The 51st Annual Conference of the European International Business Academy (EIBA), titled “The Myth of Harmony – Strategic Realities in International Business Practices,” took place in Athens from 11 to 13 December 2025.
The University of Piraeus organized the conference in collaboration with the University of Macedonia and hosted it at the Athens Concert Hall. The event attracted hundreds of academics, researchers, and business professionals from around the world.
The conference reinforced Athens’ role as a key hub for academic dialogue in international business and highlighted the strong presence of the Greek academic community in the global research ecosystem.
The conference opened on Thursday, 11 December, with a plenary session featuring the Governor of the Bank of Greece, Yannis Stournaras, as keynote speaker. He examined the challenges facing the global economy during a period of increasing geopolitical uncertainty. Conference Chair Professor Konstantina Kottaridi, University of Piraeus Rector Professor Michail Sfakianakis, Professor Dimitris Kyrkilis from the University of Macedonia, and the Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, delivered the opening remarks. All speakers emphasized the importance of the conference for scientific collaboration and Greece’s international visibility. During the same session, Professor Charoula Apalagaki, representing the Hellenic Bank Association, and Konstantina Svinou, President of the Institute for Tourism Research, also addressed the audience.
The scientific program covered a wide range of activities, including thematic sessions, research presentations, workshops, and discussions on contemporary international business issues. Participants explored key topics such as geopolitical risks and their impact on international investment, global innovation networks and knowledge transfer, the internationalization of small and medium-sized enterprises, and developments in the digital economy and global trade. The program also focused strongly on sustainability strategies in multinational enterprises, corporate governance, and emerging leadership models in the international business environment.
The organizers placed particular emphasis on supporting early-career researchers and the next generation of academics. They offered specialized activities such as the John H. Dunning Doctoral Tutorial, the Danny Van Den Bulcke Doctoral Symposium, and Paper Development Workshops. These sessions allowed participants to discuss their research with leading scholars in the field. In addition, the “Meet the Editors” session gave participants the opportunity to engage directly with editors of leading academic journals in international business.
The EIBA Fellows plenary session drew significant interest, as internationally recognized scholars explored the future of multinational enterprises in an increasingly complex and uncertain environment. They focused on shifting global economic balances and examined how firms must adapt their strategies in a rapidly changing international landscape.
The conference theme, “The Myth of Harmony,” encouraged broader reflection on strategic decision-making in a world shaped by geopolitical tensions, technological transformation, and environmental challenges. Participants examined deglobalization, the reconfiguration of global supply chains, the role of artificial intelligence in shaping new business models, and the challenges that the climate crisis poses for sustainable business development.
The conference concluded with an official dinner, where organizers presented Nikos Nanopoulos with an honorary award in recognition of his long-standing and distinguished contribution to the field of international business. Distinguished guests attended the ceremony, including the President of the Athens Chamber of Professionals, Giannis Chatzitheodosiou.
Major sponsors supported the event, including the Research Center of the University of Piraeus, the Athens Chamber of Professionals, Eurobank, the Hellenic Bank Association, publishing houses that organized book exhibitions, and other private sector organizations.
The successful delivery of EIBA 2025 confirmed the vital role of scientific collaboration and international knowledge exchange in addressing global economic challenges. It also strengthened the international presence of the Greek academic community and established Athens as a key meeting point for the global research community in international business.