IFKAD editions

IFKAD 2026

Intelligent Knowledge for Sustainable Organizations

Corvinus University of Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
  • 1 July 2026
  • - 3 July 2026

Purpose

The convergence of Knowledge Management (KM) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming how organizations generate, share, and apply knowledge to pursue sustainability. At the heart of this transformation lies the concept of intelligent knowledge: systems that dynamically combine human cognitive capacities with advanced AI-based tools to foster ethical, inclusive, and purpose-driven innovation.
In a time of ecological, social, economic, and technological upheaval, organizations must innovate while meeting long-term sustainability goals such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitments. Intelligent knowledge offers a way to navigate this complexity by positioning AI not as a replacement for human thinking but as an enhancement — expanding analytical capacity while preserving human judgment, imagination, aesthetic experience, and values.
For decades, KM has addressed the challenges of systematically creating, storing, sharing, and applying knowledge within organizations. Traditional problems included how to capture and diffuse technical knowledge, how to bridge silos, and how to ensure that knowledge supports decision-making and innovation. Today, AI promises to solve some of these long-standing challenges by providing unprecedented computational power, automating processes, and enabling rapid access to vast knowledge repositories.
At the same time, new and pressing challenges are emerging. Organizations must now question what it truly means to create intelligent knowledge in an era dominated by digital technologies. How can they ensure the validity and reliability of AI-generated knowledge? How can they manage the ethical risks of algorithmic bias and automated decision-making? How can they preserve the richness of tacit, embodied, and emotional expertise that machines cannot codify? The task ahead is not only to adopt advanced technologies but also to re-imagine KM practices that cultivate hybrid knowledge ecosystems where human creativity, critical judgment, and relational intelligence work in synergy with AI’s computational power.
This shift calls for a new vision of KM: one that views knowledge not just as information to be stored, retrieved, and managed mainly by people, but as a dynamic capability integrating the capacity of both human and new digital systems, which enables organizations to adapt, learn, and thrive in complex environments. Intelligent knowledge thus becomes a cornerstone of organizational excellence, resilience, and sustainability.
IFKAD 2026 offered an international platform to explore key frontier issues. The conference will promote dialogue on how intelligent knowledge can support sustainable innovation, organizational resilience, and responsible governance in the digital age. It encourages contributions that analyse the opportunities, challenges, and implications of AI-enabled knowledge systems for organizations, economies, and societies.
Also, IFKAD is primarily a scientific event that brings together academics. It aims to foster conversation and create a learning experience in which academics, practitioners, and policymakers discuss the role of intelligent knowledge in building sustainable future organizations. IFKAD 2026 explored these urgent questions, advancing both theoretical understanding and practical insights. The conference will serve as a vibrant platform for co-creating knowledge to build intelligent, adaptive, and sustainable organizations that can flourish in an age of complexity.

Key Themes

  • Human–AI Hybrid Knowledge Ecosystems
  • AI-Powered KM for ESG and SDG Leadership
  • Ethics, Trust, and Governance of AI-Generated Knowledge
  • Tacit, Emotional, and Relational Knowledge in the AI Age
  • Intelligent KM for Organizational Resilience
  • Digital Transformation of KM Practices
  • Leadership, Competencies, and Culture for Intelligent KM
  • Inclusive Knowledge Access and Community Co-Creation
  • Generative AI, LLMs, and Emerging Technologies for KM
  • Metrics and Value of Intelligent Knowledge
  • Aesthetic dimensions of KM: design and arts for business excellence

Special Tracks

Entrepreneurship and New Technologies
Organizers:
Antonio Cimino, University of Messina, Italy
Ciro Troise, University of Turin, Italy
Vincenzo Corvello, University of Messina, Italy
Serena Filippelli, University of Parma, Italy
Vittorio Solina, University of Calabria, Italy

Evolving Competences for Managing Sustainable Projects in Knowledge Intensive Organizations
Organizers:
Paolo Canonico, University of Napoli Federico II, Italy
Ernesto De Nito, University of Salerno, Italy
Antonio Bassi, Association Project Management Lugano, Switzerland
María D. De-Juan-Vigaray, University of Alicante, Spain

Knowledge, Behavior, and Technology: Integrated Perspectives in Organizations
Organizers:
Angelo Rosa, LUM University De Gennaro, Italy
Nicola Capolupo, San Raffaele Roma University, Italy
Emilia Romeo, University of Salerno, Italy
Susanne Durst, Reykjavík University, Iceland

Intelligent and Sustainable Organisations and Communities Advancing Knowledge-Driven Innovation
Organizers:
Mauro Romanelli, University of Naples Parthenope, Italy
Alexandra Zbuchea, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, Romania
Domenico Celenza, Università degli Studi di Cassino e del Lazio Meridionale, Italy
Emanuele Gabriel Margherita, Link University, Roma, Italy
Stefano Marciano, University of Naples Parthenope, Italy

