Lukas Andreas Falcke

Lukas Andreas Falcke serves as Assistant Professor for Digital Strategy and Innovation at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam's School of Business and Economics since September 2022, specializing in collaborative digital innovation to address sustainability challenges. His interdisciplinary expertise bridges engineering, business strategy, and environmental science within the Department of Knowledge, Information and Innovation.

His academic foundation includes:

• Bachelor's in Electrical and Computer Engineering (RWTH Aachen)
• Master's in Management, Technology, and Economics with Sustainability/Machine Learning focus (ETH Zurich)
• Ph.D. from University of St. Gallen with research stints at Stanford GSB and ETH Zurich

Falcke's research investigates how firms leverage collaborative innovation ecosystems and boundary spanners to drive digital sustainability, particularly for climate action. He examines machine learning's role in knowledge transfer while integrating theories from knowledge-based views and social capital. His work emphasizes practical applications where digital-first strategies enable net-zero transitions through open innovation frameworks.

Recent publications (2024-2025) reveal converging trends: digital sustainability strategies increasingly prioritize ecosystem-level coordination, temporal dynamics in boundary spanning, and net-zero innovation through data commons. These works consistently bridge business strategy with environmental imperatives, highlighting digital platforms as catalysts for climate action within innovation ecosystems.

His scholarly impact is recognized through:

• Best Conference Paper Award at JPIM Research Forum 2021
• Henry Chesbrough Best Student Paper Award (2021)
• AOM Annual Meeting Best Paper inclusion (2020)
• William H Newman Award Nomination (2022)

Falcke actively mentors students through courses like Digital Innovation Lab and Organizing Sustainable Innovation, while his research collaborations with Zobel, Comello, Christis, and Berends secure industry engagement. Current projects focus on data commons for biodiversity and citizen science initiatives, translating theoretical insights into collective action frameworks for sustainable communities.

He leads interdisciplinary teams exploring relational infrastructures for sensor data sharing, particularly through activities like 'Data Commons for Biodiversity' and 'Co-Creating Sustainable Communities' presentations (2024-2025), demonstrating commitment to operationalizing digital innovation for societal impact.