The Centre for International Business Studies at the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg (CIBS) conducts research on various aspects of the internationalization process of business. The group consists of four professors, two visiting professors, two associate professors, eight post-doctoral researchers and four PhD students. Most of the activity today takes place within the joint program "International Business Research in an Era of Global Spatial Reconfiguration - Corporate Restructuring in the Global Automotive Industry - The Disinvestments of GM and Ford and the Entry of China", which was originally granted funding in 2010.

The aim is to investigate the takeover of Volvo Car Corp. by the Chinese company Geely, and its effects on subcontracting and distribution systems, markets, global production networks, R&D, and clashes between different management cultures. Furthermore, the disintegration process from Ford is studied, i.e. how production systems and management structures change when a company changes its main owner, as well as the external framework for business activities in China, in the form of direct investment policy, and other institutional conditions at national, regional and local level. Researchers from Germany and Finland also participate in the program as a reference group. A total of 23 researchers are now active in different parts of the program. CIBS is an important strategic part of the School's continued development.