16 June 2024 | Madrid
Carina Hafertepe, a graduate in International Marketing & Sales from FH Münster and former research assistant at the Science-to-Business Marketing Research Centre (S2BMRC), presented her master's thesis at the University-Industry Innovation Network (UIIN) Conference in Madrid from May 27th to 29th.
In her master's thesis, Carina Hafertepe explored the Siemens Research and Innovation Ecosystems (Siemens RIEs) as a model for innovation ecosystems that bridges industry and academia. In this context, Carina investigated the 16 Siemens RIEs spread across the globe to uncover their characteristics and dynamics leading to long-term system viability. This exceptional collaboration highlights the immense potential that arises from the synergy between scientific research and practical application which was awarded with the "Innovation Ecosystem" prize at the UIIN Conference.
A Textbook Example of Collaboration
Starting as an inspiring discussion on the evolution of innovation ecosystems between Dr. Natascha Eckert, former head of the Siemens RIEs team, Dr. Sue Rossano-Rivero, former head of S2BMRC, Judith Helmer, academic researcher at S2BMRC, and Carina Hafertepe, master student and research assistant at S2BMRC, the team soon sparked interest on further investigating the long-term viability of these ecosystems. In that, the Siemens RIEs served as the perfect context to explore in-depth how viability can manifest and sustain over time. Soon, Carina Hafertepe took forward this research opportunity to explore it in the course of her master thesis. Thanks to the trust and openness of the Siemens RIE team led by Dr. Natascha Eckert, Carina was able to delve deeply into the complexity of these ecosystems, examining and comparing the unique characteristics of each. The outcome: A wealth of extremely insightful results that culminated in an excellent master's thesis and lastly in a 15-minute conference presentation at the UIIN Conference 2024.
On Carina's master's thesis
In light of increasing complexity, collaborative approaches that promote cooperation between companies and universities are gaining popularity. But Siemens takes strategic collaboration with universities to the next level by opening up cooperation to other innovation drivers such as research institutes, start-ups, and incubators heralding a shift from strictly dyadic university relationships to a more systemic approach to drive innovation and value creation. However, how such complex systems become and remain viable in highly dynamic contexts is yet to be thoroughly explored. Carina's master's thesis aimed to determine how collaborative market systems are configured to ensure their viability. In this context, Carina investigated the so-called viability mechanisms that came into play within the Siemens RIEs to ensure the viability and continua of these ecosystems. With her work, Carina contributes to the scientific discourse by outlining six configurations of viable innovation ecosystems and demonstrates that respective viability mechanisms manifest differently under various circumstances while ensuring the system's viability and success.
From the master's thesis to the award-winning presentation at the UIIN Conference
As the world's largest event focused on the interaction between universities and industry, entrepreneurial and engaged universities, and the future of higher education, the UIIN Conference 2024 was held under the theme "Future of Talents and Innovation". Academics and practitioners from around the globe gathered in the beautiful setting of Madrid to share the latest research findings and approaches to fostering innovation through university-industry collaboration. The consensus was clear: The complexity and multitude of today's challenges arising simultaneously can only be tackled collectively through strategic collaboration and the breakdown of knowledge and competence silos.
As part of the "Innovation Ecosystems" theme, Carina Hafertepe and Judith Helmer presented the findings from Carina's master's thesis, demonstrating how industry partners can also break down existing silos and leverage the innovative potential of strategic collaborations between universities and industry for the benefit of all parties involved. After the presentation, Dr. Natascha Eckert commented on how much she valued the research-based perspective of Carina's master's thesis and the fresh insights it provided, encouraging other companies to invest in similar activities. The audience's response was overwhelmingly positive, repeatedly emphasising the relevance of the topic and drawing numerous thought-provoking ideas for their own regions and organisations from the presentation. The high quality of the presentation was made evident at the end of the conference when Carina and Judith were awarded for the best presentation in the "Innovation Ecosystems" category.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Natascha Eckert and her team for their trust and openness in granting Carina access to the Siemens RIEs. We also wish to thank Dr. Sue Rossano-Rivero for her long-standing commitment to the transfer between academia and practice, paving the way for such outstanding collaborations. Additionally, we express our gratitude to Judith Helmer for supervising and initiating this excellent master's thesis cooperation.
Finally, we want to congratulate our talented and highly dedicated master's graduate Carina Hafertepe on this outstanding achievement. We wish her all the best and continued success in her future endeavours.
