. Green Industrial Policy and Structural Transformation

• Industrial policy frameworks for decarbonization and prosperity
• Sectoral priorities for strategic interventions (energy, water, manufacturing, agriculture, transport)
• Reindustrialization and diversification in emerging economies

2. Climate-Neutral Production and Value Chains

• Decarbonization and upgrades in global and regional value chains
• Sustainable supply chains and circular production systems
• Non-tariff trade measures such as carbon border adjustment schemes and their implications

3. Energy Transition and Industrial Competitiveness

• Renewable energy integration into industrial systems
• Hydrogen, electrification, and clean technologies
• Energy security and industrial resilience

4. Innovation, Technology, and Digitalization

• Green technologies and industrial innovation ecosystems
• Role of AI and digital transformation in green industries
• Technology transfer and international cooperation

5. Financing Green Industrial Transitions

• Climate finance, green bonds, and blended finance
• Public-private partnerships and development finance institutions
• Investment risks, incentives, and regulatory frameworks

6. Labor Markets, Skills, and Just Transition

• Green jobs and workforce transformation
• Skills development and education for green industries
• Social inclusion and promoting equality domestically and globally through green industrial transitions

7. Regional Integration and Cooperation

• EU-Mediterranean and Africa industrial partnerships
• Trade, investment, and policy coordination
• South-South and North-South cooperation

8. Governance and Institutional Frameworks

• Role of governments, institutions, and regulation
• Multi-level governance and policy coherence
• Public sector capacity and industrial policy design

9. Sustainable Cities, Infrastructure, and Industrial Clusters

• Green industrial zones and eco-industrial parks
• Urban-industrial linkages and sustainable infrastructure
• Territorial development and regional cohesion

10. Brain Capital and Green Industrial Transformation

• Human capital, skills, and cognitive capabilities in green industries
• Innovation ecosystems and knowledge economies
• Linking brain capital to industrial competitiveness
   

EMANES THEMATIC SCOPE

The EU-Mediterranean and African Network for Economic Studies (EMANES) promotes research supporting long-term socio-economic visions that are inclusive, transparent, sustainable, equitable, employment-driven, and regenerative. Contributions that align with the broader EMANES research agenda are welcome, including:

• Institutions and labor markets
• Role of MSMEs in inclusive development
• Social business and inclusion
• Health and wellbeing policies
• Creative, cultural, and knowledge economies
• Low-carbon and circular economies
• Human capital, migration, and job creation
• Regional integration and resilience
• Scenario analysis and economic foresight

IMPORTANT DATES

• Full Paper Submission Deadline: October 1st 2026
• Notification of Acceptance: November 1st 2026
• Registration Deadline (accepted author): November 15th, 2026
• Conference dates: December 9 (half day), 10–11, 2026

Please visit the EMANES Annual Conference website for more information and submit your full manuscript in PDF format by email to: emanes@euromed-economists.org 

CONFERENCE SPECIAL ISSUE: ECONOMIC NOTES
Selected papers will be considered for a special issue of the Economic Notes Journal, offering visibility to innovative contributions on green industrialisation.

 PRIZE FOR THE BEST PAPER
Two Best Paper Awards of EUR 2,000 each will be granted, sponsored by the Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association (EMEA)

CO-CHAIRS:

•  Prof. Rym Ayadi - President, Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association (EMEA) & Director, EU-Mediterranean and African Network for Economic Studies (EMANES)
• Dr. Cinzia Alcidi - Senior Research Fellow, Head of the Economic Policy and Jobs & Skills Unit at CEPS
• Prof. Giovanni Ferri - LUMSA University, Rome
• Giorgia Giovannetti - Rector for International Relations and Professor at the University of Florence
• Dr. Ese Owie - President, Cavendish Institute and Chair, Africa Trade Policy Working Group

ORGANISING COMMITTEE

• Yeganeh Forouheshfar, EMEA Senior Researcher
• George Christopoulos, EMEA Intelligence & Communication Officer
• Maria Ruiz de Cossío, EMEA Senior Project Officer
• Paula Pazos Puig, EMEA Researcher
• Christine Devisser, Project Manager
• Anna Santamaria, EMEA Administrative Officer
• Tiago Zibecchi, EMEA Researcher
• Sandra Challita, EMEA Research Fellow & EMANES Coordinator
• Yara Saab, EMEA Director
• Doriana Cucinelli, EMEA Research Fellow
• Daniel Luque, EMEA Assistant Administrative Officer

ORGANISERS
This year’s EMANES Annual Conference will be hosted in Barcelona by the Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association (EMEA) and the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS).

For more information please visit:

• EMANES 2026 Annual Conference: https://conference2026.emnes.org   
• EMANES Previous Conferences: https://conference2026.emnes.org/previous-conferences
• EMANES website: https://emnes.org/