Current Topics in Innovation & Entrepreneurship
The master seminar empowers students to explore topics around the multidimensional impacts of innovation using a rigorous & scientific approach.
- DE - Bitte beachten: Es gibt keine deutsche Kursseite, da der Kurs nur in Englisch angeboten wird.
- EN - Please note: This page has no German version because the course is only offered in English.
Quick Info: Master | Seminar | English | Summer Semester | 6 ECTS
Summary
- Course
- Innovating for Impact (PStO 2018) and PStO 2021)
Current Topics in Innovation & Entrepreneurship (PStO 2024) - Chair
- Institute for Innovation Managment
- Lecturer
- Prof. Dr. Jelena Spanjol
- Assistant
- Dr. Zhuoer Qiu
- Target Group
- M.Sc. BWL
- Examination
- Presentation (15 minutes per student) and seminar paper (22,200 signs per student). Each examination part accounts for 50% of the final seminar grade.
- Prerequisites
- Feeding and Managing the Innovation Pipeline & New Products: From Ideas to Markets (recommended) (PStO 2018)
Value Portfolios and Temporality (PStO 2024)
If you are interested in pursuing a master thesis at the IIM, this seminar is prerequisite. (Please also see the guidelines for Master Theses on the ). - Course Material
- Kick-off slides and recommended readings
- Rotation
- Every summer term
- Language
- English
- ECTS
- 6
- Application / Participation
- BWL-students are welcome to apply by sending an email to Dr. Zhuoer Qiu with
- a brief letter of motivation (~half page),
- CV,
- current grade transcript (Notenspiegel)
by March 31, 2026 at the latest.
WOS-students are welcome to apply by sending an email to Dr. Zhuoer Qiu with
- a brief letter of motivation (~half page),
- CV,
- current grade transcript (Notenspiegel)
by March 31, 2026 at the latest.
Students are encouraged to apply at their earliest convenience. Acceptance or rejection is notified on a rolling basis as applications are reviewed. - Course content
- The seminar provides students an opportunity to conduct a structured inquiry into a specific and relevant research question through a scientific research project. For the duration of the semester, student work in teams to produce an original academic research paper. The seminar topics focus on innovation-related questions.
- Course objective
- The seminar is dedicated to helping students develop their academic reading, writing, and research skills. Special attention will be paid to identifying theoretical and managerial contributions in the research paper and translating between managerial questions and scientific body of knowledge, writing a scientific paper, and presenting the findings. This seminar also serves as a preparation for students who are interested in writing a master thesis on topics related to innovation management.
- Exam registration
- Cancellation of registration
Please note that the schedule is preliminary and subject to change. Please check back often in LSF.
What is this course about?
Innovation is the hallmark of a firm that grows, prospers, and makes its mark on both the industry and the world. In this seminar, students will explore a range of topics related to innovation and entrepreneurship, examining real-world phenomena such as the emergence of new ventures, the development of breakthrough innovations, and the management of innovation portfolios.
Drawing on academic research, students will critically analyze the key factors that shape innovation processes and outcomes, including organizational structures, resources, institutional environments, and leadership. Through discussion and analysis, the course aims to deepen students’ understanding of how innovative ideas are generated, implemented, and translated into sustainable value.
What will I gain from this course?
Students will deepen their academic writing skills: Understanding how to define research questions, perform comprehensive literature reviews, document methodological approaches, conduct data analyses, and write a research paper. In terms of method, students will learn to adopt an empirics-first approach to conduct research that is motivated by a real-world phenomenon, problem, or observation. Upon defining the research questions, students explore and analyze data collected from accessible archival sources, with the aim of adding new insights to the literature and offering actionable managerial implications.
How is the seminar conducted?
- The seminar is held in English (instructions, presentations, and final paper) with some elements (data) in German.
- You will work in teams.
- To most effectively provide guidance to students, the maximum number of participants is limited to 15.
- Per examination guidelines, your attendance at the kick-off session makes your participation in the seminar binding.