Frank Danzinger

Professor Frank Danzinger is Vice President for Technology and Innovation at the Technical University of Applied Sciences Augsburg (THA), where he also serves as Scientific Co-Director of the Institute for Technology and Knowledge Transfer (ITW) and as a Startup Ambassador. He is a faculty member of the School of Business with expertise in digital business transformation, innovation management, and service design.

His research focuses on:

• Digital business models and transformation
• Open innovation methodologies and living labs
• Value co-creation and service innovation
• Servitization strategies
• Data-driven business approaches

Professor Danzinger is best known for developing and operating JOSEPHS®, an open innovation lab in Nuremberg city center that facilitated over 90 innovation projects between 2014 and 2019. His approach to digital business emphasizes the formula: Digital Business = (Recognizing technological opportunities + Understanding digital business) × critical reflection × ability to accompany transformation.

His research output shows a consistent focus on practical applications of innovation theory, with publications spanning from 2004 to the present. Recent work has increasingly examined digital transformation in retail contexts, rural communities, and industrial settings, reflecting evolving business challenges in the digital age.

Among his notable recognitions is a Best Paper Award at the EURAM Conference 2012 for his work on boundary innovators in demographic change. His research has been supported by various funding bodies including BMBF (German Federal Ministry of Education and Research).

As an educator, Professor Danzinger teaches courses on Fundamentals in Business, Digital Business, and Advanced Practice in Business Administration. His teaching philosophy, captured in his motto 'Learning is like rowing against the current. If you stop, you drift back,' emphasizes continuous adaptation in the rapidly evolving digital business landscape. He actively mentors students interested in entrepreneurship through his role as Startup Ambassador.

Professor Danzinger maintains strong industry connections through his memberships in professional organizations and frequent industry presentations, ensuring his research remains grounded in real-world business challenges.