InCIS 2025: A LANDMARK EVENT FOR INFORMATION SYSTEMS RESEARCH IN INDIA

The first-ever India Conference on Information Systems (InCIS) 2025 held on March 7-9, marked a significant milestone in the field of Information Systems (IS), bringing together scholars, practitioners, and thought leaders to explore the intersection of technology and indigenous knowledge. Organized by the AIS India Chapter (INAIS) in collaboration with IIM Calcutta, the Centre for Digital Transformation at IIM Ahmedabad, S. P. Jain Institute of Management & Research, the conference provided a dynamic platform for advancing IS research and practice in the Indian context.

INAIS and Its Role in Advancing IS Research in India

INAIS, the Indian chapter of AIS, has played a crucial role in shaping the IS landscape in India since its establishment in 2016. Through its commitment to research, pedagogy, and professional development, INAIS has gained global recognition, winning the Best AIS Chapter Award for four consecutive years since 2019. Its members have actively contributed to international IS conferences, reinforcing India’s growing presence in the global IS community.

The Theme: Advancing Information Systems’ Scholarship with Indigenous Perspective

In the rapidly evolving digital world, IS plays a fundamental role in helping societies navigate technological change. However, much of the existing IS research is rooted in Western theories and frameworks, which may not fully capture the complexities of diverse cultural contexts—particularly those in the Global South. Recognizing this gap, InCIS 2025 focused on integrating indigenous knowledge and context-sensitive theorization into IS research and practice, a growing area of interest in the field (Abubakre, Faik, & Mkansi, 2021; Davison & Díaz Andrade, 2018; Seetharaman, Mathew & De’, 2024).

By incorporating indigenous perspectives, researchers and practitioners challenge conventional IS paradigms, fostering a more inclusive and culturally sensitive approach to technology development and implementation. This shift is essential in designing sustainable, contextually relevant, and equitable IS solutions that serve diverse populations (Radjou, Prabhu, & Ahuja, 2011).

Key Highlights from INCIS 2025

The conference featured a wide range of sessions, including:

• Research Presentations: Scholars from India and from around the world presented groundbreaking studies on integrating indigenous knowledge into IS frameworks. InCIS 2025 received an overwhelming 180+ submissions from authors representing 121 institutions.

• Keynotes and Discussions: Experts from academia and industry, engaged in thought-provoking dialogues on the role of cultural insights in shaping modern technology.
• Workshops: With four workshops – two paper development workshops organized by CAIS and ISJ, and two workshops on framing impactful research and conducting mixed methods research, organized by the IIM Calcutta-Springer journal DECISION – InCIS also remained committed to equipping participants with tools to incorporate diverse perspectives into IS research and practice.
• The success of InCIS 2025 marks the beginning of a new era for IS research in India, strengthening the role of INAIS as a leader in the field. By fostering discussions on indigenous knowledge and technology, the conference set a strong foundation for future research collaborations and innovations.

As the global IS community continues to evolve, InCIS will serve as a critical platform for advancing regionally relevant and globally impactful IS research. Stay tuned for updates on future editions of InCIS as we continue to push the boundaries of inclusive and culturally enriched information systems.

Learn more about InCIS 2025.