Guides to the university

Program Director:
Claudio Panico

Assistant to the Program Director:
Nicoletta Corrocher

Field of study 
Economics no. LM-56 (Ministerial Decree 16 March 2007 for those enrolled until a.y. 2024/2025 and of the Ministerial Decree 1649/2023 for those enrolled from the a.y. 2025/2026)

The qualifying goals are:

• provide an advanced level of preparation in the areas of economics of innovation, technology and innovation management, and entrepreneurship in technology sectors;
• develop the expertise to blend quantitative and managerial competences that include knowledge of the commonly used software applications;
• provide knowledge in economic and managerial disciplines, thereby cultivating the capability to analyze interdisciplinary problems and to cover roles related to the innovation process in consulting companies, in small and large companies, and in international organizations;
• allow students to broaden/deepen their knowledge in specific areas such as venture capital and private equity, green management and sustainability, technology and innovation management, IT consulting, big data and business analytics;
• develop and widen the ability to apply knowledge through technology-based teaching and learning methodologies that encourage student interaction and engagement following a "learning by doing" approach (lab activities such as case studies, business games, trading simulations, computational group assignments and presentations).
• develop behavioral skills through “ad hoc” seminars and a diverse range of in/out of class activities related to courses, that promote the ability to communicate inclusively, interact with others, even in multicultural contexts, and tackle complex problems.
• promote fluency in English to work effectively and efficiently in different business contexts and cultivate competences in a second EU language (Italian for non-Italian native speakers); promote a broad-spectrum cultural education to foster critical thinking skills and delve into cutting-edge topics, chosen by the student.

The main career opportunities for Economics and Management of Innovation and Technology graduates are:

Manager of innovation and business development

Role in the workplace:
Graduates carry out management activities related to the development and sales of product innovations and follow all the stages of process and organizational innovations within a company. These activities include, for instance, competitive analysis of the sector of reference, preparing a business plan, possibly seeking funding, marketing for the launch of new products.

Skills associated to the role:
Graduates possess qualified knowledge and advanced skills in managing the process of developing innovation and a broad understanding of various environments (legal, marketing, organization and management of internal processes) related to introducing innovation in various types of companies, with particular reference to technological innovation. They also possess the ability to understand critic issues in defining company policies in research and development and management of innovation projects.

Career opportunities:
Graduates will work in large companies or startups (manufacturing and services) as a manager in research and development or in business development, as a project manager.

Innovation processes analyst

Role in the workplace:
Graduates analyze the effects of innovation processes on the competitive and strategic dynamics of manufacturing and services sectors in an integrated and in-depth manner. They also analyze related implications both for the strategy of individual companies and, at a more macro level, for the competitive dynamics and regulation of sectors by competent authorities.

Skills associated to the role:
Graduates possess qualified knowledge and advanced skills in the field of macroeconomics of innovation processes and analysis of the sector, as well as corporate strategy and problems related to innovation processes. Graduates also possess advanced skills in quantitative analysis and interpreting data, as well as in-depth knowledge of interactions between micro and macroeconomic variables.

Career opportunities:
Graduates will work in regulatory authorities or other institutions as economic analysts, or in individual companies and consulting firms as strategic analysts.

The curriculum is structured to allow students to progressively orient themselves towards different professional outcomes.

The first part of the study plan (1st year) includes mandatory courses as well as seminars for the development of their behavioral skills.

The second part of the study plan (1st and 2nd year) includes elective activities that allow students to personalize their study plan, directing it towards guided specialization paths, such as: green management and sustainability, technology and innovation management, IT consulting, big data and business analytics.

Students have the option to choose a "free path", i.e., not to focus on a particular area of specialization but to cut across different areas of competence of economy and innovation management. The “free path” is particularly relevant for those who decide to undertake a study experience abroad (it is possible to choose across the different courses available in the partner university as long as these courses are consistent with the program's objectives).

The third part of the study plan (2nd year) includes:

• a work experience (internship or similar activity);
• two European Union languages: professional English as the first language for all students; the second language must be different from the mother tongue (Italian is mandatory for all non-native Italian speakers);
• other elective educational activities aimed at broadening a wide-ranging culture;
• thesis (written and oral dissertation) that significantly qualifies the educational path.

Study experiences abroad are particularly encouraged throughout the study program. International mobility is indeed a cornerstone that materializes in study and/or work experiences. The period of stay abroad can vary from one semester (exchange and free mover programs) to one year (double degree programs).

The program structure of the Master of Science in Economics and Management of Innovation and Technology comprises educational activities for a total of 120 credit points.

The program structure is valid for the students initially enrolled in the academic years of reference for this section.

First year of studies 

Note:

• cod. 20867 ‘Business economics Module I (Empirical methods)’ and cod. 20868 ‘Business economics Module II (Analytic methods)’ are the first and second module of the course code 20866 ‘Business economics’. 

