Open Innovation

Description

For many years, the term Open Innovation and the paradigm behind it have been a highly interesting topic both in practice and in science. By opening up the boundaries of the company, the innovation backlog, especially in research-intensive industries, is to be eliminated. Through the permeable boundaries of the company, the absorption of new knowledge and ideas is made possible.
Both the deep relationships with customers and suppliers and the absorption of external knowledge, as well as the focus on externalizing corporate knowledge in order to bring it to market faster, thereby describe processes of Open Innovation and are the subject of our research area.
One focus is on the integration of external innovations, e.g. by cooperating with or acquiring young, innovative companies - the so-called startups.
We are looking forward to cooperating with interested partners from industry and research.

Publications

1. Kohut Magdalena, Ahlfänger Marcel, Leker Jens. 2021. ‘The Impact of Strategy and Structure on the Performance of Corporate Venture Capital Units.’ International Journal of Innovation Management online: 1-57. doi: 10.1142/S1363919621500948 . [online first]

2. Ahlfänger, Marcel Gemünden, Hans Georg Leker, Jens. 2021. ‘Balancing Value Creation and Capture: The Efficacy of Formal Control in Open Innovation Projects.’ Contributed to the EURAM 2021, Québec, Canada.

3. Ahlfänger, Marcel Leker, Jens. 2021. ‘Resolving the Open Innovation Paradox: A Dynamic Capabilities Perspective.’ Contributed to the ISPIM 2021, Berlin, Germany.

4. Ahlfänger, Marcel Gemünden, Hans Georg Leker, Jens. 2021. ‘Balancing knowledge sharing with protecting: The efficacy of formal control in open innovation projects.’ International Journal of Project Management online. doi: 10.1016/j.ijproman.2021.09.007 . [online first]

5. Ahlfänger, Marcel Kohut, Magdalena Leker, Jens. 2020. ‘Reconciling Competing Institutional Logics in Corporate Venture Capital Units.’ International Journal of Innovation Management 24, Nr. 8. doi: 10.1142/S1363919620400046 . [online first]

6. Hamadi T., Leker J., Meerholz K. 2018. ‘Emergence of Innovation Champions: Differences in the R&D Collaboration Process Between Science and Industry.’ International Journal of Innovation Management 22: 1840008-1-1840008-17. doi: 10.1142/S136391961840008X .

Contact Person

Prof. Dr. Jens Leker

Entrepreneurship

Description

There are many different focuses within entrepreneurship research. Some researchers focus on specific industries such as digital health, on applied business models, or on the impact of companies on society (social and green entrepreneurship). 

Another focus of entrerpeneurship research is on the person "founder:in". What competencies do founders bring with them (Entrepreneurial Competencies) and do demographic factors such as their gender have an influence on perceived obstacles to founding a company (female entrepreneurship). 

Furthermore, some researchers deal with entrepreneurship education, i.e. the possibilities to support people on their way to founding a company (Entrepreneurial Education). From the Entrepreneurial University, to general entrepreneurship education, to the role of innovation and startup centers or student initiatives, various bodies in the entrepreneurship ecosystem are explored here.

We are looking forward to cooperating with interested partners from industry and research.

Publications

1. Herrmann, Ruth Leker, Jens. 2020. „Erfolgreiche Unternemensgründung im Spannungsfeld von Entrepreneur-perönlichkeitsmerkmalen und Gründungssituationen.“ In Perspektiven des Entrepreneurships, herausgegeben von Hölzle, Katharina Tiberius, Victor Surrey, Heike, 33-46. 1. Aufl. Stuttgart: Schäffer-Poeschel Verlag.
2. Klein, Johannes Stuckenborg, Leonard Leker, Jens. 2020. ‘Hot or not - Which features make FinTechs attractive?’ The Journal of Entrepreneurial Finance 22, Nr. 1.
3. Stuckenborg Leonard, Klein Johannes, Leker Jens. 2017. ‘FinTech start-ups: How do business model, area of activity and revenue model relate - A study of the German market.’ Corporate Finance 2017, Nr. 09-10: 257-268.
4. Simon H., Leker J. 2016. ‘Using startup communication for opportunity recognition - An approach to identify future product trends.’ International Journal of Innovation Management 20, Nr. 8. doi: 10.1142/S1363919616400168.

Contact Persons

Anja Overwien

Karla Gehde

Business Model Innovation

Description

On the one hand, our research focuses on the transformation of existing business models, especially in the context of the digitalization of the chemical industry. On the other hand, we are investigating the design of new business models, such as circular business models for the realization of a circular economy for various battery technologies.

Publications

1. von Delft Stephan, Zhao Yang. 2021. ‘Business models in process industries: Emerging trends and future research.’ Technovation 105, Nr. 102195. doi: 10.1016/j.technovation.2020.102195.
2. von Delft Stephan, van der Veen Gijs. 2019. „Plattformen als Geschäftsmodelle.“ Nachrichten aus der Chemie 67, Nr. 3: 32-33. doi: 10.1002/nadc.20194085920.
3. von Delft Stephan, Van der Veen Gijs. 2019. „Digitalisierung verändert Geschäftsmodelle in der Chemie.“ CHEManager 27, Nr. 11.

Contact Persons

Jun.-Prof. Dr. Stephan von Delft

Jannis Wesselkämper

Digital Innovation Management

Converging Industries

Description

Traditionally, industrial convergence, described as the blurring of industrial sector boundaries, has been studied primarily in relation to the convergence of the telecommunications, information technology and electronics industries. 

More recently, the chemical-related industries in particular (especially chemicals, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals) have been a suitable subject of investigation. In these segments, there are clear trends toward convergence, for example in the area of functional foods. 

Since such industry convergence not only opens up new markets but also poses new challenges, early identification of such a trend is of great strategic importance. One focus of the research is the development of an "early warning system" for industry convergences, based on the analysis of patent and publication data.

Publications

1. Kohut, Magdalena Oswin, Lohne Leker, Jens Bröring, Stephanie. 2021. ‘Market convergence from a start-up perspective: The case of probiotics.’ PharmaNutrition 15. doi: 10.1016/j.phanu.2020.100243. [online first]
2. Sick, Nathalie Preschitschek, Nina Leker, Jens Bröring, Stefanie. 2019. ‘A new framework to assess industry convergence in high technology environments.’ Technovation 84: 48-58. doi: 10.1016/j.technovation.2018.08.001.
3. Song C., Elvers D., Leker J. 2017. ‘Anticipation of converging technology areas — A refined approach for the identification of attractive fields of innovation.’ Technological Forecasting and Social Change 116, Nr. null: 98-115. doi: 10.1016/j.techfore.2016.11.001.

Contact Person

Prof. Dr. Jens Leker