Nils Urbach

Prof. Dr. Nils Urbach is a Professor of Information Systems, Digital Business, and Mobility at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences (Frankfurt UAS) since 2020. He leads the Research Lab for Digital Innovation & Transformation (ditlab) and serves as Director at the FIM Research Center for Information Management. His roles also include Deputy Head of the Fraunhofer Institute’s Business & Information Systems Engineering branch and co-founder of the Fraunhofer Blockchain Lab. Previously, he held a professorship at the University of Bayreuth (2013–2020).

Education: Urbach earned a Diplom in Business Information Systems from the University of Paderborn (2004), followed by a PhD (summa cum laude) from EBS Business School (2010). He completed post-doctoral studies at EBS and held visiting scholar positions at the University of Pittsburgh and Université de Lausanne.

Research focuses on digital innovation, AI management, blockchain, and strategic IT transformation. He emphasizes organizational adoption of digital technologies, IT governance, and design science. His work bridges academic and industrial collaboration, partnering with corporations like Siemens, Volkswagen, and Deutsche Bahn.

Awards include the ECIS 2017 Best Paper Award, Springer Nature Editor of Distinction (2025), and recognition as one of Germany’s top research economists. He actively engages in editorial boards (e.g., MIS Quarterly Executive) and conferences (e.g., ECIS, ICIS).

Key contributions include books on IT management in the digital age, blockchain applications, and digital transformation. He advises organizations on governance frameworks for AI and blockchain, and chairs initiatives like the CIO Round Table in Upper Franconia.