Kathrin Weidner

Prof. Dr. Kathrin Weidner is a Professor of Operations and Innovation Management at the Faculty of Communication and Environment, Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences, Kamp-Lintfort Campus. She teaches core subjects in the International Business Administration program, including Innovation Management, Entrepreneurship, Operations & Supply Chain Management, and Digitalization. With a strong background in both academia and industry, she integrates practical insights into her teaching and research.

Her educational background includes a PhD in Business Administration from Leibniz University Hanover (magna cum laude), a Master of Science in Entrepreneurship, Business Development & Innovation from the University of Wuppertal, and dual undergraduate degrees from Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg and the Open University, London.

Her research focuses on innovation management, sustainable business models, cross-sector collaborations, digital transformation, and social enterprises. She has published in high-impact journals such as Business & Society and Journal of Management Studies, and her recent work explores topics like green hydrogen economies, online returns, and cross-innovation processes. Her publications reflect a strong emphasis on sustainability, empirical research, and practical applicability.

The trend in her recent articles shows a shift toward interdisciplinary innovation, sustainability, and digital transformation, with a particular focus on SMEs and regional ecosystems. She frequently collaborates with researchers like J. Wirth, K. Nebe, and C. Weber, indicating active engagement in academic networks.

She actively supervises bachelor’s and master’s theses in areas such as entrepreneurship, innovation, digitalization, and operations management, encouraging empirical work and real-world applications. While no specific grants or awards are mentioned in the provided texts, her leadership in innovation projects and publications suggests significant research impact.

She leads the Chair of Operations and Innovation Management and is involved in initiatives like the XI Lab in the Lower Rhine Region, promoting cross-innovation and regional development. Her work bridges academia and practice, contributing to both theoretical advancement and practical implementation in innovation and operations.