Christian Lerch

Dr. Christian Lerch is a prominent researcher and coordinator at the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI in Karlsruhe, specializing in innovation management, industrial transformation, and digitalization. He holds a PhD from Freie Universität Berlin and lectures at Zeppelin University and the University of Applied Sciences Karlsruhe, focusing on service economics and business model innovation. His work bridges academic and applied research, emphasizing servitization, Industry 4.0/5.0, and sustainability in manufacturing.

• Affiliations: Fraunhofer ISI (since 2008), Zeppelin University (lecturer), University of Applied Sciences Karlsruhe (lecturer).
• Education: PhD in Innovation Management from Freie Universität Berlin (2014), studies in Economics Engineering at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).

Research Interests: His work centers on innovation dynamics in manufacturing industries, digital transformation, AI-readiness, platform-based business models, and resilience strategies. He explores how firms adapt to trends like servitization, Industry 5.0 human-technology synergy, and green economy challenges. Recent studies focus on policy implications of China's industrial strategies and the role of competence management in fostering innovation.

Articles Trends: His publications emphasize the interplay between technological advancements and human-centric approaches, particularly in Industry 5.0. Key themes include AI-driven resilience, platformization pathways, and the evolution of production paradigms. He also analyzes digital servitization maturity models and the socio-economic impact of collaborative economy models in manufacturing.

Awards: Recognized with a Best Paper Award (2015) for research on digitalization's role in manufacturing's service transformation. Active in professional societies like the Deutsche Gesellschaft für System Dynamics.

Grants & Labs: Led projects on AI-readiness, Digital Maturity Checks, and the economic relevance of B2B platforms. Involved in the European Manufacturing Survey (EMS) network. Coordinates the Business Unit Industrial Change and New Business Models at Fraunhofer ISI.