The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Group is the largest of four research groups at Imperial College Business School. It is an interdisciplinary team of academics, led by Professor David Gann, linking Imperial College Business School with the faculties of Engineering, Natural Sciences and Medicine within Imperial College London, as well with numerous external academic institutions and industrial leaders. At the heart of the Group is the Innovation Studies Centre funded for ten years by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, to conduct research on the innovation process, from knowledge creation to commercialisation. The ISC was established in 2003 and encompasses the core research themes of the Group - Open and Distributed Innovation, Business Model Innovation, Systems, Services and Design, and Diffusion of Innovation. The Centre collaborates with internationally leading academic institutions in the UK and overseas and works with world class firms such as GSK, IBM, Arup, Laing O'Rourke, CSC and BP, disseminating its findings widely. The I&E Group has two additional research themes, Strategic Entrepreneurship and Inclusive Innovation, not funded by the central EPSRC grant. As well as the core research projects, the Group has also attracted funding to establish a number of related Centres to carry out research into association innovation and entrepreneurship subjects. Finally the Group runs an extensive events and conference programme to disseminate the work of the Group to the widest possible audience.
Research Themes
The Group’s activities fall into six key research themes:
Open and Distributed Innovation
Led by Professor Ammon Salter. The purpose of this theme is to develop new knowledge and inform practice about open and distributed innovation. Developing and commercialising an innovation requires the coordination and integration of knowledge from many different sources and networks. Increasingly, innovators rely on external knowledge to complement and enrich their own expertise.
Business Model Innovation
Led by Dr Markus Perkmann, the research explores various questions regarding such business model innovation. What enables organisations to devise new business models and what are the sources, and consequences, of business model innovation? Current work focuses specifically on the low-carbon energy sector, which provides an ideal setting to investigate the ways organisations experiment with new ways of deploying energy technologies, as well as generating and consuming energy.
Systems, Services and Design
Led by Dr Andrew Davies, this Theme examines the design, integration and operation of complex systems, particularly in the infrastructure industries. Increasingly, organisations are providing systems and services as 'smart' integrated solutions to improve long-term operational performance and sustainability of outcomes.
Diffusion of Innovation
Led by Professor Erkko Autio, Diffusion of Innovation conducts research on innovation and technology commercialisation strategies in platform and ecosystem contexts. The Theme also undertakes research on determinants of new venture growth in technology-intensive business sectors
Strategic Entrepreneurship
Led by Professor Bart Clarysse The content of this theme is in development.
Inclusive Innovation
Led by Professor Gerry George. The content of this theme is in development.
Research Centres
In addition to the core research themes, the I&E Group has attracted funding to establish a number of high-profile centres to examine specific elements of the innovation and entrepreneurship process:
Design London
A collaboration between Imperial College Business School, the Royal College of Art and Imperial’s Faculty of Engineering. Design London, headed by Dr NIck Leon, brings together the disciplines of design, engineering, technology and business to address the challenges of intensifying innovation processes. Design London has placed the Group at the forefront of activities that incorporate design and science to create radical new approaches to design-led innovation. “Great business advances are a mix of design, technology and entrepreneurial activity – which is why Design London, from the brilliant minds of the RCA and Imperial College, is such an exciting prospect.” Sir James Dyson, British Industrial Designer Design London is funded through grants from the Higher Education Funding Council of England and the National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts. Its strategic partners include the London Development Agency, the Design Council and the Science Museum.
The (UK~IRC)
The UK~IRC, launched in 2009, is a five-year collaboration with the University of Cambridge to advance understanding of innovation policy and practice. The UK~IRC is co-funded by the Engineering and Social Sciences Research Council, National Endowement for Science, Technology and the Arts, the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, and the Technology Strategy Board. The Centre comprises 4 research projects and a Knowledge Hub to engage with policy and practice communities. It is led by Professor Alan Hughes at the University of Cambridge and Professor Ammon Salter at Imperial College London.
Through its Entrepreneurship Hub, the Group translates new insights developed by the academic community into practical tools and guidelines for entrepreneurs and managers active in the areas of innovation, entrepreneurship and design. Research on entrepreneurship, technology venturing and commercialisation is led jointly by Professor Erkko Autio who holds the QinetiQ Chair, and Professor Bart Clarysse. Working in close collaboration with Imperial Innovations, research focuses on the strategies deployed for rapid growth by high tech start-ups, on the venturing and acquisition activities and spin-out strategies of large companies, as well as mechanisms for commercialising technology developed in engineering and physical sciences.
The Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Led by Professor Gerry George, the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship provides a unique vehicle for corporate sector engagement, acting as the point of reference between India and its global collaborators. Named after Rajiv Gandhi, the late Indian Prime Minister and Imperial College alumnus, the Centre provides channels of knowledge and exchange between India and its global partners by effective integration of research and education. It also offers a corporate connections programme for Indian and UK executives, senior management and researchers.
The IPRC is led by Tom Hoehn, was launched in December 2009 to produce world-class research and best practice advice on the role of intellectual property advice for policy and business strategy. The Centre works across Imperial College London as well as with industry partners and government.
Launched in September 2010, The Digital Economy Lab acts as a portal for all the research, teaching and engagement which is taking place within this grand challenge at Imperial College London. The Digital Economy Lab aims to link external organisations to relevant expertise at the College and to foster the growing digital community within the College so that they can work together more effectively.
The Energy Business Research Laboratory
The Energy Business Research Laboratory carries out research on business model innovation, energy infrastructure design, the development and adoption of new energy technologies, project delivery and new business creation in this domain. The Lab is co-funded by BP, EPSRC and Ofgem.
