PDSF2026: Paris Defence and Strategy Forum Third Edition PARIS, France, March 24-26, 2026 |
| Conference website | https://www.parisdefenceandstrategyforum.com/en/ |
| Submission link | https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=pdsf2026 |
| Submission deadline | December 10, 2025 |
Paris Defence and Strategy Forum
Third Edition
Important Dates and Call For Papers
Conference Location: École Militaire, Paris, France
Conference Dates: March 24th- 26th, 2026
Submission Deadline: December 10th
Acceptance Notification: January 31st
Conference Description
The current period is marked by major and unprecedented geopolitical developments, which have increased uncertainties and brought issues of conflict, dispute, defense, resilience, and resistance as well as of internaitonal law and ethic to the forefront of state and popualtion concerns.
The 2026 Paris Defence and Strategy Forum invites international researchers to explore the evolving landscape of conflict, of their anticipation and preparation to face them, and technological innovation. The ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, escalating tensions in the Middle East and Indo-Pacific region, and the evolving relationships among Western nations have fundamentally reshaped our understanding of global security and of risk and threat perception. As autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, and machine learning continue to blur the boundaries between traditional and digital battlefields, as well as cognitive warfare blur the borders between online and offline world, we are witnessing a profound metamorphosis in both the conceptual and practical domains of warfare.
This context also has raised concerns about protecting democracy in many countries as these conflicts extend beyond traditional battlefields to new fronts in economics, research and development, and cyberspace, and even to human cognition targeting military as civilians. As overt and covert warfare increasingly intertwines in the digital and physical worlds, and with the rise of autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, our understanding of conflictuality, influence, training, innovation, human resource management, and cybersecurity is called to evolve.
As states and non-state actors alike use digital technologies to wage war, there is a need for a deeper understanding of the implications of these actions especially in information systems and AI the multiplication of battlefields, human involvement, and ethical considerations have become profound and complex.
As such, the preparedness for new conflicts, the measurement, evaluate and anticipation of cognitive warfare's effect are subject of interest.
Similarly, the possibility to strengthen and facilitate cooperation and joint innovation between the private sector and the military must be analyzed, as well as the training and knowledge management systems evolution, at the moment where information are more and more massive for the operators. As many countries are relaunching their defense program, the anticipated of conflict is a cornerstone, coupled with the anticipation of future threats. Lastly, the implications for public cognition and decision-making, including that of leaders are a main issue as the cognitive warfare is enhancing. Those subjects address also the new forms of governance and international cooperation needed to deal with these threats. These points open on technical but also social, legal and philosophical question such as the preservation of human values on an increasingly automated and digitalized battlefield.
Additionally, technological advances have both exacerbated and helped to counter these new threats. On the one hand, technological advances have fueled the rise of new actors in modern warfare, such as terrorist groups, state-sponsored vigilantes, state-sponsored cyber criminals groups, or Private Military Companies used as proxies. On the other hand, it has also created opportunities to counter threats, such as OSINT, drone development, the digitisation of the battlefield, the development and management of innovation, new training methods & opportunities, and collaboration between the private sector, industry, and militaries.
As part of the Paris Defence and Strategy Forum, this conference provides a unique opportunity for academics to engage directly with military decision-makers, defense industry experts, policymakers, and researchers. This conference will bring together interdisciplinary perspectives from academics, information systems scholars, military decision-makers, policymakers, cybersecurity experts, and ethicists to address the challenges and opportunities presented by cyber warfare.
The tracks welcome early-stage and advanced-stage studies that use empirical, design, and conceptual/theoretical approaches to develop an understanding of this critical topic. We invite research from all fields, including information systems, computer science, law, management, strategy and entrepreneurship, economics, organizational behavior, international business, and supply chain management.
Cybersecurity topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
1. Cognitive and Psychological Dimensions of Warfare
Exploring the strategic manipulation of perception, cognition, and behavior in modern conflicts.
