MSc in Economics and Management of Innovation and Technology

This Master of Science is designed to provide students with the analytical competencies and problem-solving skills to understand the mechanisms and to master the processes through which innovative ideas are developed and turned into market applications.

Students attend a challenging interdisciplinary program that blends strategic, managerial, organizational and economic approaches in order to analyze innovation and technology, both at firm and market levels (including the evaluation of legal implications).

We aim to develop the analytical skills required to understand the dynamics of technology within and across organizations; the decision-making abilities to turn technological opportunities into new ideas; and the problem-solving attitude to make successful innovations out of new ideas.

Learning is facilitated by a wide variety of courses, by thematic workshops, and by direct involvement in ongoing international research projects, including the opportunity to interact with the most important scholars and managers in the sector.

Graduates are prepared to cover a number of different roles related to the analysis and management of innovation projects in consulting companies, multinational and high-tech firms, international organizations, regulatory authorities, or to work as researchers for the development and launch of new products. Moreover, the program prepares graduates to create and launch their own entrepreneurial business or undertake a Ph.D. program in economics or strategy.

Program Structure

In the first year, students acquire a solid foundation in economic theory, analytical tools, and methodologies useful to understand and manage internationalization and innovation processes. The courses touch on many different areas: economics and management, law, history, and statistics. The second year offers the chance to look more deeply into such areas as development economics, supply chain management or information systems governance.

First Semester
Main topics:

• Competition Analysis

• Technology and Markets

• Intellectual Property Rights

• Valuation

The first semester courses are devoted to acquiring the analytical tools and background knowledge about the role of innovation in shaping the business environment, the dynamics of competition and intellectual property protection, and the strategies that firms can employ to face new challenges in dynamic markets.

Second Semester
Main topics:

• Technology Entrepreneurship

• Data Analysis for Managerial Decisions

• Creating Value Through New Business Models

• 1 course according to the selected major (or free track)

The second-semester courses provide students with a more micro and firm-level perspective on innovation. Students develop the capabilities to manage innovation in firms and to address the entrepreneurial challenge by designing suitable business models to meet the goals of the new venture and succeed in a competitive environment.

1 Industry-specific elective chosen out of:

• Innovation and Firm Strategies in ICT Sectors

• Innovation and Competition in Life Science

• Innovation in Services

• Community-Based Innovation and Strategy

Majors

• Green Management and Sustainability (major A)

• Technology and Innovation Management(major B)

• IT Consulting(major C)

• Big Data and Business Analytics(major D)

Free Track

• 3 electives

Study Abroad Programs

• Double Degrees with:
  CBS Copenhagen Business School (Copenhagen, Denmark)
  MGIMO Moscow State University for International Relations (Moscow, Russia)
  NHH Norwegian School of Economics (Bergen, Norway)
  RSM Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (Rotterdam, the Netherlands)
  Universidade Católica Portuguesa (Lisbon, Portugal)
  WU Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien (Vienna, Austria)

• Exchange Programs

Internship (compulsory)
Foreign languages (two languages)
Thesis

Learning Objectives

The Master of Science in Economics and Management of Innovation and Technology has the following educational objectives:

• Provide advanced preparation in the main economic-business subjects in order to understand the implications of the technological innovations in the single sectors, and the implications in terms of regulations and competition analysis.

• Develop the skills to have a complete understanding of the implications of innovation procedures in companies, in terms of innovation development, introduce innovation in business processes and develop an entrepreneurial approach in companies.

• Complete one's economics-business studies providing quantitative and juridical competences, so as to develop interdisciplinary problem analysis skills.

• Develop behavioral skills via ad hoc seminars and via in/out of class activities related to courses, namely skills in communication, in interaction, in addressing complex issues.

• Promote fluency in English to work effectively and efficiently; proficiency in a second EU language (Italian for non-Italian native speakers). Finally, to foster a wide-ranging culture to develop critical thinking and to delve into cutting-edge topics.

Career Opportunities

Graduates are prepared to cover a number of different roles, including:

• Industry analysts, consultants on business development at large consultancies.

• Business development managers and project managers of large innovation projects at multinational companies.

• Product managers and business operations managers in high-tech companies.

• Consultants and analysts at international organizations.

• Consultants and analysts at regulatory authorities on innovation and intellectual property.

• Market and competitive researchers for new product development and launch.

This program prepares students to craft and launch their own entrepreneurial business. It also provides a solid background in applied economics and technology and innovation strategy for students wishing to undertake a PhD program in economics or strategy.