34442 - Economics and Management of Innovation (Graduate Course) (A-K)

Learning outcomes

Strategic and economic approaches to the generation, development, and diffusion of technological innovation, with an articulation and distinction of the roles of firms and public and private institutions, and a specific focus on the issues related to intellectual property protection.

Course contents

Technological innovation and economic development: relevant economic theories.

Technology, technological innovation, and the structure of industrial sectors.

Functional sources of innovation: the role of users, producers, suppliers.

Economic and competitive interpretation of the sources of innovation.

Protection of innovation.

Types of innovations.

Technological assets and the competitive position of the firm.

Technological assessment & forecasting.

The innovation process: phases and critical decisions.

Internal development and external development forms of technological assets.

Project portfolio.

Technology transfer: cross-functional integration.

Internationalization of R&D.

Interaction between public and private research.

Financing innovation.

Readings/Bibliography

The course provides the distribution of materials related to each topic covered in class, updated according to sectoral and technological developments. During lectures, the materials are linked to different parts of the textbook, which remains the only reference for those unable to attend regularly.

The textbook for the course is:
Grandi, A. & Sobrero, M., Eds. (2005). Technological Innovation and Business Management: The Strategic Management of Innovation. Bologna: Il Mulino.

Teaching methods

The course consists of a mix of lectures, case analysis and discussion based on articles, reports, videos, and interaction with external experts. The instructor will directly involve students in all these activities through the assignment of group projects, in-class activities, and preparation of analytical reports on the various topics covered.

All activities are designed to maximize interactivity in class, also making use of web platforms and multimedia tools.

Assessment methods

During the course, various group and individual activities are planned, connected to the presentation of specific topics in written or oral form. These activities are updated each year according to ongoing technological developments.

The combination of such activities and their weight in the final exam will be communicated during the course to those who can attend classes regularly.

Participation in these activities does not preclude the possibility of taking the final exam in the standard form, through an oral interview aimed at:

• verifying the student’s acquired knowledge;

• verifying the ability to apply the concepts to practical cases and real situations;

• verifying the ability to apply different methodologies developed in different industrial contexts.

The exam dates are set according to the School’s calendar and communicated through the Almaesami service. Registration for the exam is possible exclusively through Almaesami.

The grade obtained in this exam will account for 50% of the grade for the course Strategy and Value Management M CI, of which this is a part. The second part, related to the course Strategy and Management of the Value System, must be taken and passed in the same session as this course (June–July; September; January–February). Otherwise, the exam will have to be retaken.

Teaching tools

Lectures

Case discussion

Applied project work

Office hours

See the website of Maurizio Sobrero