The Danish Council for Research and Innovation Policy has assigned IRIS Group the task of conducting this analysis to gain a solid basis of knowledge to qualify the council’s advice and recommendations on this area.

Across the cases, we identified a number of benefits from hosting international research conferences.
Among others, the most significant benefits are:

• Increased visibility at the centre of the international research community.
• Progress/advancement in research careers.
• Exposure and visibility of the research environment and host university.
• Easier access to recruitment of top researchers.

Futhermore, we have identified a number of challenges:

• Time and resources.
• Conferences given low priority by home institution or department.
• Economic risk of hosting and a lack of deficit guarantees.