The 8th International Conference on Business Innovation (ICOBI 2025), hosted by the NSBM Faculty of Business, concluded today. Continuing its eight-year legacy, the conference was built around the crucial theme: “Innovating for Resilience – Redefining Business and Education Beyond Boundaries.”

The conference format consisted of the inauguration ceremony in the morning, with parallel sessions and poster presentations in the afternoon. The research articles presented on the day were published in the ICOBI 2025 Proceedings.

This timely international conference was opened with the Inauguration Ceremony, which unfolded at NSBM Auditorium. It was graced by the presence of the Deputy Vice Chancellor of NSBM, Prof. Chaminda Rathnayake, Head of Academic Development and Quality Assurance, Prof. J. Baratha Dodankotuwa, Dean of the Faculty of Business, Ms. Thilini De Silva, Dean of the Faculties, along with the participation of Heads of Departments, other distinguished guests, paper and poster presenters from various public and private universities, and undergraduates of NSBM.

The inauguration ceremony was also accompanied by several insightful speeches and research presentations, including three insightful keynote speeches. The ceremony was graced by three eminent keynote speakers: Prof. Pavithra Kailasapathy – University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Prof. Linda Bradley – University of Gothenburg, Sweden and Dr. Christopher A. Siaw – University of Plymouth, UK. 

ICOBI 2025 featured several noteworthy milestones, including the official launch of the ICOBI 2025 Proceedings and the unveiling of the International Journal of Contemporary Business Research (IJCBR).

The conference was successfully organized under the leadership of the Conference Chair, Dr. Piyumi Wickramasinghe, Co-Conference Chairs, Mr. Shaja Musthaffa and Mr. Venura Colombage, and Conference Secretary, Ms Tharushi Hettiarachchi.

The ICOBI 2025 conference, hosted by the Faculty of Business at NSBM Green University, served as a vital knowledge platform for sharing cutting-edge research and diverse perspectives on business innovation and digital resilience.

The academic discourse was structured across eleven focused sub-themes, exploring key trends, challenges, and advancements shaping the global business landscape. These comprehensive sub-themes included:

Each session was co-chaired by distinguished panels consisting of eminent researchers, academics, and NSBM faculty members, ensuring a high-level, comprehensive discussion on business innovation at ICOBI 2025.

Adding to the day’s academic activity, a vibrant poster exhibition was held at the Faculty of Business premises. This display showcased cutting-edge, innovative research projects completed by NSBM’s final-year students. These presentations enriched the overall academic output of ICOBI 2025, underscoring the vital contributions of our emerging scholars to the study of business innovation and digital resilience.