AI and its Impact on Organizations: Narratives, Storytelling, and New Forms of Human-Machine Collaboration
Organizers:
Maria Zifaro, Mercatorum University, Italy
Giovanni Spatola, Mercatorum University, Italy
Giuseppe Ambrosio, Mercatorum University, Italy
Anna Bisogno, Mercatorum University, Italy
Federica Bandini, Bologna University, Italy

Enabling Hybrid Knowledge: Digital Platforms for Human-AI Synergy in Sustainable Organizations
Organizers:
Andrea De Mauro, Università degli Studi Roma Due, LUISS, Italy
Paola Demartini, Università degli Studi Roma Tre, Italy
Lucia Marchegiani, Università degli Studi Roma Tre, Italy
Michela Marchiori, Università degli Studi Roma Tre, Italy

Organizational Aesthetics as Knowledge Infrastructure: New Frontiers in Knowledge Management
Organizers:
Giovanna Afeltra, San Raffaele University, Rome, Italy
Maria Menshikova, Universitas Mercatorum, Rome, Italy
Maria Pia Ciano, Nottingham University, UK

Organisational Learning in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Reskilling, Upskilling, and Human Resource Transformation
Organizers:
Isabella Bonacci, Universitas Mercatorum, Italy
Stefano Di Lauro, Universitas Mercatorum, Italy
Maria Menshikova, Universitas Mercatorum, Italy
Alessandra Ricciardelli, Universitas Mercatorum, Italy
Danila Scarozza, Link Campus University, Italy

Advancing Sustainability, Digitalization, and their Integration: The Impact on Policies, Strategies, and Practices
Organizers:
Manuel Cavola, Università Telematica Pegaso, Naples, Italy
Patrice De Micco, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
Eduardo Pipicelli, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
Nunzia Zecchillo, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy

AI and Urban Development: Knowledge, Governance, Planning, and Design
Organizers:
Jörg Rainer Noennig, WISSENSARCHITEKTUR TU Dresden & Hafencity Universität Hamburg, Germany
Anja Jannack, WISSENSARCHITEKTUR TU Dresden, Germany
Fernando Montano, Hafencity Universität Hamburg, Germany
Balázs Cserpes, Hafencity Universität Hamburg, Germany

Towards a Sustainable Healthcare: Human Capabilities, AI, and Organizational Transformation in Action
Organizers:
Luigi Jesus Basile, Institut Mines-Télécom Business School, France
Elisabetta Garagiola, LIUC University, Italy
Mattia Vincenzo Olive, Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Maria Pinelli, Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Simonetta Primario, University of Naples Federico II, Italy

From Climate Action to Circularity: Integrating Knowledge Management and Digital Technologies for Resilient Models
Organizers:
Nicola Raimo, LUM University, Italy
Stefania Supino, San Raffaele University, Italy
Benedetta Esposito, San Raffaele University, Italy
Vitiana L’Abate, LUM University, Italy
Filippo Vitolla, LUM University, Italy

Intelligent Knowledge Management: Pathways to Corporate Sustainability in the Age of AI
Organizers:
Maria Zifaro, Mercatorum University, Italy
Giovanni Spatola, Mercatorum University, Italy
Stefania D’Aprile, Mercatorum University, Italy
Giuseppe Ambrosio, Mercatorum University, Italy
Marianna Mancino, Mercatorum University, Italy

Digital Architectures in Regenerative Social-Ecological Systems: Connecting Stakeholders to Exceed Times of Crisis
Organizers:
Maria Elena Latino, University of Salento, Italy
Marta Menegoli, University of Salento, Italy
Roberta Pellegrino, Polytechnic University of Bari, Italy
Antonio Piepoli, Polytechnic University of Bari, Italy
Pierpaolo Pontrandolfo, Polytechnic University of Bari, Italy

Organizational Change, Culture, and Emerging Technologies: Rethinking Knowledge for Sustainable Organizations
Organizers:
Filomena Pagnozzi, University of G. d’Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, Italy
Gilda Antonelli, University of G. d’Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, Italy
Jacob Sherson, Aarhus University, Denmark

Acceptance of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education
Organizers:
László Berényi, University of Miskolc, Hungary
Éva Pintér, Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary

Data-Driven Innovation in Sustainable Organisations: An Intelligent Knowledge Perspective
Organizers:
Francesco Antonio Perotti, University of Turin, Italy
Lorenzo Ardito, Polytechnic of Bari, Italy
Nikolett Deutsch, Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary
Alberto Ferraris, University of Turin, Italy

Reframing Knowledge Management and Intellectual Capital in the Era of AI and Emerging Technologies: Toward Inclusive and Sustainable Knowledge Ecosystems
Organizers:
Cristina Ledro, University of Padova, Italy
Claudio Loporcaro, Polytechnic of Bari, Italy
Vincenzo Varriale, University of Salerno, Italy
Luigi Jesus Basile, Institut Mines-Télécom Business School, France
Siriat Sae Lim, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan
Vito Del Vecchio, University of Salento, Italy

