Government Ownership for Sustainability and Strategic Autonomy

Event outline

We are pleased to announce an international research workshop on Government Ownership for Sustainability and Strategic Autonomy for academics and policymakers at Utrecht University, the Netherlands, on June 25-26, 2026. The resurgence of government ownership raises many questions that call for further research. We look forward to receiving your abstracts – see below for submission details.  

Background

Government ownership (also referred to as “state ownership” or “public ownership”) of firms seems to be making a remarkable comeback around the world, particularly in the nexus of sustainability transitions and strategic autonomy.

This resurgence of government ownership as part of industrial policy is intuitively compelling, but raises many questions that call for further research: 

• how well equipped are state-owned firms to advance strategic autonomy and/or sustainability transitions policy?
• How can the multi-faceted contribution of government ownership be operationalized and measured?
• At what level of government, and under what kind of governance, can government ownership best contribute to green policy and strategic autonomy?  
• Can we imagine multi-lateral government ownership for global green industrial policy?
• How can we conceptualize processes of re-municipalization/re-nationalization?
• How do government-owned enterprises involved in green industrial policy handle digitalization?
• What adverse side-effects of increased government ownership can be distinguished in markets, rule of law systems and geopolitical interactions, and how can these be mitigated? 

To address these, and related, questions, Utrecht University’s strategic research theme Institutions for Open Societies organizes a multi-day, international research workshop on Government Ownership for Sustainability and Strategic Autonomy that is open for academics and policymakers.

Substance and Scope

• We interpret government ownership broadly, including all levels of government (municipal, regional, national, supra-national), all levels of ownership (full, majority, minority), and all kinds of objective functions ranging from profit to social welfare orientation.
• We welcome theoretical and empirical contributions from applicants from all over the world and at all levels of seniority, from (but not limited to) disciplines such as political science, innovation and sustainability studies, economics, sociology, governance and law.
• We welcome original research that hasn’t been accepted for publication

Conference and Submission Details

• This workshop will be hosted by Utrecht University, the Netherlands, on June 25-26, 2026
• Abstracts of ≤500 words (excluding references) can be sent to govownership@uu.nl and are accepted until December 15, 2025 (extended), clearly indicating presenting authors and their contact information.
• Panel submissions will also be considered, but only as a compendium of abstracts under the abstract guidelines above. The organizers may choose not to accept all abstracts of a proposed panel.
• Accepted submissions and/or panels will be notified by February 1, 2026, latest
• Based on submissions, the organisers will develop a panel structure and program that will be circulated publicly.
• Full papers for selected submissions will be required by June 1, 2026
• Attendance will be free of charge. Participants cover their own costs for travel, lodging and catering.
• A special issue proposal will be developed based on a selection of submitted papers. The intended paper submission date is October, 2026. Please indicate your interest in participating in the special issue proposal when submitting.
• Further questions can be directed at dr. Toon Meelen (a.a.h.meelen@uu.nl) and dr. Jasper P. Sluijs (j.sluijs@uu.nl)