34442 - Economics and Management of Innovation (Graduate Course)

Learning outcomes

Strategic and economic approaches to the generation, development, and dissemination of technological innovation, with articulation and distinction of the roles of businesses and public and private institutions, and specific in-depth analysis of intellectual property protection issues.

Course contents

- Technological innovation and economic development: relevant economic theories
- Technology, technological innovation, and the structure of industrial sectors
- The functional sources of innovation: the role of users, producers, and suppliers
- The economic and competitive interpretation of the sources of innovation
- The protection of innovation
- Types of innovation
- Technological assets and the competitive position of the company
- Technological assessment & forecasting
- The innovation process: critical phases and decisions
- Internal development and forms of external development of technological assets
- The project portfolio
- Technology transfer: interfunctional integration
- The internationalization of R&D
- Interaction between public and private research
- Financing innovation
- Strategic management of artificial intelligence: models, strategies, and approaches

Readings/Bibliography

The course includes the distribution of material dedicated to the individual topics covered in class, updated according to current sectoral and technological developments. During the lessons, the materials are linked to the different sections of the textbooks. The reference textbooks for the course are:
-) Grandi, A., & Sobrero, M. (2005). Innovazione tecnologica e gestione d’impresa: La gestione strategica dell’innovazione. Il Mulino.
-) Diaferia, L. De Rossi, L.M., Salviotti, G. (2024) AI Management. Strategie e approcci in azienda, EGEA, Milano

Teaching methods

The course consists of a series of lectures, analysis, and discussion of cases developed on the basis of articles, reports, videos, and interaction with external experts. The instructor will engage students in activities through the assignment of group projects, classroom activities, and the drafting of analysis reports. Activities are designed to maximize interactivity in the classroom, including the use of web platforms and multimedia tools.

Assessment methods

During the lessons, there will be activities to be carried out both in groups and individually, related to the presentation of specific teaching topics, in written or oral form, which are updated each year based on current technological developments. The assessment of the course is based on: i) an individual written exam lasting 60 minutes, which contributes 50% to the final grade, and ii) a group project, which contributes 50% to the final grade. During the final written exam, two open-ended theoretical questions and a series of multiple-choice questions relating to the entire program are asked. The assessment is expressed in thirtieths. To pass the exam, students must obtain at least 18 points. Students who are unable to participate in the project work for personal/work reasons may take a comprehensive 2-hour exam, during which they will be asked four open-ended theoretical questions and a series of multiple-choice questions. The assessment is expressed in thirtieths. To pass the exam, students must obtain at least 18 points. The exam dates are set according to the School calendar and communicated through the Almaesami service. Registration for the exam is done exclusively through the Almaesami service. The grade obtained in this exam will account for 50% of the grade for the Strategia e Gestione del Valore M course, of which this course is part. The second part of the Strategia e Gestione del Sistema del Valore course must be taken and passed in the same period as the part relating to this course: June-July; September; January-February. Otherwise, the exam must be retaken.

Teaching tools

Lectures, case studies, and a project work

Office hours

See the website of Riccardo Fini

See the website of Federico Munari