Dietmar Harhoff

Dietmar Harhoff is a prominent academic and researcher in innovation, entrepreneurship, and economics. He serves as Director at the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition and Honorary Professor at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU Munich). His career spans roles including Managing Director at the Max Planck Institute, Director of LMU's Entrepreneurship Center, and academic leadership at the LMU Munich School of Management.

Education:

• Ph.D. (1991) MIT Sloan School of Management
• Habilitation (1996) University of Mannheim
• Master of Public Administration (1987) Harvard Kennedy School
• Diplom-Ingenieur (1984) University of Dortmund

Research Interests: Focuses on innovation systems, patent policies, venture capital, and applied economics. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with empirical analysis of innovation processes, technology markets, and policy impacts.

Articles Trends: Recent work addresses AI evolution, data commons, patent opposition impacts, and regional innovation dynamics. Themes include patent quality, innovation networks, and policy design for disruptive technologies.

Awards:

• 2019 Federal Cross of Merit (Germany)
• 2015 Bavarian Academy of Sciences Membership
• 2013 Schumpeter School Award

Advisory & Grants: Leads German federal innovation policy advisory (SPRIND), chairs EU innovation initiatives, and advises institutions like Nesta and the Bavarian AI Council. Extensive grants focus on innovation metrics, patent systems, and technology transfer.

Labs/Teams: Co-founded octimine technologies and German Accelerator Inc., and directs research centers in entrepreneurship and innovation at LMU and Max Planck.