Happy New Year, ENT members!
Nominations are being accepted for the 2026 Foundational Paper Award. This award is given annually for a paper that has had a lasting and positive influence on the field of entrepreneurship. Please consider nominating one or more paper(s) for the award.
Award criteria
The Foundational Paper Award recognizes a published paper that has significantly and positively changed the conversation in the field of entrepreneurship research. For example, such a paper may have applied a concept or theory in entrepreneurship research in an especially meaningful way; or empirically investigated an important question in a novel way to better clarify or reveal the truth regarding a key concept; or in any way changed the boundaries of the domain of entrepreneurship. To be eligible for this award, the author must be living. Generally, too, foundational papers will have been published for at least 10 years (i.e., prior to 2016). A list of past winners can be found on the ENT Division website, at https://ent.aom.org/awards
Re-Nominations
Papers nominated during the prior year (2025) will automatically be considered for the award during the current year (2026) as well. However, papers nominated more than one year prior must be re-nominated to be reconsidered.
Award process & background
The Research Committee of the Entrepreneurship Division will review all nominations and determine awards in accordance with the above criteria. Winner(s) will be announced when the award is presented in August at the annual meeting of the Academy of Management in Philadelphia.
How to nominate a paper:
Submit your nomination at the following form: https://forms.gle/waGiYEAPSSh4unGd7. The due date for all submissions is Wednesday, April 15, 2026. The form will ask for the following information:
1. The nominated paper. Please include the title, the author(s), and the journal in which it was published.
2. Your name. Please include your name in your email, in case we need to contact you for any clarification.
3. A short nominating statement. Include a short statement (up to 200 words) explaining why the paper merits this award.
Thank you in advance for your nominations!
Cheers,
Audra Quinn
Awards Committee Chair
Entrepreneurship Division of the Academy of Management
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Audra Quinn
University of Southern California
agquinn@marshall.usc.edu------------------------------