Salvatore Ruggiero

Salvatore Ruggiero is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Sciences at LUT University's School of Engineering Science. He also holds a Docent (Adjunct Professor) position in Sustainable Entrepreneurship at the University of Helsinki's Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, and is affiliated with the Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS). His academic background includes a PhD in Corporate Environmental Management from the University of Jyväskylä.

Research Focus: Ruggiero's work explores the intersection of social innovation, business renewal, and sustainability transitions. He specializes in energy system transformation, examining citizen participation models, socio-technical change dynamics, and equitable transition frameworks. His investigations span energy prosumerism, community-based renewable energy, social acceptance of technologies, energy justice principles, and business model innovation for demand-side management.

Current Projects: He is actively engaged in the multi-year Phoenix initiative (Pathways out of Energy Crises towards a Resilient and Just Energy System), funded by Finland's Strategic Research Council. Within Work Package 1 of this project, he develops conceptual frameworks for enhancing energy justice and resilience in Finland's energy infrastructure.

Professional Experience:

• Visiting Scholar at Austrian Institute of Innovation (AIT), Vienna
• Visiting Professor at Politecnico di Milano (Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering)
• Previous positions at Aalto University School of Business and University of Helsinki's Centre for Consumer Society Research

Teaching Portfolio:

• Transition Studies and Innovation Policy (5 ECTS)
• Renewable Energy Policy (5 ECTS)
• Sustainable Strategy (6 ECTS, co-taught with LUT Business School)