Although each industry faces its own set of technological and economic challenges, there are commonalities and patterns to these challenges that cut across industries and academic disciplines. The Industry Studies Affiliates Program offers a dynamic forum for the exchange of ideas among scholars from a variety of industry specialties and academic backgrounds - including economics, business management, engineering, medicine, law, public policy, and sociology. Despite the diversity of research interests, the scholars affiliated with the Program share an interest in understanding industrial development both at the firm level and at the wider level of the markets within which the firms compete. Even more broadly, Industry Studies Affiliates are often concerned with "macro" issues that assess the links between the behavior of industrial firms and the well-being of society and the economy.

   Industry Studies Affiliates benefit from participating in a strong, like-minded community of scholars through regular communication on the Program's listserv as well as through a variety of meetings and workshops. In addition to serving as a forum for ideas and discussion, the listserv helps to provide notification of workshop opportunities, meetings, and special events that may be organized by any of the Sloan Industry Centers or other Industry Studies Affiliates. One of the major events of the Industry Studies Program is its Annual Conference, and Affiliates are invited to attend with registration fees waived.

  Affiliate status is open to a wide range of scholars, including faculty members, research staff, and post-docs working in academia. The Program is intended for scholars who seek to ground academic research in deep knowledge of a particular industry or industries. The work of many industry studies scholars is characterized by direct personal investment in observation-based research and/or direct communication with people in industry, and the program welcomes any scholar who takes this approach. The program likewise welcomes scholars who have complementary interests, such as working with observation-based researchers or building on the findings of observation-based research. Quantitative and qualitative research methodologies are equally valued, and communication across disciplinary boundaries is encouraged.

   Participation is encouraged by any scholar - whether or not they have had an association with the Foundation - who seeks to ground his or her research in a deep knowledge of particular industries through direct contact with industry for data, observations and insights.

   Nominations for membership in the Program may be made in a number of ways. Industry Studies Affiliates can nominate new Affiliates at any time, and individuals may also "self nominate."

   To learn more about eligibility, nominations, and the benefits of Affiliate status, including special grants the Foundation makes available to Industry Studies Affiliates, please visit the Industry Studies section of the Foundation's Web site.