LEXINGTON, Ky., February 26, 2026 (gatton.uky.edu) When the LINKS Center for Social Network Analysis was established at the University of Kentucky in 2006, it was arguably the first center of its kind housed within a business school.
Nearly two decades later, network science has grown into a globally recognized field. As similar centers have emerged across universities, LINKS is responding not by retreating, but by expanding.
This year, LINKS formally launched a trans-Atlantic alliance with two leading research centers in network science: NiLab at Bocconi University in Milan and the Organisation and Innovation group at University College London (UCL). Together, the three institutions aim to deepen scholarly exchange, expand research and strengthen their global presence.
“We felt that building this partnership was especially important at a time when trans-Atlantic collaboration has been fraying,” said Ajay Mehra, Chellgren Endowed Chair in Corporate Strategy and director of the LINKS Center. “This alliance expands our range and allows us to pursue our shared mission more effectively.”
The idea began at a network science conference hosted by UCL. Beppe Soda, who heads Bocconi’s network center, approached Mehra to discuss a potential collaboration. After initial conversations, they invited UCL’s Martin Kilduff into the discussion.
Over the next year, leaders from all three institutions worked through the formal approvals required to establish a partnership spanning three universities in three countries.
“It was a herculean task,” Mehra said, citing the differing legal and administrative frameworks across institutions. “Our department head, Walter Ferrier, was very supportive of our work to bring the alliance to fruition.”
At UK, John Peloza, Carol Martin Gatton professor of marketing, connected Mehra with Tim Barnes, executive director of international partnerships and research. Barnes played a key role in navigating the legal complexities necessary to formalize the alliance.
“Without Tim’s help,” Mehra said, “this alliance would have remained an idea. Tim played an indispensable role in navigating the many legal and institutional challenges involved in forging this alliance.”
Network research focuses on connections—how relationships between individuals, organizations or entities shape behavior and outcomes. As industries, markets and institutions become increasingly interconnected, that relational lens has gained relevance across disciplines, from healthcare and finance to marketing and organizational strategy.
In a more crowded academic environment, Mehra and his colleagues at LINKS see the alliance as a way to extend reach and deepen impact. “We already have some of the most prominent thinkers in the network domain on our faculty here at the LINKS Center,” he said, bringing up Steve Borgatti, one of the most cited scholars on the topic of social networks in the world, as a prominent example. “This alliance will in effect add several more of the most respected social network researchers, currently working at our partner institutions, to our virtual roster.”
Through the partnership, faculty and doctoral students will exchange visits, collaborate on research projects and participate in joint workshops. LINKS’ longstanding social network conference, hosted in Lexington since 2006, will now rotate between Lexington, Milan and London, expanding its international footprint.
The upcoming LINKS Social Network Workshop will also feature faculty from Bocconi and UCL.
“In a global research world, this alliance greatly extends our reach,” Mehra said. “We can now host joint conferences in three different countries, reaching organizations and scholars we would be hard pressed to reach from any one country alone.”
While the alliance strengthens academic collaboration, its implications extend beyond universities.
LINKS has worked with organizations including New York City jazz bands and, closer to home, Castle & Key distillery in Frankfort, Ky.
Network science, Mehra explained, is particularly well-suited to real-world decision-making because it examines how connections create structure—and how that structure influences performance, information flow and innovation.
“With additional human resources from our alliance partners,” he said, “we can take on more research projects with companies and organizations in Kentucky and beyond.”
The partnership will also make it easier to collaborate with organizations in Italy and the United Kingdom, broadening the applied scope of the work while maintaining local engagement.
Even as LINKS expands internationally, its Kentucky roots remain central.
The Center was founded by the late Professor Dan Brass. The new alliance builds on that foundation rather than replacing it.
“We continue to work with local organizations,” Mehra said. “But this partnership allows us to expand our presence overseas while remaining grounded here.”
For Mehra, the most exciting part of the alliance is intellectual.
“The scholars at Bocconi and UCL are doing world-class research,” he said. “We’re in good company. The opportunity to interact more closely with their faculty and students will strengthen all of our work.”
As network research continues to grow in influence, Gatton’s LINKS Center is positioning itself as a key global player in the research on social networks and their application to business needs.
