The Conference will host several Special Sessions focusing on various topics. These sessions may be organized by INFER scholars as well as by other conference attendants who send their proposals to the Organizing Committee.

These Special Sessions have already been decided.

• Beyond the AI Bubble: The Promise and Peril of How Intelligent Tools Reshape Markets, Policy, and the Environment (Dan Gabriel ANGHEL, FABBV, Bucharest University of Economic Studies)
• Financial Literacy (Andreea STOIAN, FABBV, Bucharest University of Economic Studies)
• Financial Management (Victor DRAGOTA, FABBV, Bucharest University of Economic Studies)
• Geopolitical Risk and Economic Fragmentation: Implications for Financial Stability (Florian NEAGU, FABBV, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, National Bank of Romania & Matei KUBINSKI, National Bank of Romania)
• Rethinking the Future: Insurance in Turbulent Times (FABBV, Ingrid Mihaela DRAGOTA, Bucharest University of Economic Studies)

Specific sessions will be designed for PhD students. The INFER Annual Conference encourages the engagement of PhD students with the activities of the network, offering the possibility to present incomplete papers with their research proposals or preliminary drafts of one of their PhD essays. The idea is to encourage discussion and receive valuable feedback from a panel of professors and experts. Authors should select the option "PhD student" during submission.

A dedicated Workshop on Academic Writing for high-impact journals will be organized by Peter CLAEYS (Universidad Pontificia Comillas). The workshop aims to support researchers—especially early-career scholars and PhD candidates—in enhancing their academic writing skills, with practical guidance on structuring papers, and improving clarity and impact in scholarly communication.

The Meet-the-Editor session is also offering participants the opportunity to engage directly with journal editors in the field. This interactive session will provide valuable insights into the publication process, journal expectations, and effective strategies for successfully navigating peer review. Participants will have the chance to ask questions, discuss manuscript development, and gain practical advice from experienced editors. The session will be hosted by:

• Josep-Maria ARAUZO CAROD
• Agnieszka GEHRINGER (International Economic and Economic Policy, Eastern European Economics)
• Inmaculada MARTÍNEZ-ZARZOSO

We warmly encourage all participants to take part in these enriching and collaborative sessions.