SICS - Summer Institute in Competitive Strategy
All interested researchers are invited to participate in the 24th Summer Institute in Competitive Strategy (SICS), scheduled from July 6-10, 2026 , at the Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley. The purpose of this meeting is to provide a setting that enables researchers interested in competitive strategy in marketing to meet and discuss research in this area for an extended period, exchange ideas, and engage in collaborative work.
The research area will be competitive strategy broadly defined, including both theoretical and empirical work. Topics covered may potentially include pricing, branding, product design, new product development, advertising, promotion, distribution channels, sales force management, customer relationship management, strategic alliances, digital marketing, e-commerce, social media marketing, marketing analytics, market design, ML/AI in marketing, and psychological phenomena relevant to competitive strategy.
The meeting will consist of the presentation of approximately fifteen research papers over the five days of the meeting. Each presentation will take an hour and a half, which includes a presentation and discussion. In addition, time and space will be provided for the participants to engage in conversations and joint research. Current and past supporters of the conference include the Yale Center for Customer Insights, the Gilbert Center, the Fisher Center for Business Analytics, the Institute for Business Innovation, the Marketing Science Institute, and the INFORMS Society for Marketing Science.
Throughout the year, updated information on SICS will be posted here.
Registration: Standard registration for the meeting can be made online at https://na.eventscloud.com/ereg/newreg.php?eventid=855719& by June 1, 2026. The registration fee is $450.
Papers: Researchers interested in submitting a paper to be presented at SICS should submit the paper to be presented by February 28, 2026 to sics@haas.berkeley.edu
The papers will be selected by the SICS 2026 Co-Chairs based on quality, relevance to competitive strategy, and facilitation of the breadth of topics discussed. Some preference may be given to papers by junior faculty. Working papers to be presented at the meeting should be available by June 1, 2026.
Doctoral students: Doctoral students interested in competitive strategy are welcome to apply by April 15, 2026 at sics@haas.berkeley.edu. All applications should include a resumé and a recommendation from their thesis adviser.
Co-Chairs
Anthony Dukes
Raphael Thomadsen