Research & Development

Digitalisation is one of the most important developments of this time.The Degree Programmes in Innovation Management take a closer look at digitalisation on two levels:

1. a) digitalisation of business models and
2. b) digitalisation of processes.

Often well-known and established business models are no longer up-to-date. The Degree Programmes in Innovation Management therefore focus research on the transformation of existing business models towards digital ones, and on the development of completely new digital business models.

However, this knowledge must also be transferred into practice. Since working with business models is often difficult for entrepreneurs, development of digital tools is promoted to support business model development and transformation.

Changing from proven business models and processes to digital ones, also means that there is a high need to adapt, synthesise or even completely redevelop existing tools in innovation management. Thus, due to increased system complexity an interdisciplinary approach is a major advantage.

In addition to the business models, digitalisation also has a far-reaching influence on the innovation processes themselves. By identifying and evaluating technologies and processes, new innovations can be generated and transferred to new industry sectors. However, identification and evaluation are crucial steps in this process.

In the broad field of digitalisation, we therefore focus on the following topics:

• Digitalisation of existing business models
• Development of new digital business models
• Practice-oriented tool development to support business model development and transformation
• Digitalisation of innovation processes

Sustainability is a topic that has become increasingly important in the last few decades. In the context of innovations, currently no political or public discussions about future developments exist that do not address this topic.

In view of this megatrend and the current macroeconomic, social and ecological developments, it is also essential for the Degree Programmes in Innovation Management to concentrate their research efforts in the area of “sustainability and innovation”. Sustainability consists of three areas such as environment, social affairs and economy. They all play an essential role in innovations.

However, sustainability and innovation complement each other not only in terms of content, but also on a scientific level. Research methods in both fields are similar and therefore knowledge and experience gained from innovation research can also be applied in sustainability research and mutual synergy effects can be optimally used.

“Frugal Innovation” is one of the core research topics in the field of sustainability and innovation. A frugal innovation is an innovation that breaks with the widespread paradigm “always more, always better” and describes a simplified and application-oriented solution to open up new, price-sensitive segments at the bottom of the socio-economic pyramid.

However, this “young” research topic will be developed in other directions as well (e.g. social innovation, sustainable innovation, sustainable business models, etc.).

In the broad field of sustainability and innovation, we therefore focus on the following topics:

• Frugal innovation
• Resource thinking
• Sustainable innovation
• Social innovation
• Sustainable business models
• Influence of the points mentioned before on the regional economy

The development of pure product solutions is now outdated. Holistic solutions are more and more in demand. In the future, systems, and even systems within systems, will be relevant. An addition, demands on companies and their path to more complex systems are developing.

The research environment has evolved from an operational approach around tools and models to a comprehensive and primarily strategically oriented approach. The research focus of the Degree Programmes in Innovation management is therefore primarily in the development of competence-, transfer- and management systems that have a sustainable positive effect on the company’s performance and innovation. Reference is made to the operational, strategic and normative aspects of innovation management.

The consideration of all resources and the integration of solutions in special context situations and regional characteristics are also decisive here. Thus, an existing gap between strategy development in the theoretical environment on the one hand and the actual strategy implementation in companies on the other is addressed.

In the broad field of company development, we therefore focus on the following topics:

• Holistic innovation models
• Innovation strategies
• (innovative) business model development / change
• Innovation maturity systems
• “Learning to innovate”