Nina Czernich

Dr. Nina Czernich serves as Deputy Head of the ifo Center for Innovation Economics and Digital Transformation at the ifo Institute for Economic Research, which is affiliated with Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. She has been with the institute since 2007, progressing from PhD student to her current leadership position, while maintaining active research in innovation economics and digital transformation.

Her educational background includes economics studies at LMU Munich (2000-2005) followed by doctoral research (2007-2011). Dr. Czernich has established herself as a leading researcher on the economic impacts of digital technologies, particularly broadband infrastructure, and serves as Scientific Coordinator for the institute's External Funding Service.

Dr. Czernich's research focuses on innovation policy, digital transformation, and industrial economics, examining how technological change affects economic growth, labor markets, and business competitiveness. Her work combines rigorous empirical analysis with practical policy recommendations, frequently addressing Germany's position in the global digital economy and evaluating the effectiveness of innovation policies.

Her publication record shows consistent output with increasing policy impact, particularly in the last five years (2020-2025) where she has produced numerous influential studies on digital transformation, industrial policy, and innovation economics. These works demonstrate a shift toward more policy-oriented research addressing contemporary economic challenges in Germany and Europe.

• 2010 ifo Institute Prize for special achievements in third-party project management

Dr. Czernich currently leads multiple externally funded research projects totaling several years of research activity, including work for the German Federal Ministry of Finance, Infineon, the Bertelsmann Foundation, and various state ministries. She supervises research teams working on digital transformation, innovation policy evaluation, and industrial economics, with findings regularly informing German and European economic policy discussions.

As Deputy Head of the ifo Center for Innovation Economics and Digital Transformation, she oversees a research team producing policy-relevant analysis on technology adoption, innovation systems, and economic transformation. The center serves as a bridge between academic research and practical policy implementation, frequently collaborating with government agencies and industry stakeholders to address Germany's digital competitiveness challenges.