Course 2024-2025 a.y.

• 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

• 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

• Lectures
• Individual works / Assignments
• Collaborative Works / Assignments

• 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.

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 and essay 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.

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%).

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.