Call For Proposals

Call for Proposals is now open

The 15^th edition of the Illicit Network Workshop will be hosted by the Complexity Science Hub in Vienna on June 29-30 2026.

Background

The Illicit Networks Workshop (INW) includes the leading scholars and analysts from across the world that share a research interest in the use of network analysis in furthering the understanding of the activities of individuals, groups, and organizations engaged in organized crime, gangs, transnational crime and corruption issues. The INW is designed with the goal of maximizing meaningful and ongoing knowledge exchange among researchers, policy makers and those involved in policy, program and practical engagement with illicit networks. While some members draw heavily on quantitative social network analysis, others utilize other methods (e.g. ethnography) for studying illicit networks. The focus is less on the relative merits of the approach and more on the rigor of the science and value of the insights to theory building and practical policy solutions.

The 15^th edition of the Illicit Network Workshop will be hosted by the Complexity Science Hub on June 29-30 2026. The location is conveniently located at a 20 minute train ride from Vienna International Airport. The conference venue is located in the historical city center.

Call for proposals

Two types of proposals are welcome

Stream 1: Publication ready research

Presenters will be required to submit a full paper by the June 22 2026 deadline for consideration for publication in a special issue (more details to follow). Presenters will have 15 minutes to present completed research followed by 5 minutes questions and answers

Stream 2: In-progress research

Presenters will have 10 minutes to present early-stage research followed by 10 minutes feedback from delegates

We extend an invitation to those working to better understand and/or deal with illicit networks from academia, policy makers or law enforcement to submit a proposal. Popular themes at the conference have been:

Organised crime
Gangs
Transnational crime (including trafficking)
Terrorism (including radicalisation)
Economic crime
Corruption
Cybercrime
Child exploitation
Environment crime
Other (Please specify)

Proposals for presentations/papers (Stream 1: 1,000 words minimum; Stream 2-4: 300 words maximum) can be submitted be sending an email to Bernhard Haslhofer <haslhofer@csh.ac.at> before March 2 2026, mentioning INW2026 in the title. Proposals should include:

the type of paper (stream 1-2),
the title,
lead and co-authors,
author affiliations
clear description of the research questions
the data and methods of analysis used.
Abstracts of stream 1 papers should also include preliminary findings when available.

Successful applicants will be notified by March 9 2026.

A maximum of 30 proposals will be accepted, once attendance has been confirmed the lead presenter will be automatically registered for the event.

Cost of registration fee (including all event catering), social events, and 2 nights’ accommodation in Vienna (for foreign participants) will be covered by the organizing committee for the lead presenter on all accepted and delivered Stream1 papers. Co-authors are welcome to attend as delegates. Papers will be included in a special issue of a leading international academic journal.

Important Workshop dates:

– Abstract submission due: March 2 2026

– Notification to authors: March 9 2026

– Full papers due: June 22 2026

– Workshop in Vienna: Monday 29th of June – Tuesday 30th of June 2026