Margit Kirs

Margit Kirs is a Research Fellow at the Ragnar Nurkse Department of Innovation and Governance within the School of Business and Governance at Tallinn University of Technology. She has been with the university since 2004, progressing from Specialist to her current position as Research Fellow since 2017. She also served as a Visiting Researcher at Seoul National University in 2023. Her academic career spans over two decades with a strong focus on innovation policy, economic development, and technology governance.

Education:

• Doctor of Philosophy in Technology Governance (2011) - Dissertation: "Innovation and High-Technology Policy, Policy-Making and Implementation in Central and Eastern European Countries: The Case of Estonia"
• Master of Arts in Social Sciences (Technology Governance), cum laude (2007)
• Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences, cum laude (2004)

Margit Kirs' research focuses on innovation policy frameworks, particularly in Central and Eastern European contexts. Her work examines how innovation systems evolve in transition economies, with special attention to bioeconomy development, value chain dynamics, and business model innovation. She has developed expertise in analyzing how new EU member states integrate into European research frameworks and how they develop competitive advantages in high-tech sectors. Her research methodology combines institutional analysis with empirical investigation of specific sectors, particularly biotechnology and digital innovation. She frequently publishes in leading policy and innovation journals and contributes to national and EU-level policy discussions on innovation and economic development.

Her recent publications demonstrate a clear trajectory from analyzing national innovation systems in transition economies to more specialized studies on bioeconomy, circular economy, and value chain dynamics within the European context. She has increasingly focused on the practical implementation of innovation policies and their impact on business models and economic development in Estonia and other new EU member states. Her work bridges theoretical innovation studies with practical policy recommendations.

Scientific Awards:

• Special award of the State Chancellery of the Republic of Estonia for bachelor thesis (2004)

Margit Kirs has supervised 18 master's theses on diverse topics including circular economy, bioeconomy, digital transformation, and innovation ecosystems. She has secured significant research funding for projects related to innovation policy, with her current projects focusing on fair transition governance models and green transition opportunities in the Estonian economy. She plays an active role in academic administration, having served as program director for several master's programs and as a member of various academic boards.

While not specifically leading a dedicated research lab, Kirs is deeply embedded in the Ragnar Nurkse Department's research ecosystem, collaborating extensively with colleagues on innovation policy projects and contributing to the department's reputation as a leading center for innovation studies in the Baltic region. Her work connects with various research teams focusing on sustainable development, technology governance, and European integration.