Technology Dynamics

This course explores technology dynamics: how technological change unfolds and how firms, policy, and society influence it. Central to the course is the idea that technological innovation is not a linear process, but shaped by interactions between actors, institutions, networks, and broader systems. We study:

• How to describe technological change, using established models of technological dynamics

• System-level antecedents of change, such as innovation systems and responsible innovation

• Organisational-level antecedents of change, focusing on the role of interorganizational networks in shaping innovation outcomes

Lectures combine theoretical insights with practical implications for managing innovation and technological change. Special emphasis is placed on translating literature into actionable insights for firms and policymakers.

The course is assessed through:

• A digital open-book written exam (80%): This exam tests your ability to interpret and apply insights from the literature to real-world problems. Rather than memorising details, you are expected to understand and use theoretical frameworks to develop actionable insights. The grade for the exam must be at least a 5.0.

• Participation in two mini-conferences (20%): During each conference, student teams present and discuss assigned readings. Attendance is mandatory. Students are expected to come prepared and actively participate in both presentations and discussions. The final grade for mini-conference participation is the average of the two individual conference grades and must be at least a 5.0.

The final course grade is the weighted average of the exam grade and the final mini-conference grade. Students pass the course when this weighted average is at least 5.8. Only if you fail the course may partial grades (i.e. the written exam grade or the final mini-conference grade) be transferred to the next academic year, provided they are at least a 5.0.