The global strategic landscape is entering a period of profound transformation. The post–Cold War consensus around open markets and global interdependence is giving way to a world of entrenched geopolitical blocs, regulatory divergence, and economic nationalism. States increasingly use economic tools—sanctions, export controls, tariffs, and industrial policy—not only to advance domestic priorities but also as instruments of geopolitical leverage. Interdependence, once a foundation of cooperation, is now often weaponized.
Digital transformation and innovation ecosystems are both shaping and shaped by these dynamics. New technologies emerge and diffuse unevenly across geopolitical lines, while digital infrastructure, platforms, and data governance have become contested domains. Innovation ecosystems—once globally integrated—are fragmenting, raising questions about where breakthroughs emerge, who controls them, and how firms and institutions collaborate under conditions of mistrust. Strategic responses must now integrate geopolitical foresight with technological agility.
Firms must operate across fault lines defined not only by competition but also by divergent political systems, security interests, and institutional logics. Large multinationals with diversified footprints may navigate multiple regimes and influence global standards, while smaller and mid-sized firms face growing uncertainty and tighter constraints. Bridging divides—between markets, institutions, ideologies, and technological infrastructures—has never been more critical. Strategic leaders must rethink how to balance local responsiveness with global coherence and manage ecosystems that span national and technological boundaries.
Berlin provides a uniquely resonant setting for these conversations. Once a symbol of global division, the city now embodies reunification, resilience, and regeneration. It hosts a dynamic mix of economic actors—global giants and Mittelstand manufacturers, startups and social enterprises, research institutes, and policy makers—offering both symbolic context and a living laboratory to examine how organizations navigate strategic challenges. The SMS 46th Annual Conference calls for theoretical, empirical, and practitioner contributions that explore how strategic management can help firms—and societies—adapt to and shape this evolving geoeconomic, institutional, and technological landscape.
Professor Elisa Giuliani will present the work Directed Technical Change: When Substitution Leads to Regret on October 20th, 3:45pm in Paper Session: Track I “Innovating for the Climate Challenge”.
