The Northwestern Center on Law, Business, and Economics is issuing an open Call for Papers for the Fourth Annual Empirical Research Conference on Standardization, to be held at Northwestern University in Chicago, IL on Thursday, October 24 - Friday, October 25, 2024.

The conference will feature presentations of empirical research on standardization in economics, management, law, and adjacent fields; as well panel discussions between standardization practitioners and policymakers. It is intended as a forum for exchange between researchers and experts of standardization on policy issues, research avenues, and methodology.

For reference, the agendas and papers for the 2019, 2022 and 2023 events can be found here: https://www.law.northwestern.edu/research-faculty/clbe/events/standardization/

TOPICS: While papers on all standards-related topics are welcome, we especially encourage submissions related to the following topic areas:
- Technology standards and technological innovation
- Technology standards and Intellectual Property Rights
- Standardization policy (national, regional, international)
- Economic benefits of standardization
- Governance of standards development organizations and processes
- Use of standards in regulations and laws
- Technology standards and international trade
- AI standardization

In addition to paper presentations, we are inviting presentations of datasets or novel empirical methodologies that can be used in empirical research on standardization.

The Northwestern Center on Law, Business, and Economics will cover hotel accommodations for academic speakers and discussants. We encourage academic speakers to cover their own travel expenses if possible. Academic speakers may apply for support for reasonable travel expenses.

PAPER SUBMISSIONS: Please submit a paper or extended abstract no later than close of business on Wednesday, July 10, 2024.

- While extended abstracts can be considered, a draft paper would be preferred.

- Please also indicate whether you might be interested in serving as a paper discussant.

- Please submit your proposals to clbe@law.northwestern.edu