20451 - FUNDAMENTALS OF INNOVATION AND INDUSTRIAL CHANGE
Department of Management and Technology
Course taught in English
Course Director:
ANDREA FOSFURI
ANDREA FOSFURI
Mission & Content Summary
MISSION
Innovation and industrial change are two key characteristics of modern economies. Firms and industries in advanced countries, as well as emerging economies, must deal with changes in technologies, markets, and the radical transformation of industrial structures. The course aims to provide a broad understanding of the processes and factors driving innovation and industrial change, and to equip students with the tools necessary to analyze the relevance and impact of innovation and industrial change for firms, sectors, and the economy. A basic understanding of microeconomics and industrial organization would be helpful for students.
CONTENT SUMMARY
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Instructor
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Topic |
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1 |
MALERBA |
The nature, conceptualization and measurement of innovation |
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2 |
MALERBA |
Sources of innovation in industries and sectoral systems |
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3 |
MALERBA |
Demand, users and innovation |
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4 |
MALERBA |
Learning, capability and performance of the innovative firm |
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5 |
MALERBA |
Entry, industrial change and industry evolution |
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6 |
MALERBA |
Public policy for innovation and industrial change |
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7 |
MALERBA |
International technological competition and the catch-up by latecomer countries |
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8 |
FOSFURI |
Incentives to innovate and competition |
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9 |
FOSFURI |
Big tech, innovation and competition |
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10 |
FOSFURI |
Knowledge spillovers and corporate investment in science |
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11 |
FOSFURI |
Choosing your idea for the group project |
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12 |
FOSFURI |
Capturing value from innovation, markets for technology and licensing |
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13 |
FOSFURI |
The economics of patent protection |
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14 |
FOSFURI |
Strategic patenting and the misuse of the patent system |
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15 |
FOSFURI |
Financing science and innovation |
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16 |
FOSFURI |
Who will solve humanity’s big challenges? |
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17 |
FOSFURI |
Innovation and inequality |
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18 |
FOSFURI |
AI: winners and losers |
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19 |
FOSFURI |
10m presentation of research proposal (12 slides max) |
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20 |
FOSFURI |
10m presentation of research proposal (12 slides max) |
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
At the end of the course student will be able to...
- Understand the relationship between innovation and economic growth, and between innovation and the dynamics and evolution of industries
- Identify public policies to support innovation and industrial change, including patent protection and technology transfers
- Develop a deep understanding of the role of innovation as a source of competitive advantage for both corporations and startups
- Identify the broader implications of technological change for firms and society at large
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
At the end of the course student will be able to...
- Design innovation policies and innovation strategies based on rigorous scientific methods
- Analyze the main issues related to innovation and industrial change that characterize the modern economy
- Understand and contribute to the current debate about the role of technology in society
- Build up up diagnostic and analytical skills, and enhance verbal skills via class and group discussions
Teaching methods
- Individual works / Assignments
- Collaborative Works / Assignments
DETAILS
- Individual assignments: Active participation during lectures and very short presentations of the readings in front of the class
- Group assignments: group presentations and discussions on topics selected jointly by the students and the instructors. Students are encouraged to propose projects they believe are worth exploring.
Assessment methods
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ATTENDING STUDENTS
Students’ evaluation is based upon a written exam (80%) and the group project (20%).
Written Exam: The course assessment comprises a comprehensive written final exam, which accounts for 80% of the final grade. Alternatively, students can opt for a mid-term exam covering the first part of the course (40% of the final grade) and a second exam on the second part of the course (40% of the final grade). Exams consist of open questions designed to evaluate individual students’ ability to understand the concepts, methodologies, and theories presented during the course and to explain them in a concise, clear, and analytical manner.
Group Project: The group project accounts for 20% of the final grade and requires teams of 4-5 students to write on one of the course topics. The project aims to verify students’ ability to analyze the main issues related to one of the course topics, apply the proper methodology, and work in a group. While the topic of the project is open, it must be related to the topics of the course.
Active participation during lectures and very short presentations of the readings in front of the class is rewarded on top of the marks for the final essay and the term paper.
NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS
Students’ evaluation is based upon a written exam (100%).
Written Exam: The course assessment comprises a comprehensive written final exam, which accounts for 100% of the final grade. Alternatively, students can opt for a mid-term exam covering the first part of the course (40% of the final grade) and a second exam on the second part of the course (60% of the final grade). Exams consist of open questions and multiple-choice questions designed to evaluate individual students’ ability to understand the concepts, methodologies, and theories presented during the course and to explain them in a concise, clear, and analytical manner. The comprehensive written final exam and the exam on the second part of the course will also include a number of multiple-choice questions (20%).
Teaching materials
ATTENDING AND NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS
Textbook for the first part of the course: Richard Nelson et al. Modern Evolutionary Economics: an Overview Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2018
Textbook for the second part of the course will be made available by Prof. Fosfuri for specific classes.
Required readings: required readings are posted on Bboard; they are also available from the electronic resources at the Bocconi Library.
Slides of the lectures: the slides are posted on Bboard either before or after each class.
Last change 18/05/2024 14:36