INSPIRE: The European Center for Innovation, Transformation, and Entrepreneurship Research
Mission and ambition of the Research Centre
INSPIRE at ESCP Business School is dedicated to developing the most inspiring research ideas in innovation, transformation, and entrepreneurship. Our ambition is to push the frontiers of knowledge with bold, interesting, and impactful research that shapes the future of business and society.
Say Days
Say Days is an annual event uniting entrepreneurship and innovation researchers from all ESCP campuses to discuss research, exchange ideas, and explore collaboration, fostering community and expertise across the institution.
Sieste
We host Sieste, an inspirational research break where ESCP and external scholars present papers, share knowledge, and engage in meaningful conversations, building a strong research community and network.
Research Meetup
Three times a year, the Research Meetup brings together scholars for a full-day workshop to explore broader research themes, foster collaborations, and shape the future of innovation, entrepreneurship, and transformation.
FOS (Forschungsoberseminar)
We regularly host FOS, an online seminar every two weeks focused on enhancing a single research paper. Scholars from INSPIRE and beyond collaborate to provide feedback, refine ideas, and strengthen academic contributions.
FUS (Forschungsunterseminar)
FUS are biweekly online meetings that provide a supportive platform for new PhD students and faculty at ESCP to discuss early-stage PhD topics, promote academic development, and strengthen the scholarly community.
Leadership Section
At INSPIRE, we are delighted to bring together a diverse and talented group of remarkable scholars who are passionate about pushing the boundaries of research in innovation, transformation, and entrepreneurship. Our faculty, researchers, and PhD candidates form a dynamic community dedicated to generating impactful ideas and fostering academic excellence.
Director
Christoph Seckler
Director of INSPIRE Research Center
Prof. Dr. Christoph Seckler is a Full Professor of Entrepreneurship at ESCP Business School in Berlin. He holds the Chair of Entrepreneurial Strategy, serves as the Academic Director of Executive Master in Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurial Leadership (EMDIEL), and co-founded the DS:E - Center for Design Science in Entrepreneurship. The German magazine Capital recognised him in its ‘Top 40 Under 40’ and ‘Top 10 Upcoming Business Scholars.’
Rand Gerges-Yammine
Co-Director of INSPIRE Research Center
Rand Gerges-Yammine is an Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Paris campus of ESCP. She is also an honorary research fellow at the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Group at Imperial College Business School. Before joining ESCP, she was a research associate at Imperial College, where she worked on an EU-funded research study titled Networking for Innovation. Her research focuses on interfirm collaboration in open contexts, the networking behaviors of tech entrepreneurs in ecosystems, and the entrepreneurial response to uncertainty and extreme crisis situations.
Permanent Faculty
Sylvain Bureau
Professor
Paris
sbureau@escp.eu
Daniele Battaglia
Associate Professor
Turin
dbattaglia@escp.eu
Mia Chang
Assistant Professor
Paris
mchang@escp.eu
Stela Ivanova
Assistant Professor
London
sivanova@escp.eu
Yi Jiang
Professor
Paris
yjiang@escp.eu
Gorgi Krlev
Full Professor
Paris
gkrlev@escp.eu
Martin Kupp
Professor
Paris
mkupp@escp.eu
René Mauer
Professor
Berlin
rmauer@escp.eu
Matthias Mrozewski
Assistant Professor
Berlin
mmrozewski@escp.eu
Robert Sheldon
Associate Professor
Paris
rsheldon@escp.eu
Alisa Sydow
Associate Professor
London
asydow@escp.eu
Benjamin Voyer
Professor
London
bvoyer@escp.eu
Hao Zhong
Associate Professor
Paris
hzhong@escp.eu
Researchers (PhDs and PostDocs)
- Luigi Lannutti, PhD candidate, Paris
- Renate Griessel-Duminy,PhD candidate, Paris
- Bugra Kilinc, PhD candidate, Berlin
- Jan-Friedrich Kulp, PhD candidate, Berlin
- Audren Letellier, PhD candidate, Berlin
- Grace Nguyen, PhD candidate, Berlin
- Daniel Albrecht Nuedling, executive PhD candidate, Berlin
- Josiane Zhang, PhD candidate, Paris
- Clara Lecerf, PhD candidate, Paris
- Rindratiana Rahajason, PhD candidate, Paris
- Konakajima Yohei, executive PhD candidate, Paris
- Anne Carol Hasse, PhD candidate, Berlin
- Christine Hansen, PhD candidate, Berlin
- Justine Buriller, PhD candidate, Paris
- Viviana Alba Sacchi, PhD candidate, Paris
- Laure Marty, executive PhD candidate, Paris
- Manayer Alsharekh, executive PhD candidate, Paris
- Oaulid Mokhantar, PhD candidate, Paris
- Grace Casanova, PhD candidate, Paris
- Ayanna Henry, PhD candidate, Paris
- Daniel Schmidt, executive PhD candidate, Paris
- Jun Zhou, PhD candidate, Paris
- Kaiwen Ji, PhD candidate, Paris
- Denis Lambert, PhD candidate, Paris
- Einar Halldin, executive PhD candidate, Paris
Former affiliates:
- Konstantin Remke, Assistant Professor at EM Normandie, Paris
- Sönke Mestwerdt, Lecturer (Assistant Professor) at Alliance Manchester Business School, Manchester
- Steffen Triebel, Assistant Professor at Aarhus University
Research Activities
At INSPIRE, we embrace a broad and dynamic approach to research, allowing scholars the freedom to explore impactful and emerging topics without being confined to rigid predefined categories. Our work spans the fields of innovation, transformation, and entrepreneurship, fostering new insights that drive academic progress and real-world change. Below is an overview of our key research areas:
Innovation
In an era of rapid technological advancements and shifting market dynamics, innovation is at the heart of economic and societal progress. From the evolution of emerging technologies to the reinvention of business models, organizations must continuously adapt to remain competitive. At INSPIRE, we explore how novel ideas, breakthrough technologies, and disruptive strategies shape industries and drive transformation. Our research delves into the mechanisms of innovation, the role of digital ecosystems, and the impact of technological development on businesses and society.
Transformation
Societal, environmental, and economic transformations are redefining the way businesses operate. In a world facing climate change, sustainability imperatives, and evolving stakeholder expectations, organizations must navigate complex transitions. INSPIRE investigates how businesses, industries, and entrepreneurs manage transformational shifts, from sustainable business models to ethical entrepreneurship. By studying real-world cases of change and adaptation, we aim to illuminate the strategies that lead to responsible and impactful transformation. A particular emphasis is given to the role of AI and sustainability topics, as well as the human side of transformation.
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship is a driving force of economic growth, social change, and creative disruption. However, the entrepreneurial journey is filled with challenges, from navigating uncertainty to redefining industries. At INSPIRE, we study the multifaceted nature of entrepreneurship, from alternative entrepreneurial practices to the psychological and social dimensions of venture creation. Our research examines how entrepreneurs build, scale, and sustain their ventures, while also addressing broader themes such as inclusion, resilience, and the evolving nature of business ownership. Previous research has also explored the important topics of refugee entrepreneurship, and social entrepreneurship.
Selected Journal Publications
At INSPIRE, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge through high-quality research published in leading academic journals. Our scholars contribute to the global conversation on innovation, transformation, and entrepreneurship by producing rigorous and impactful research that shapes both theory and practice. Below is a selection of our related journal publications:
