Mario Kafouros

Professor Mario Kafouros holds the Chair of International Business and Innovation at the University of Manchester (UK) and is part of the Alliance Manchester Business School. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) and serves as Senior Editor of the International Business Review and on the editorial review board of the Journal of International Business Studies. He previously led the PMO Division at Alliance MBS, the International Business Group, and served as REF leader at the University of Leeds. His research focuses on internationalization strategies, innovation drivers, and firm performance in global contexts, drawing from economics, geography, and law.

• Awards: Academic of the Year (2024), Stanford Top 2% Scientists, RSA Fellowship, and multiple best paper awards.
• Grants: Over £3.6 million from ESRC, EPSRC, and other bodies.
• Editorial Roles: Guest editor for Journal of World Business, Journal of International Management, and Global Strategy Journal.

Research Interests: International business strategy, innovation ecosystems, emerging economies, FDI spillovers, and institutional impacts on firm performance. His work bridges economic and sociological perspectives to analyze global competitiveness and technological development.

• PhD Supervision: 13 students in areas like international patent litigation, subsidiary capabilities, and M&A effects.
• Professional Roles: ESRC Peer Review College member, Academy of Management (AoM) member, and adviser to the Commonwealth.

Labs/Teams: Led research groups in international business and innovation at both Manchester and Leeds Universities, fostering collaborative projects on global strategy and emerging market dynamics.