INGRoup 2025: two decades of insight and cooperation

INGRoup, the Interdisciplinary Network for Group Research, held its 20th annual conference from 17 to 19 July at the World Trade Centre in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Visited by approximately 260 international attendees, the conference brought together scholars from around the world to Rotterdam to explore the latest in team and group dynamics research. Hosted by Dr Julija Mell and Dr Maartje Schouten of Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM), together with Dr Heleen van Mierlo (ESSB) and Dr Martina Buljac (ESHPM), the event blended cutting-edge insights with a strong sense of community, highlighted by shared meals, vibrant discussions and a special celebration at Rotterdam’s Wereldmuseum. A standout moment: RSM’s Claudia Heese received the Best Graduate Student Paper Award.

INGRoup brings together researchers from diverse fields – for example; management, psychology, communication science, and medicine – to promote interdisciplinary group and team dynamics research. Scholars came together in the city centre of Rotterdam to share theoretical, methodological and empirical advancements through paper, poster, and symposia sessions and a keynote address by Prof. Carsten De Dreu of Rijksuniversiteit Groningen and former recipient of INGroup’s McGrath Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Study of Groups.

Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM) and RSM supported and sponsored the event. The event programme was successfully hosted by Julija Mell, associate professor, and Maartje Schouten, assistant professor, both of RSM’s department of Personnel and Organisation Management, together with Heleen van Mierlo, assistant professor at Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB) and Martina Buljac, associate professor at Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM).

Community and camaraderie

The conference welcomed approximately 260 international scholars. Beyond intellectual exchange, attendees bonded over shared meals and a highlight event at Rotterdam’s Wereldmuseum, thereby underscoring the event's strong sense of community, a core attribute of INGRoup.

Submission highlights

All submissions were peer-reviewed and award winners for best paper awards were selected by a panel of scholars. Interdisciplinary teams were strongly encouraged, with presenting authors limited to two submissions.

RSM PhD candidate Claudia Heese received the Best Graduate Student Paper Award for her paper entitled, No need to like my values, just respect them: When team value diversity enhances creative problem solving via integrative complexity. A recognition that showcases the calibre of emerging scholarship within RSM.

Looking Ahead

As the INGRoup community celebrates two decades of scholarship and connection, members are already looking forward to the Pittsburgh edition in July 2026, which will bring the event full circle from its inaugural conference there in 2006.

More information

Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) is one of Europe’s top-ranked business schools. RSM provides ground-breaking research and education furthering excellence in all aspects of management and is based in the international port city of Rotterdam – a vital nexus of business, logistics and trade. RSM’s primary focus is on developing business leaders with international careers who can become a force for positive change by carrying their innovative mindset into a sustainable future. Our first-class range of bachelor, master, MBA, PhD and executive programmes encourage them to become critical, creative, caring and collaborative thinkers and doers. www.rsm.nl

For more information about RSM or this release, please contact Danielle Baan, science communications and PR for RSM, on +31 10 408 2828 or by email at baan@rsm.nl.