Join us online: 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 hosting the 2026 Research symposium: Evidence and impact of beneficial ownership transparency.

Browse the agenda.

Dates: 26–27 February 2026

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

Registration: Follow this link to register for virtual attendance. Please note, space is limited so early registration is encouraged. We will contact you if your registration to attend online has been successful.

Virtual attendees will be encouraged to actively participate in all sessions, including Q&As and online breakout room discussions.

Contact: [email protected]

Agenda: Browse the agenda here. Please note, the agenda is subject to change.

Purpose

This research symposium will take place over two days in February 2026, and aims to support evidence-based policymaking, implementation, and advocacy of beneficial ownership transparency (BOT) reforms. The Symposium will foster a generative dialogue and provide a platform convening 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.

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

The key themes to be presented by researchers, advocates, and practitioners are:

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?

Please note, the deadline for submissions has now passed. If you have questions, please contact us on [email protected].

Read the full symposium agenda here. Please note, this is subject to change.

Follow this link to register for virtual attendance. Please note, space is limited so early registration is encouraged. We will contact you if your registration to attend online has been successful.

If you have questions, please contact us on [email protected].

This event is funded with UK International Development from the UK government.