Franz Barjak

Prof. Franz Barjak is a Professor for Empirical Social and Economic Research at FHNW's School of Business, leading the Doctoral Advisory Office. He holds a PhD from Ruhr University Bochum (2010) and a Geography diploma from Technical University Munich (1993). His expertise spans innovation policy, technology transfer, and regional economics, with extensive consulting for EU institutions and Swiss/German authorities. He teaches innovation studies and research methods across bachelor/master programs, including international management and entrepreneurship.

Education

• PhD in Geography, Ruhr University Bochum, 2010
• Diploma in Geography, Technical University Munich, 1993

Research Interests

Barjak focuses on innovation ecosystems, university-industry collaboration, and science policy. His work examines knowledge transfer mechanisms, regional innovation systems, and the impact of digital infrastructure on research. Recent studies include evaluations of Swiss and Austrian space sectors, innovation decline trends in companies, and policy effectiveness in knowledge transfer.

Grants & Projects

He has led over 20 projects for EU DGs, Swiss authorities, and industry partners, including:

• Peer review of research programs (ZHAW, HSLU)
• Swiss Space Sector Survey (2015–2016)
• Austrian Space Sector Analysis (2022–2023)
• Innovation policy evaluations for SNSF and SERI

Labs & Teams

Based at the Institute for Competitiveness and Communication, he collaborates with global partners like ETH Zurich, UNU-MERIT, and the Swiss Space Office. His work emphasizes transnational research networks and policy-driven innovation assessments.