(Disruptive) Innovation Ecosystems (DIE) in the Era of Twin Transition: the lens of Intelligence and Knowledge Recombination Capabilities
Organizers:
Domenica Barile, University LUM Giuseppe Degennaro (Italy)
Maria Chiara De Lorenzi, University of Salento (Italy)
Armando Papa, University of Salerno (Italy)
Giustina Secundo, University LUM Giuseppe Degennaro (Italy)
Maria Elena Latino , University of Salento (Italy)

Digital Knowledge and Value Creation Beyond Profit: Intelligent Transformation for Sustainable, Social and Hybrid Organizations
Organizers:
Marta Aranyossy, Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary
Peter Halmosi, University of Szeged, Hungary

Responsible AI for Sustainable Knowledge and Process Management
Organizers:
Marianna Lezzi, Università del Salento, Italy
Nicolò Gianmauro Totaro, Università del Salento, Italy
Mariangela Lazoi, Università del Salento, Italy
Barbara Scozzi, Politecnico di Bari, Italy

Managing Circular Economy through Knowledge Management to Drive Measurable ESG Outcomes
Organizers:
Stefano Abbate, Pegaso University, Italy
Luigi Jesus Basile, Institut Mines-Télécom Business School, France
Pasquale Del Vecchio, University LUM, Italy
Maria Di Gregorio, University of Naples Federico II, Italy
Viviana Sicardi, University of Naples Parthenope, Italy

Human-AI Hybrid Knowledge Ecosystems for Sustainable Workplaces
Organizers:
Francesca Di Virgilio, University of Molise, Italy
Gianluigi Mangia, University of Napoli Federico II, Italy
Muhammad Wasemm Bari, Lyallpur Business School, Government College University, Pakistan
Angelo Rosa, Università LUM “Giuseppe Degennaro”, Italy

Rethinking the Role of Corporate Governance as an Enabler of Intelligent Knowledge in Global Supply Chains
Organizers:
Martina De Giovanni, University of Salento, Italy
Maria Elena Latino, University of Salento, Italy
Sara Ianniello, University of Naples Federico II, Italy
Serena Strazzullo, University of Naples Federico II, Italy

Intelligent Knowledge Ecosystems, AI and Organizational Innovation for the Sustainable Transformation of Agrifood Systems
Organizers:
Pier Paolo Miglietta, University of Salento, Italy
Pamela Palmi, University of Salento, Italy
Giulio Paolo Agnusdei, Pegaso University, Italy
Roberta Guglielmetti Mugion, Roma Tre University, Italy
Leonardo Agnusdei, Pegaso University, Italy

Dynamic Capabilities in Innovation; A Key Element of Intelligent Knowledge in Sustainable Organizations
Organizers:
Eva Mariann Kiss, Corvinus University Budapest, Hungary
Laszlo Kallay, Corvinus University Budapest, Hungary

Generative AI, LLMs, and Emerging Technologies for KM and Competitive Advantage
Organizers:
Ashish Malik, UNSW, Canberra, ACT, Australia
Mai Nguyen, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia

Keynote Speakers

  • Dörfler,
  • Viktor
  • University of Strathclyde Business School,
  • United Kingdom

Dr Viktor Dörfler is a scholar, consultant, teacher, and speaker, a Professor of AI Strategy at the University of Strathclyde Business School, Glasgow, UK and holds a Research Professor position at the Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary, as well as a Visiting Professor appointment at the University of Zagreb, Croatia. As a practitioner, Viktor spearheaded the development of AI software, designed intelligent platforms, and conducted a number of AI implementations. Meanwhile, his scholarly research focuses on talent, creativity, and the grandmaster-apprentice relationship. Viktor conducted in-depth open-ended interviews with 20 top scientists, including 17 Nobel Laureates, in order to understand the thinking of scientists at the highest level of mastery. He advises organisations how to get the balance right between using AI, fostering communities of practice, and enabling grandmaster-apprentice relationships. Viktor’s book What Every CEO Should Know About AI was published by the Cambridge University Press in 2022 followed by the Turkish edition in 2023.

  • Christofi,
  • Michael
  • Cyprus University of Technology,
  • Cyprus

Michael Christofi is Professor of Entrepreneurship, Management and Innovation. His research interests lie on the interface of innovation, marketing and entrepreneurship, family business, and information technology. He is Senior Editor of Information Technology & People and Associate Editor of International Marketing Review. Michael’s research has been cited over 10,000 times, leading him to be ranked among the top 2% of scientists from Stanford University. His research work has been published in premier publication outlets, such as in Journal of Product Innovation Management, Risk Analysis, British Journal of Management, Journal of World Business, Journal of Business Ethics, Technovation, Human Resource Management Review, Journal of Business Research, Technological Forecasting & Social Change, International Journal of Human Resource Management, International Business Review, and International Marketing Review, among others. He has also co-authored several book chapters and won various awards for his research work and academic service. He has also guest-edited more than 20 special issues of leading academic journals such as, British Journal of Management, Journal of Business Ethics, Technovation, International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior and Research, European Journal of Marketing, Journal of Business Research, Technological Forecasting & Social Change, International Marketing Review, and European Management Journal, among others.

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