INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON

GOVERNANCE, INNOVATION, GLOCALIZATION AND SUSTAINABILITY (GIGS 2026)

https://gigs.ftu.edu.vn Email: gigs@ftu.edu.vn

December, 2026

CALL FOR PAPERS Submission Deadline: September 15, 2026

Conference Venue: Foreign Trade University - Ho Chi Minh City Branch #15D5, Thanh My Tay Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

The inaugural International Conference on Governance, Innovation, Glocalization and Sustainability (GIGS 2026) is hosted by Foreign Trade University (Vietnam) in collaboration with Curtin University (Australia). The conference is envisioned as an annual event with the collaboration and participation of at least one prestigious international university as a co-organizer or partner institution. Held at Foreign Trade University - Ho Chi Minh City Branch, located in one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic economic hubs, the conference promotes interdisciplinary dialogues in addressing contemporary global issues and glocalization in which global products and services are continuously adapted to and reshaped by local markets. GIGS 2026 particularly focuses on emerging issues such as digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), smart governance, glocalization, ESG practices, circular economy, resilient supply chains and sustainable urban development. The conference aims to strengthen partnerships among academia, industry and government sectors while contributing practical and research-based solutions that support inclusive growth, glocal competitiveness and the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in an increasingly interconnected world.

Researchers, academics, graduate students, policymakers and professionals are cordially invited to submit original and unpublished research papers for presentation at the conference.

CONFERENCE THEMES

The conference welcomes theoretical, empirical, and interdisciplinary contributions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

Business innovation and digital transformation (e.g., generative AI and the reconfiguration of business models; digital transformation of SMEs in emerging economies; platform and data-driven business models; the local adaptation of global digital services and the inclusive (vs. divisive) effects of digital innovation).

Sustainable business and responsible management (e.g., ESG practices between symbolic compliance and substantive impact; circular economy and business model innovation; sustainability measurement and reporting; and the adaptation of global ESG and sustainability standards to local institutional and cultural contexts).

International business and glocalization (e.g., glocal market-entry and adaptation strategies of multinational firms; resilient and reconfigured global supply chains; cross-cultural management and glocal branding; and “born-global” local firms projecting local innovation onto global markets).

Governance, policy and societal transformation (e.g., smart governance, open data and AI in the public sector; governing the green and digital transitions; institutions, inequality and societal resilience; and multi-level governance that reconciles global norms with local policy implementation).

Economics, Development and Sustainability (e.g., inclusive growth and the localization of the SDGs; sustainable urban development and resilient cities; the economics of energy transition; and regional development and glocal competitiveness in an interconnected world).

Interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral research related to the conference themes is highly encouraged.

IMPORTANT DATES

Full paper submission deadline:
September 15, 2026

Notification of acceptance:
October 15, 2026

Author registration deadline:
October 30, 2026

Conference time:
December, 2026

REGISTRATION & SUBMISSION FEE

The conference does not charge any submission or registration fees. Authors may submit manuscripts and participate in the conference free of charge.

CONFERENCE FORMAT

GIGS 2026 will be organized primarily as an in-person international conference at Foreign Trade University - Ho Chi Minh City Branch, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Hybrid participation and online presentation options may be available for international participants, subject to further announcement.

PUBLICATION OPPORTUNITIES

Selected accepted papers may be considered for publication in the conference proceedings with an ISBN, subject to the authors’ consent and compliance with the conference formatting and submission requirements.
Authors who prefer not to publish their papers in the proceedings are still welcome to present their research at the conference.

In addition, selected high-quality papers may be invited for further review and possible publication in affiliated journals, including:

Australasian Marketing Journal (ABDC A; Scopus Q1) Journal of International Economics and Management (JIEM)

All journal publications are subject to the respective journals’ editorial policies, peer-review processes, and publication standards.

Additional publication opportunities may be announced on the conference website.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

GIGS 2026 welcomes submissions in English only. Submissions will be through email: gigs@ftu.edu.vn

Submitted manuscripts must present original and unpublished research, not be under review or consideration elsewhere, align with one or more conference themes.

MANUSCRIPT REQUIREMENTS

Maximum length: 10,000 words (including tables, figures, references, and appendices)
Abstract: maximum 250 words
File format: Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx)
Font: Times New Roman, 12-point
Spacing: Double-spaced
Margins: 1 inch on all sides
Citation style: APA 7th Edition
Figures and tables should be embedded within the text at appropriate locations.

TITLE PAGE INFORMATION

Please include a separate title page containing:

Title of the paper
Full name(s) of author(s)
Institutional affiliation(s)
Position/title
Email address(es)
Telephone number of the corresponding author
Conference track
Total word count

To ensure the integrity of the blind peer-review process, author information should appear only on the cover page and not in the main manuscript.

REVIEW PROCESS

All submissions will undergo a double-blind peer-review process conducted by the Scientific Committee and invited reviewers.

Papers will be evaluated based on:

Relevance to the conference themes
Originality and contribution to knowledge
Clarity of research objectives
Theoretical and conceptual grounding
Research methodology and analytical rigor
Quality of findings and implications
Academic writing quality and formatting compliance

The Conference Committee reserves the right to reassign submissions to the most appropriate conference track.

ACCOMMODATION

Detailed information on recommended hotels and any available preferential rates will be published on the Conference Website (https://gigs.ftu.edu.vn/) soon.

Scientific Management and International Cooperation Department

Foreign Trade University - Ho Chi Minh City Branch
#15D5, Thanh My Tay Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Email: gigs@ftu.edu.vn Website: https://gigs.ftu.edu.vn