On completion of the course the students will be able to:

1. Describe interrelations between R&D, entrepreneurship, innovations, and economic renewal on the level of firms, regions and nations.
2. Explain heterogeneity among firms in the same industry as a consequence of differences in firms’ R&D strategies.
3. Understand the role of innovations and technological change in the transformation of an economy and its GDP growth in the short run and the long run.
4. Describe the role of innovation system and knowledge networks in combining internal knowledge with local and global knowledge sources.

5. demonstrate the ability to integrate knowledge and analyze, assess and deal with complex phenomena associated with economics.
6. demonstrate the ability to identify and formulate issues independently.
7. demonstrate the ability to plan and execute a research project within a predetermined time frame.
8. demonstrate the ability to report clearly, in speech and writing, their conclusions and the knowledge and arguments on which they are based, and be able to discuss the results.
9. Employ empirical analysis in understanding the relationship between innovation, entrepreneurship and economic growth.

10. demonstrate the ability to make assessments, taking into account relevant scientific, societal and ethical issues in research and development work.
11. Describe the implications of innovation processes and entrepreneurship that give rise to creative destruction where some regions and occupations come out as winners, whereas others experience welfare losses.

The objectives of the course are to provide knowledge and understanding of firms’ R&D and innovation strategies and their economy-wide consequences for development and economic growth. The course literature illuminates the current difficulties of empirical studies to establish a consistent picture of the relationship between R&D, innovation, entrepreneurship, and growth. The course aims at clarifying how persistent differences between firms can be related to sustaining differences in the innovation strategies that firms apply, where strategies comprise plans for building up and maintaining capabilities to carry out innovation activities. In this context firms also make use of internal and external knowledge sources that are unevenly distributed across space. These issues also extend the context to include development of trade flows and to new patterns of location.

Important elements of the course are the following:

• Innovation strategies.
• Networks of multinational corporations and R&D collaboration.
• Knowledge spillovers in a geographic context.
• The effects of innovation on competitiveness on firm, industry and aggregate level.
• Innovation system and policies.
• The role of innovation and entrepreneurship for economic renewal and long run growth.

The course is structured around four compulsory seminars and three supervision meetings. The course entails writing an individual final project, individual assignments to each seminar, and to lead one seminar.

The teaching is conducted in English.

Bachelor’s degree in Economics (or the equivalent).

The course is graded A, B, C, D, E, FX or F.

The student is examined on all specified skills and abilities, the grade is a compound measure on student performances. The course is examined through group work (plan and lead one seminar), individual written assignments and an individual written final project. A summation of the grade on the group work plus the individual assignments during the course (maximum 40 points) and the grade on the final assignment (maximum 60 points) leads to an overall examination grade (100% of credit). Keeping deadlines as well as attendance and active participation in the compulsory seminars are part of the grade. To pass the course, all assignments have to be passed. The ILOs 1-9 will be examined through the group work and individual assignments.

Name of the Test	Value	Grading
Examination	7.5 credits	A/B/C/D/E/FX/F

It is the responsibility of the examiner to ensure that each course is evaluated. At the outset of the course, evaluators must be identified (elected) among the students. The course evaluation is carried out continuously as well as at the end of the course. On the completion of the course the course evaluators and course examiner discuss the course evaluation and possible improvements. A summary report is created and archived. The reports are followed up by program directors and discussed in program groups and with relevant others (depending on issue e.g. Associate Dean of Education, Associate Dean of faculty, Director of PhD Candidates, Dean and Director of Studies). The next time the course runs, students should be informed of any measures taken to improve the course based on the previous course evaluation.

It is not possible to take this course simultaneously with the first cycle course Innovation, Trade and Location.

Academic integrity
JIBS students are expected to maintain a strong academic integrity. This implies to behave within the boundaries of academic rules and expectations relating to all types of teaching and examination.

Copying someone else’s work is a particularly serious offence and can lead to disciplinary action. When you copy someone else’s work, you are plagiarizing. You must not copy sections of work (such as paragraphs, diagrams, tables and words) from any other person, including another student or any other author. Cutting and pasting is a clear example of plagiarism. There is a workshop and online resources to assist you in not plagiarizing called the Interactive Anti-Plagiarism Guide.

Other forms of breaking academic integrity include (but are not limited to) adding your name to a project you did not work on (or allowing someone to add their name), cheating on an examination, helping other students to cheat and submitting other students work as your own, and using non-allowed electronic equipment during an examination. All of these make you liable to disciplinary action.

Selected academic articles.