Dear Conference Participants,

We take great pleasure in inviting you to the fourth Multinational Enterprises and Sustainable Development International Conference (MESD’15). MESD’15 will be jointly organized by the AUDAX - Entrepreneurship Center of ISCTE-IUL which hosts the conference this year, the ICN Business School (France), the CEREFIGE of the Université de Lorraine (France), and the Center for International Business Education and Research, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA.

MESD’15 will mainly focus on the ways MNEs can address sustainability in general with a focus on climate change issues. Considering the magnitude of the global warming issues, MESD’15 expands its target to any enterprise concerned by climate change issues. A particular intention will be given to enterprises known as “Born Global” whose impact on sustainability issues is revolutionizing the traditional character of international business. The conference seeks to identify any new feature of MNEs that is compatible with sustainable development in general and with the climate change issues in particular.

To achieve the transformation towards a more sustainable world, the main political, economic and societal actors are looking for global solutions to face the global climate change which is perceived as the most important issue of our time. An ever increasing number of regions, sectors, ecosystems and social groups are confronted in the same time by the impacts of climate change on future societal transformation. Climate change is also severely affecting MNEs activities in a wide variety of sectors and countries. Their large activities can accelerate or slow the sustainable development process both locally and globally.

MESD’15 encourages any type of multi-, inter- or transdisciplinary studies and practices linking disciplines, knowledge systems and stakeholders to support a more sustainable business.

This international conference will be of great interest to researchers, scientists, experts, consultants and other professionals working in the broad areas of any enterprise having a role to play for a more sustain business. We are looking forward to the participation of persons in a position to influence the strategic and future vision of their companies in the full range of sustainability issues

We are looking forward to a rigorous and focused exchange of ideas. From this, we will publish selected papers and presentations in a proceedings book and in a special issue of international business journals to enrich a growing body of policy and management literature.

In 2012, Lisbon was awarded "E-Visionary Award" for its sustainability.

The city is especially recognized for its policies that promote the integration of municipal electric vehicles and the implementation of charging stations.

The concern for sustainability goes beyond environmental issues, and that’s why Lisbon is a great stage for such initiatives that encourage corporate sustainable development.

Conference Co-chairs
Pedro Sebastião, Silvester Ivanaj, Vera Ivanaj and John McIntyre