| Abstract | The course focuses on important factors that drive the innovation performance of firms, like innovation capabilities, the use of digital technologies, environmental and innovation policy and it shows how innovation activities relate to firm performance and to the technological dynamic of industries. We also discuss the implications of the findings for effective economic policy-making. |
| Learning objective | The course provides students with the basic skills to understand and assess empirically the technological activities of firms and the technological dynamics of industries. In addition, the aim is to promote the understanding of the essential criteria for innovation policy-making.
Personal and social skills are also addressed during the course. In particular, there is the possibility to improve communication and presentation skills, the ability to develop arguments for the positions of political representatives, policy-makers, pressure groups, or NGOs in connection with innovation policy-making. |
| Content | The course consists of two parts. Part I provides an introduction into important topics in the field of the economics of innovation. Part II consists of empirical exercises based on various firm-level data sets, e.g., the KOF Innovation data, data about the digitization of firms, data about environmentally friendly innovations, or patent data. In part I, we will learn about ... a) market conditions that encourage firms to invest in R&D (Research and Development) and develop new products and processes. ... b) the role of competition and market structure for the R&D activities of companies. ...c) how digital and environmentally friendly technologies diffuse among firms. ...d) how the R&D activities of firms are affected by economic crises and how firms finance their R&D activities. ...e) how we can measure the returns to R&D activities. ...f) how environmental policies and innovation policies affect the technological activities of a firm. In part II we will use the KOF Innovation Survey data, patent data, data on digitization of firms, or other longitudinal data sources, to investigate empirically the technological activities of firms in relation to the topics introduced in part I. |
| Lecture notes | Will be provided in the course and in the e-learning environment: https://moodle-app2.let.ethz.ch/course/view.php?id=15120 |
| Literature | Literature will be presented in the course. For an introduction into the economics of innovation see G.M. Peter Swann, The Economics of Innovation - an Introduction, Edward Elgar, 2009.
For an overview of empirical innovation studies see W.M. Cohen (2010): Fifty Years of Empirical Studies of Innovation Activities and Performance, in: B.H Hall, N. Rosenberg (eds.), Handbook of Economics of Innovation, volume 1, Elsevier, pp. 129-213. |
| Prerequisites / Notice | Course is directed to advanced Master-Students and PhD Students with an interest in empirical studies. |
Competencies | | Subject-specific Competencies | Concepts and Theories | assessed | | Techniques and Technologies | assessed | | Method-specific Competencies | Analytical Competencies | assessed | | Decision-making | assessed | | Media and Digital Technologies | assessed | | Problem-solving | assessed | | Project Management | fostered | | Social Competencies | Communication | assessed | | Cooperation and Teamwork | fostered | | Customer Orientation | fostered | | Leadership and Responsibility | fostered | | Self-presentation and Social Influence | fostered | | Sensitivity to Diversity | fostered | | Negotiation | fostered | | Personal Competencies | Adaptability and Flexibility | fostered | | Creative Thinking | fostered | | Critical Thinking | assessed | | Integrity and Work Ethics | fostered | | Self-awareness and Self-reflection | fostered | | Self-direction and Self-management | assessed |
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Performance assessment as a semester course