(*) COMPULSORY COURSES CHOSEN BY THE STUDENTS 

**Please note that students enrolled in the first year until the 2024-2025 a.y. will select a major, while students enrolled in the first year starting in the 2025-2026 a.y. will select a concentration

Second year of studies 

NOTE 2: for detailed information on Enhancing experience - Curricular supplementary activities, see chapter 2.1.2.4 “Enhancing experience - Curricular supplementary activities”.

(***) Innovation Specific electives:

(****) In case of programs abroad a course without correspondence can also be recognized but it must refer to the Subject Group SECS-P/06 and approved by the MSc Program Director.

The courses subdivided in modules are considered passed, and may be recorded in the student academic career and certified, only after passing both exams of which it is made up. The final grade is obtained by the grade point average of the two marks compared to the credits and rounded up if decimals are equal or higher than 5, rounded down if they are lower than 5.

It is furthermore specified that the credit points and the grades earned for the individual modules passed will be taken into account for rankings within the University (e.g. Bocconi Scholarship, selection for International Programs, etc.) and they can be viewed by printing the unofficial academic transcript at Punto Blu.

Some opportunities to study abroad such as Exchange programs lasting one semester and Double Degree programs are offered (see "International Opportunities").

For detailed information about languages see "Languages".

During the second year of studies students choose 3 elective courses which correspond to the 18 credit points regarding the activities chosen by the students - concerning the personalized academic major (free track) or one of the following recommended majors:

• Big data and business analytics (major D);
• Green Management and Sustainability (major A);
• IT consulting (major B);
• Technology and Innovation Management (major C).

Please note that, in compliance with the program’s learning objectives and the Ministerial table for the field of studies, the rules for choosing and the offer of electives for the 2026-2027 a.y. may be subject to changes decided by the Academic Bodies.

The Program Director is available during office hours to provide more information concerning the program structure. Office hours are published on the website at www.unibocconi.eu/officehours

 

Besides the compulsory innovation-specific elective, students should choose either:

• 3 major-specific courses (see the table below) or
• 2 major-specific courses and one course freely chosen from among the electives of MSc programs. Note that students can also choose a second innovation-specific elective as a free elective or a course without correspondence (after the grade has been recognized), only if the subject group of the course without correspondence indicated when recognizing the grade is the same as one of the subject groups for the elective courses offered for the program (see attachment).

Besides the compulsory innovation-specific elective, students should choose either:

• 3 major-specific courses (see the table below) or
• 2 major-specific courses and one course freely chosen from among the electives of MSc programs. Note that students can also choose a second innovation-specific elective as a free elective or a course without correspondence (after the grade has been recognized), only if the subject group of the course without correspondence indicated when recognizing the grade is the same as one of the subject groups for the elective courses offered for the program (see attachment).

Besides the compulsory innovation-specific elective, students should choose either:

• 3 major-specific courses (see the table below) or
• 2 major-specific courses and one course freely chosen from among the electives of MSc programs. Note that students can also choose a second innovation-specific elective as a free elective or a course without correspondence (after the grade has been recognized), only if the subject group of the course without correspondence indicated when recognizing the grade is the same as one of the subject groups for the elective courses offered for the program (see attachment).

Besides the compulsory innovation-specific elective, students should choose either:

• 3 major-specific courses (see the table below) or
• 2 major-specific courses and one course freely chosen from among the electives of MSc programs. Note that students can also choose a second innovation-specific elective as a free elective or a course without correspondence (after the grade has been recognized), only if the subject group of the course without correspondence indicated when recognizing the grade is the same as one of the subject groups for the elective courses offered for the program (see attachment).  

The 18 credit points regarding  the educational activities are divided into 3 courses chosen freely by the student from among the electives of  MSc programs; 1 course can be replaced by 1 innovation-specific elective; the allocation of electives is subject to the official approval of the MSc Program Director or his/her delegate to Academic Services. 

Some opportunities to study abroad such as Exchange programs lasting one semester and Double Degree programs are offered.

The Exchange Program allows selected students to spend one semester abroad at a partner university, with the opportunity to take courses that can be recognized in their study plan. Detailed information about the Program - including updates on eligibility, requirements, selection procedures, deadlines and available destinations - is published on the website www.ir.unibocconi.eu/exchange.

Double Degree programs are addressed to a selected group of students who have excelled in their studies and have adequate language skills.

Students who are admitted can study one year in Italy and one year abroad; at the end of the courses they will obtain both the Italian Master of Science degree and the equivalent foreign degree awarded by the partner school.

Detailed information on the Double Degree program and any updates related to eligibility and requirements, application and deadlines and available destinations are published on the website www.ir.unibocconi.eu/doubledegree. Emails can also be sent to the following address: doubledegree@unibocconi.it.