Join us in Casablanca to engage with leading scholars and practitioners in the field of family business research !

The International Family Business Research Forum (IFBRF), now in its 8th edition, remains a key platform for advancing family business research and fostering meaningful dialogue and collaboration among scholars, practitioners, and emerging researchers, all within an inspiring context.

Building on the legacy of seven successful editions hosted at prestigious institutions—including the University of Witten/Herdecke in Germany (2015), the University of Naples Federico II in Italy (2016), WU – Vienna University of Economics and Business in Austria (2017), the International University of Monaco (2019), Hasselt University in Belgium (2022), the American University of Sharjah in the UAE (2023)—and following the vibrant 7th edition in Paphos, Cyprus (2024), the Forum now arrives, for the first time in Africa, at ESCA Ecole de Management in Casablanca, Morocco.

Purpose of the Forum

The 8th edition of the IFBRF aims to:

- Examine the evolving dynamics of business families as institutions that both shape and are shaped by their enterprises.

- Investigate the contextual and cultural heterogeneities of family businesses, exploring how varying environments influence their strategies, governance, and sustainability.

- Foster the development of tailored theoretical frameworks that capture the features of family firms, moving beyond the adaptation of general management theories.

- Explore and promote methodological advancements that better capture the heterogeneity and complexity inherent in family businesses.

- Highlight the practical implications of research and identify actionable insights for family business owners, managers, and policymakers.

What to expect ?

• Interactive Discussions

The Forum will feature a highly interactive and diverse format designed to foster rich discussions and knowledge exchange across multiple dimensions of family business research and practice.

• Meet the Editors

An opportunity for scholars to engage with editors and co-editors of leading academic journals in family business research.

• Practitioners Session

These sessions will feature family business practitioners who will share their personal experiences and insights on the challenges of managing family businesses.

• Case Study workshop

This session will focus on the methodology for writing and facilitating case studies.

• Networking opportunities

Connect with fellow researchers, practitioners, and thought leaders in the family business field. Our forum provides a platform for collaboration, discussion, and partnership building.

Key Dates

• All submissions are due May, 1st, 2025
• Notification of acceptance/ rejection for all submissions May 15th, 2025
• Registration deadline June 30th, 2025
• Doctoral workshop date September, 23rd, 2025
• Forum dates September,24-26, 2025

Keynote Speaker

Program Overview

Day 1 : 23 September 2025 Doctoral Workshop

• Welcome and registration
• Plenary Workshop: " The PhDJourney in Family Business Research"
• Presentation of Doctoral Proposals

Day 2 : 24 September 2025

• Casablanca City Tour 09:00 – 13:00 (optional)
• Panel Discussion 17:30 – 19:30 (ESCA Ecole de Management)
• Welcome reception, 19:30 – 20:30 (ESCA Ecole de Management)

Day 3 : 25 September 2025

• Welcome and Parallel Sessions, 08:30 – 18:00 (ESCA Ecole de Management)
• Keynote Session
• Meet the editors
• Gala Dinner, 19:00 – 22:00 (location TBA)

Day 4: 26 September 2025

• Parallel Sessions and Concluding Session, 08:30 – 18:00 (ESCA Ecole de Management)
• Plenary Practitioners Session: "Voices from the Field: Challenges and Successes in Family Business"
• Case study workshop

Day 5: 27 September 2025 (optional)

• Visit Program to Marrakech (ticket +)

Conference Proceedings