Call for Papers!
Apply for the 10th Forum of the Interdisciplinary Corruption Research Network in Germany
The 10th Forum of the Interdisciplinary Corruption Research Network (ICRN) will be hosted in 2026 by one of the RESPOND partners, the Research Center Trustworthy Data Science and Security at the University of Duisburg-Essen.
The event will take place June 25 (Thursday) to June 27 (Saturday), 2026, in Duisburg, Germany. The 2026 edition is organized in collaboration with the University of Cologne, Faculty of Management, Economics, and Social Sciences.
The Forum provides a collaborative and safe environment for discussing a broad range of topics related to corruption, anti-corruption, technology, and integrity. It brings together researchers from diverse disciplines to exchange ideas, present findings, and foster interdisciplinary dialogue.
Submissions can be done until February 2, 2026.
The Forum welcomes submissions to three types of sessions:
1. Promotion – presentations of advanced-stage research that is nearing completion or has been completed. This includes work where the researcher has already conducted fieldwork/collected data, undertaken some degree of analysis, and produced some results. We also encourage submissions that focus on promoting completed work, discussing the challenges of fieldwork, and/or possible avenues of analysis based on material already collected. Abstracts should clearly articulate the research objective, the innovative research question or approach, the research design or execution, and the anticipated findings or contributions.
2. Work in Progress – presentations of researchers currently at the early stages of their research process who wish to discuss their research design, expected/potential fieldwork issues (i.e., before data collection), identified research gaps, and contribution statements. The objective of these sessions is for presenters to benefit from feedback on the initial phase of their research work. Abstracts should present a clear research objective, original or innovative approach, explicit goals for the session (i.e., the type of feedback the author is seeking), and the potential contribution of the project.
3. Co-creation – sessions dedicated to developing new research ideas and fostering open collaboration projects. These may include concepts for joint publications, teaching initiatives, or organizing conference panels, as well as more innovative approaches to advancing corruption research through discussions of methodologies or data collection techniques. Applicants to a co-creation session are expected to volunteer to moderate (chair) the session. Proposals for a co-creation session must include a clear description of objectives, procedures, guiding questions, and any other elements considered relevant for the successful holding of discussions. Abstracts should propose innovative or new ideas, describe clearly how the session will be conducted, outline its objectives, and provide a clear description of the planned procedures.
Theoretical and empirical contributions on corruption, anti-corruption, and/or integrity for presentation, and submissions on the nexus of technology and (anti-) corruption are particularly welcome. The ICRN Forum serves as a platform for sharing research at various stages. Participation is targeted at a wide audience, inviting both scholars and practitioners to collaborate on bridging the gap between research and policymaking in the field.
To apply, please complete the registration form, select your session type, and follow the provided guidelines. You are required to explain how you used (if at all) LLMs or other AI systems in the application process.
Apply here: https://uva.fra1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8uoWI6g0EaBv6m2
A 300-word abstract is required.
The deadline for applications is Monday, February 2nd, 2026.
Notification of acceptance will be sent out in March 2026.
Criteria for selecting participants:
(a) Quality of abstract or research proposal;
(b) Relevance and innovativeness of applications;
(c) Priority for early career scholars (Research MA, PhD, post-doc, junior/assistant professor);
(d) Emphasis on regional diversity.
There is no registration fee, and once accepted, all participants will be offered coffee, snacks, lunches, and one dinner. Participants will be responsible for their own travel and accommodation expenses. Applicants are requested to keep an eye on our website for updates.
Have questions or need more information? Reach out to the 2026 ICRN team at: icrn_icrn@proton.me
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