The UK – Researcher Practitioner Network for the Economics of Digitization:

5th Workshop on Digital Economics: Call for Papers & Save the Date

Date: 24 November 2026

Location: McGrath Centre at St Catharine's College, Cambridge, CB2 1DS

Format: in Person

Organizers: Centre for Competition Policy

Submission: Submit your manuscript via the Microsoft Office Form

Confirmed Participants:

Diane Coyle (Cambridge), Sean Ennis (UEA), Tommaso Valletti (Imperial), Greg Taylor (Oxford), Karen Croxson (CMA), Jack Snape (DSIT)

Key dates:

Deadline for Submission of Papers: 10 September 2026

Notification of Acceptance: 04 October 2026

Registration for Speakers: 30 October 2026

Background and Objective:

This initiative connects research about the Economics of Digitization to policy and managerial practice. The aim is to create a network that gets UK-based researchers and practitioners to talk to each other, by meeting once a year to do two things: 1.) Present recent research and work in progress about the economics of digitization and 2.) Receive feedback and input from practitioners where they would need more useful answers from the research community.

A group in the United States with similar goals meets twice a year, at the National Bureau of Economic Research. In the UK, there are many researchers interested in Digitization, but a network was missing. We conceived this group in Spring 2022 and have made this an annual event. Once more, the format will be a series of short-form presentations, a panel session and keynote, with opportunities for further networking and discussion throughout. The conference running the full day of 24 November.

The submission of papers by PhD students and junior scholars is particularly welcome.

Format and Dates:

This year’s workshop is hosted by the Bennett School of Public Policy at the University of Cambridge, UK, and is sponsored by Brian Kahin and the Centre for Competition Policy at the University of East Anglia. The conference will be in-person to provide a unique opportunity for cross-fertilization of ideas between scholars and practitioners in competition policy. It will see the presentation of papers by both academics and economists working in government, as discussants.

Topics of Interest:

• The Economics of AI
• Internet and telecommunications
• Digital markets and platforms
• Artificial Intelligence
• Cloud computing
• Big data
• Value of data
• Social media
• ICT and innovation
• ICT, productivity and growth
• ICT and the labour market
• The Digital divide
• Intellectual property rights
• Standards
• Competition policy and regulation of ICT
• Economics of privacy
• Macroeconomics of Digitalization

Submission and Funding:

Participation without paper is welcome! Papers should be submitted to the e-mail address specified below by Monday 10 September 2026 (extended abstracts will be considered, but complete papers are more likely to be accepted). Notification of acceptance will be given by 04 October 2026. Participants are asked to cover travel and accommodation for themselves, but will be exempt from any registration fees.

If you are interested in information or wish to participate without submitting a paper, please register your interest via the Microsoft Office Form or via ccp@uea.ac.uk

Hoping to see you in Cambridge soon!

Sean Ennis, Norwich Business School and Director of the Centre Competition Policy, UEA

Michael Kummer, UEA and Nova School of Business and Economics

Diane Coyle, University of Cambridge (BSPP)

Peter Courridge, Centre for Competition Policy Manager, UEA