Scott Stern

Scott Stern is the David Sarnoff Professor of Management at the MIT Sloan School of Management, specializing in the economics of innovation and entrepreneurship. His research focuses on entrepreneurial strategy, innovation-driven ecosystems, and policy. Stern holds a BA from NYU and a PhD from Stanford. He is a leading scholar in regional innovation ecosystems, having co-founded MIT’s Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program (REAP) and co-led the U.S. Cluster Mapping Project. Stern’s work bridges academia and practice, advising startups and governments on innovation strategies. He has been awarded the Kauffman Prize Medal (2005) and the Jamieson Prize (2024).

Education:

• Bachelor of Arts in Economics, New York University
• Doctor of Philosophy in Economics, Stanford University

Research Interests: Stern explores how innovation and entrepreneurship differ from traditional economic activities, emphasizing their strategic and policy implications. Key areas include entrepreneurial ecosystems, regional competitiveness, and the role of institutions in fostering innovation. His frameworks, such as Entrepreneurial Strategy, are taught in MIT Sloan’s curriculum and published in textbooks.

Recent Work: Stern’s recent studies address the impact of clusters, the Startup Cartography Project, and the effects of policy on entrepreneurship. He co-authored Entrepreneurship: Choice and Strategy (2024), blending academic rigor with practical insights.

Awards and Recognition:

• Kauffman Prize Medal for Distinguished Research in Entrepreneurship (2005)
• Jamieson Prize (2024)
• 2021 Innovation in Entrepreneurship Pedagogy Award

Grants and Initiatives: Stern directs the National Bureau of Economic Research’s Innovation Policy Working Group and advises the Social Progress Index. His executive education courses, including Strategy for Startups, integrate theory and practice for leaders.

Labs and Teams: Stern collaborates with institutions like the National Academy of Sciences and co-leads MIT’s innovation initiatives, fostering cross-sector partnerships to advance entrepreneurship and policy.