Call for papers: PRI Research awards at PRI in Person 2025

The UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) works to understand responsible investment and to support its international network of investor signatories. The PRI acts in the long‐term interests of its signatories, of the financial markets and economies in which they operate and ultimately of the environment and society as a whole.

PRI in Person is the world’s leading responsible investment conference, convening more than 1,000 delegates each year to hear the latest developments, discuss best practice and network with delegates from across the globe. This year, the PRI in Person team will be working closely with our Academic Network Committee to integrate research perspectives across the programme in order to: 

• Generate opportunities for learning, dialogue and interaction between academics and RI leaders/ practitioners across global PRI ecosystem  
• Increase the awareness and utilisation of academic insights in the responsible investment community.
• Provide strong, independent, evidence of the impact of responsible investment within and across regions   

We invite the submission of academic research to be considered for one of the following prizes: 

1. PRI Outstanding Research Award – £5,000 
2. PRI Best Ph.D Student Paper Award – £2,500  

Winners of the prize would be invited to present their research results at PRI in Person 2025 and will receive a complimentary pass to attend the full event.  

Conference dates and location 

• Dates: 4-6 November 2025
• City: São Paulo, Brazil

Call for papers 

Aligning with key themes at PRI in Person, we invite submissions of papers that focus on responsible investment, and encourage those with an Emerging Markets and Developing Economies (EMDE) focus, especially inviting submissions on the following topics: 

• The investment case for sustainability/ responsible investment, including research on financial materiality.

• Capital mobilisation to Emerging Markets and Developing Economies (EMDE), including but not limited to: 

  • Utilising financial instruments and mechanisms such as blended finance, green or sustainability bonds, debt-for-nature swaps, climate funds.   

• Responsible investment’s role in advancing sustainability issues, including but not limited to: 

  • Synergies in addressing issues together – leveraging sustainability nexus points 

  • Investing to protect biodiversity and address nature loss 

  • Investing to address inequality and human rights (including Indigenous rights) 

  • Transition planning for climate and nature

  • The case for collaboration to support investors in addressing sustainability issues.

• The evolving global policy landscape, including both real economy and financial policies, and its role in advancing responsible investment.

• Arguments for institutional investor’s role in addressing global socio-economic and systemic issues, through practices such as stewardship and systems level investing.

• Emerging investor practice in response to technological and geopolitical changes, such as AI and defence. 

Submission information

Paper submission is now open! Submit your paper via ConfTool and adhere to the guidelines on ConfTool. 

Please note:

• The conference will be held in person in Brazil (in person only; no hybrid option).
• Full papers only. Extended abstracts will not be considered.
• Only papers in English can be submitted, with a page limit of 60 pages.
• Working papers only. Published or forthcoming papers should not be submitted.
• Only one submission per individual is allowed.  

Winning papers will be featured on the PRI website unless otherwise agreed. Past conference papers are also available.

Reviewing criteria  

Submissions will be reviewed according to the following criteria: 

• Contribution to responsible investment research, investor practice and the responsible investment landscape.
• Originality of subject of study or approach.
• Methodological strength.
• The practical significance of the research to PRI, its mission and signatories.

Winning papers will be judged in a double‐blind review process by the PRI’s Academic Network Advisory Committee. 

Conference committee 

• Laura Starks
  George Kozmetsky Centennial Distinguished University Chair 
  McCombs School of Business, University of Texas Austin 
• Pedro Matos 
  John G. Macfarlane Family Chair and Professor of Business Administration (Finance) 
  Darden School of Business, University of Virginia

Timeline

• 1 June 2025: Submission deadline for all papers 
• 30 June 2025: Notification to applicants of accepted papers 

Contact 

For questions regarding submission, please contact [email protected]    

For questions about the conference, please contact [email protected]