- Cognitive war
- Decision-making and Deterrence
- Social engineering and cognitive vulnerabilities
- IS and Human Factors in Conflictuality or Crisis
- Digital Learning and Defence Curricula
- Impact of conflicts on global political and economic order
- Training evolution
- Public cognition and leadership under threat
2. AI, Autonomy, and Human-Machine Integration
Assessing the roles of artificial intelligence, automation, and the human-machine interface in defense strategies.
- AI in Society and Defence
- Semi-autonomous systems in conflict scenarios
- Human-machine interface
- Ethical considerations in technological warfare
- Adaptive command and control systems
- Governance implications of AI deployment
- Governance models for emerging security challenges
3. Cybersecurity, Digital Platforms, and Threats
Investigating cyber threats, cross-border vulnerabilities, and digital battlegrounds.
- Cybersecurity
- Emerging cybersecurity threats across national borders
- Data security and targeted technological attacks
- Threats posed by IT Implementation and Adoption
- Threats posed by relying on platforms and Crowds
- Security Threats and Opportunities posed by Digital Innovation & Transformation
- Technological drivers of risk
- Security and Blockchain, DLT, and Fintech
4. Information Systems and Digital Infrastructures in Security
Analyzing the use and risks of information systems, digital services, and infrastructure in defense and crisis management.
- Information Systems in Healthcare
- IS Design, Development and Defence and Security Project Management
- IS in Coordination, planification, and operational deployment as it pertains to security
- Military impact of IS
- Security impact of IS
- IoT, Services, Defence, and Government
- Data Analytics for Defence and Security Challenges
5. Strategic and Organizational Adaptation
Exploring the transformation of defense institutions and military strategy in light of technological change and emerging threats.
- Organizing Defence, Security and Military Strategy Processes in the Digital Age
- Management change to new conflictuality reality
- Digital Technologies and the Future of Defence, Security, and Strategy
- Digital strategy and governance
- Governance and Digital Strategy
- New conflictuality and new technologies
- Identifying Emerging Security threats
6. Innovation Ecosystems and Public–Private Collaboration
Understanding the dynamics of joint innovation and operational integration between military, public, and private actors.
- Role of private sector and military collaboration
- Protecting traditional and new vulnerable areas: Understanding novel theatres of war
- New actors in modern warfare
- How public–private innovation ecosystems respond to hybrid threats
Optional Special Track (Cross-Cutting/Global Perspective):
7. Global Perspectives and Geopolitical Implications
Research focusing on geopolitical reconfiguration, regional security dynamics, and non-Western or non-traditional perspectives.
- Contributions from Global South and non-European regions
- Comparative studies across conflict zones
- Evolving international cooperation and governance models
- Case studies on Ukraine, Indo-Pacific, Middle East, etc.
And Practitioner-Oriented Research related to these topics.
General Submission Information
All submissions must be submitted through the Easy chair platform. The submission system opens on October 20th, 2024.
All submissions should be submitted as a PDF file.
Submission may be done in French and/or in English
Submissions that violate any of the above-listed guidelines will be removed from the review process.
Platform for submission Easychair: https://easychair.org/my/conference?conf=pdsf2026
Submission Types :
Completed Research Papers (RP) - Max 40,000 characters
Work in Progress Paper (WP) – 6,000 to 15,000 characters
Extended Abstract Paper (EP) – 3,000 to 6,000 characters
PDSF does not claim copyright for the papers. Authors are permitted to simultaneously submit their work elsewhere.
The word count includes a max. 200-word abstract (for RP and WP), all figures and tables (for RP, WP, EP). References are generally excluded from the word count.
Reference must follow the APA norms
For any questions regarding the conference, please contact: pdsf2026@gmail.com
Conference Committee Members (to be confirmed)
- Jason B Thatcher - Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado-Boulder
- Marten Risius - University of Applied Sciences Neu-Ulm
- Christine Dugoin-Clément- IAE de Paris
- Rui Chen - Iowa State University
- John D'Arcy - University of Delaware
- Dan Pienta - University of Tennessee-Knoxville
- Sebastian Schuetz - Florida International University
- Kevin M. Blasiak – TU Wien
- Heng Xu - University of Florida
- Eric lamarque - IAE de Paris
- Jean-Loup Richet - IAE de Paris