Government Ownership for Sustainability and Strategic Autonomy
International research workshop
Event outline
An international research workshop for academics and policymakers will be held at Utrecht University, the Netherlands, on June 25-26, 2026. The workshop explores the resurgence of government ownership and the many questions it raises regarding sustainability and strategic autonomy. Further details are provided below.
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.
Conference Details
- 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.
Practical information
Prelimenary conference programme
- Start date and time
- End date and time
- Location
- Janskerkhof 2-3, 3512 BK Utrecht
- Entrance fee
- free
- Registration
Submission of papers for this event is now closed.