Oliver Som

Oliver Som is a Professor and Head of the Department of Innovation Management and Innovation Economics at the Management Center Innsbruck (MCI). He holds a Dr. rer. pol. from the University of Flensburg and a Mag. from the University of Stuttgart. His research focuses on innovation management, digital transformation, SME innovation patterns, and eco-innovation. He has led numerous high-impact projects such as the MEIS-SME initiative to enhance Egyptian SME innovation capabilities and the AlpBioEco project on bioeconomy value chains. His work bridges academic research with practical applications, including strategic foresight and innovation policy design.

Key research areas include organizational innovation, absorptive capacity, and the role of digital technologies in transforming industries. He has received prestigious awards such as the Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize nomination and the Innovation Award 2007. His contributions span over 150 publications and include leadership roles in academic conferences and advisory boards. Som actively engages in policy consultations, notably advising the German government on innovation strategies for non-research-intensive firms.