Call for submissions: Research symposium on beneficial ownership transparency

Open Ownership, the World Bank Group’s Beneficial Ownership Transparency Thematic Working Group, and the Centre for the Study of Corruption at the University of Sussex are inviting submissions to the 2026 Research symposium: Evidence and impact of beneficial ownership transparency.

Dates: 26–27 February 2026

Location: Hybrid - University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom

Attendance: In-person attendance is strongly encouraged for those making a submission. For those who wish to attend without making a submission, more information will be shared later regarding how to register to attend in-person or online. You may email us your expression of interest in attending.

Deadline for submissions: 23:59 GMT, 16 November 2025

Contact: [email protected]

Read the full call for submissions.

Purpose

This research symposium will take place over one and a half days in February 2026, and aims to support evidence-based policymaking, implementation, and advocacy of beneficial ownership transparency (BOT) reforms. The Symposium will be designed as a generative dialogue and connection space among researchers and academic experts in the field, as well as hosting a diversity of individuals from academia, multilateral agencies, civil society, and the public sector. A small number of bursaries will be available by application to support travel and accommodation costs for selected presenters, to facilitate participation by historically underrepresented voices.

The main purpose of the event is to share and promote novel empirical research on topics related to policy design, effective implementation, use, and impact measurement of BOT for legal vehicles and assets. It also seeks to elevate the topic of BOT on academic research agendas internationally, and to deepen our collective understanding of the field. This includes considering how the disclosure and use of beneficial ownership information of legal vehicles and assets contributes to broader policy goals, such as fairer and more effective taxation, robust public procurement, and broader public policy and economic outcomes.

Key topics of interest

We welcome submissions by researchers, advocates, and practitioners on themes related to:

1. BOT policy design and implementation;
2. impact measurement and data use;
3. and BOT of assets and other horizon issues.

This may include current or forthcoming research on topics such as:

• How do legal and institutional frameworks, design, and implementation affect the use of beneficial ownership information and reform outcomes?
• What tools and methods can we use to assess how effective BOT reforms are at promoting data use?
• What measurable impacts is BOT having in areas such as public procurement, taxation, anti-corruption, and illicit financial flows?
• What are the challenges and opportunities for tracking ownership and control of high-value assets across borders?
• What are alternatives to declaration-based collection of information about beneficial ownership?

Further information on the symposium, including full details on topics of interest, event logistics, and submission guidelines, is available in the call for submissions.