In order to encourage young scholars interested in the history of political economy and philosophy to engage with the work of the Scottish Enlightenment moral philosopher and economist Adam Smith, the NOUS network’s first project consisted in launching an international essay contest with two specific topics at hand: “The continuing relevance of Adam Smith”, and “Adam Smith, ordoliberalism, and ‘Ordnungspolitik’”. The winners – Sarah Songorian (Vita-Salute San Raffaele University Milan, Italy) and Rebecca Ruehle (Universities of Halle-Wittenberg and Mannheim, Germany) – subsequently discussed their work with leading international scholars, including Maria Pia Paganelli (Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas, USA), on the occasion of an academic NOUS conference held at the premises of Deutsche Bundesbank in Berlin, Germany. (2018)