ICED2026: International Conference on Entrepreneurship and Development (ICED) 2026 Durban University of Technology Durban, South Africa, June 28-30, 2026

Conference website	https://www.cut.ac.za/events/details/277
Submission link	https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=iced20260
Abstract registration deadline	March 1, 2026
Submission deadline	March 15, 2026

The International Conference on Entrepreneurship and Development (ICED) 2026 provides a timely platform for researchers, practitioners, postgraduate students, and policymakers to explore how entrepreneurship can drive inclusive and sustainable growth across Africa in the digital and green economies. This year's theme reflects the urgent need to harness innovation, digital transformation, and financial technologies to rebuild and reshape entrepreneurial ecosystems in the post-pandemic era.

We invite you to join us in Durban, South Africa, or online for thought-provoking discussions, networking opportunities, and knowledge exchange that bridge research and real-world impact.

Conference Objectives

• Support post-pandemic entrepreneurial recovery across Africa and the Global South.
• Promote inclusive participation of women, youth, and persons with disabilities in entrepreneurial ecosystems.
• Leverage digital transformation, circular economy, and financial technologies for inclusive development.
• Strengthen ecosystem collaboration and cross-sectoral innovation.
• Explore the transformative role of AI, blockchain, and fintech in entrepreneurship.

Theme: Resilient and Inclusive Entrepreneurship in Africa’s Digital and Green Economy

All papers must be original and not simultaneously submitted to another journal or conference. The following papercategories are welcome:

Subthemes: This theme reflects the pressing need to:

• Support post-pandemic entrepreneurial recovery,
• Promote inclusive innovation and entrepreneurial participation of marginalised groups such as youth, women, persons with disabilities.
• Leverage digital transformation and circular economy opportunities,
• Strengthen ecosystem collaboration for sustainable development in the Global South.
• Explore the role of AI in the digital economy and the entrepreneurial space
• Leverage the role of Financial Technology in the business world  

Submission Guidelines

All papers must be original and not simultaneously submitted to another journal or conference. The following papercategories are welcome:

Authors may submit up to two abstracts.

Submissions must relate to the conference themes and must be original.

All abstracts and papers will be peer-reviewed.

Accepted full papers will be published in the Conference Proceedings (with ISBN). In addition, selected papers will be considered for publication in three DHET-accredited journals, subject to further peer review and editorial policies.

Outstanding contributions will be recognised through Best Paper Awards in selected thematic areas.

Winners will receive certificates and will be considered for priority journal publication.

Presentations can be delivered in-person in Durban or virtually via our online platform.

​​​​​​Thematic strands

1. Industry 5.0 and AI integrated society

• Cyber-Physical-Systems (CPS) and contemporary business
• Digital Twins (DT), Machine Learning (ML) and entrepreneurship
• AI, autonomous systems and entrepreneurial firms
• Open infrastructure, open systems and small firms
• Cloud infrastructure and open innovation
• Digital Twin competencies in manufacturing
• Open innovation and deep tech startups
• Human AI- powered sustainability transitions
• IoT technology and small firms
• Machine learning and automation

2. Economic, Social, and Governance and sustainability

• ESG metrics and large corporations
• Social impact and social sustainability
• Social value and social impact assessments for SMMEs
• Social information and collective intelligence
• Social impact data and other metrics of firms
• Eco-innovation and sustainable business models
• Governance and policy of sustainable innovation
• Green economy and frugal innovations

3. Inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems

• Innovative university ecosystems
• Academic and student entrepreneurs
• University incubators and accelerators
• Inclusive funding in entrepreneurial ecosystems
• Technology innovation ecosystems
• Technology entrepreneurship in innovation ecosystems
• University startups and knowledge transfer mechanisms
• Universities’ role in regional innovation ecosystems
• Universities, technology innovation and local economic development
• Knowledge spillovers and collaborative partnerships

 

4. Women, Youth and Persons living with disabilities in Entrepreneurship

• Female academics in leadership and organisations
• Women career adaptation and entrepreneurship
• Work life balance of female entrepreneurs
• Youth entrepreneurship and youth dividend
• Start-ups of persons living with disabilities
• Women and youth in international business
• Women in local economic development
• Women, youth and persons living with disabilities and knowledge transfer

5. Financial technologies for entrepreneurship

• Blockchain technology for startups
• Crowdfunding technologies and venture firms
• Metaverse and entrepreneurship
• Digital payments for SMME growth
• Cryptocurrency in the context of startups
• Blockchain and the financial systems of firms
• Venture capital and innovation firms

6. Entrepreneurship Education

• Digital pedagogies and immersive technologies in entrepreneurship education
• Entrepreneurial curriculum innovation in higher education
• Interdisciplinary approaches to teaching entrepreneurship
• AI in teaching and assessing entrepreneurial competencies
• Inclusive and decolonised approaches to entrepreneurial learning
• Community-based entrepreneurship education and social innovation
• Reflective teaching and educator development in entrepreneurship
• Work-integrated learning and entrepreneurship
• Measuring impact and graduate outcomes in entrepreneurship education

Committees

Program Committee

• Prof Patient Rambe
• Prof Regina Thetsane

Organizing committee

• Prof Patient Rambe
• Prof Luther-King Junior Zogli
• Prof Crispen Chipunza
• Prof Mildred Mahapa
• Prof Olumide Jaiyeoba
• Prof Freda Van Der Walt
• Prof Tendai Chimucheka
• Dr John Batani
• Dr John Beneke
• Dr Hoeyi Prosper
• Dr Dalene Crowther
• Dr Lineo Dzansi
• Dr Matthew Omotoso
• Dr. Francis Okyere
• Dr Douglas Musiiwa
• Prof Samuel Chingoiro
• Dr Baakile Motshegwa
• Dr Motselisi Mokhethi
• Dr Bongani Innocent Dlamini
• Ms. Anna Coetzee
• Ms. De Klerk Bianca
• Dr Tshililo R. Farisani

Organizing organizations

• Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT), South Africa

• Durban University of Technology (DUT), South Africa

• University of Fort Hare (UFH), South Africa

• Botho University, Botswana

• National University of Lesotho (NUL), Lesotho

• Vaal University of Technology, South Africa

• Botswana Open University, Botswana

Invited Speakers

• Prof David Audretsch - Indiana University : Distinguished Professor; Ameritech Chair of Economic Development; Director, Institute for Development Strategies
• TBC

Venue

The conference will be held at the Durban University of Technology in Durban, South Africa.

Contact

All questions about submissions should be emailed to tmasuku@cut.ac.za