Course 2025-2026 a.y.

20451 - FUNDAMENTALS OF INNOVATION AND INDUSTRIAL CHANGE

Department of Management and Technology

Course taught in English

Student consultation hours
27 - 28
EMIT (6 credits - I sem. - OB  |  SECS-P/06)
Course Director:
ANDREA FOSFURI

Classes: 27 (I sem.) - 28 (I sem.)
Instructors:
Class 27: ANDREA FOSFURI, Class 28: 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

  • The nature of innovation
  • Industry dynamics: entry, exit, spinoffs
  • Industry lifecycle and industry evolution
  • Technological change and industry dynamics
  • Innovation ecosystems
  • Incentives to innovate, competition and big tech
  • Knowledge spillovers and absorptive capacity
  • Capturing value from innovation
  • The economics of patent protection
  • Financing Science and Innovation
  • Innovation and inequality
  • Innovation in drug development
  • Artificial Intelligence

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

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

DETAILS

  • Individual assignments: Active participation during lectures and discussion of the readings assigned for each session
  • Group assignments: group presentations and discussions on topics selected jointly by the students and the instructor. Students are encouraged to propose projects they believe are worth exploring.

Assessment methods

  Continuous assessment Partial exams General exam
  • Written individual exam (traditional/online)
     x
  • Individual Works/ Assignment (report, exercise, presentation, project work etc.)
 x    
  • Collaborative Works / Assignment (report, exercise, presentation, project work etc.)
 x    
  • Active class participation (virtual, attendance)
 x    

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. The exam consists 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 theoretical and empirical perspectives, understand 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 in particular in the discussion of the readings is rewarded on top of the marks for the written exam and group project.


NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

Students’ evaluation is based upon a written exam (100%).

Written Exam: The course assessment comprises a comprehensive written final exam. The exam consists of open questions (80%) and multiple-choice questions (20%) 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.


Teaching materials


ATTENDING AND NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

A number of sessions will be based on a textbook written by the instructor, which will be available online through Bboard.

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 24/05/2025 12:22