Business Administration, Shaping Innovation in Ecosystems, Second Cycle

Innovation is a driver of economic development and at the same time innovation also enables improvement of society and the standard of living. Innovation is seen as a vital process for the progression of the global as well as the national economy to be able to handle major challenges in society. The EU and several national agencies have set up “Innovation strategies” to enhance innovation in general, but also in specific subject areas (not least related to the Sustainable Development Goals). But innovation does not happen in a vacuum of actors or resources. Innovation requires connections among key stakeholders such as large corporations, entrepreneurs, civil society, universities, financial institutions, and government. These connections are increasingly taking place in “innovation ecosystems” where actors are collaborating with mutual aims. The course develops the student’s understanding of innovation from a system view (with its inherent actors and resources) and also conditions and mechanisms for sociotechnical transitions in, for example, energy supply, transport, agriculture and food. Moreover, the student’s creative and critical understanding of different ways to influence innovation and transitions processes are developed which contributes to a sustainable development.