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

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

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

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)

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 (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  - Professor - ESCP

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 U-SCHOOL, and co-founded the Center for Design Science in Entrepreneurship. The German magazine Capital recognised him in its ‘Top 40 Under 40’ and ‘Top 10 Upcoming Business Scholars.’

Permanent Faculty

Daniele Battaglia - Associate Professor - ESCP

Daniele Battaglia

Associate Professor
Turin
dbattaglia@escp.eu

Mia Chang - Assistant Professor - ESCP

Mia Chang

Assistant Professor
Paris
mchang@escp.eu

Rand Gerges-Yammine, Assistant Professor

Rand Gerges-Yammine

Assistant Professor
Paris
rgergesyammine@escp.eu

Stela Ivanova
 -   Assistant Professor

 - ESCP

Stela Ivanova

Assistant Professor
London
sivanova@escp.eu

Yi Jiang  -  Associate  Professor

 - ESCP

Yi Jiang

Associate Professor
Paris
yjiang@escp.eu

Gorgi Krlev     -   Associate Professor

 - ESCP

Gorgi Krlev

Associate Professor
Paris
gkrlev@escp.eu

Martin Kupp- Professor

 - ESCP

Martin Kupp

Professor
Paris
mkupp@escp.eu

René Mauer  -    Professor

 - ESCP

René Mauer

Professor
Berlin
rmauer@escp.eu

Matthias Mrozewski  -    Assistant Professor

 - ESCP

Matthias Mrozewski

Assistant Professor
Berlin
mmrozewski@escp.eu

Robert Sheldon
   -   Associate Professor

 - ESCP

Robert Sheldon

Associate Professor
Paris
rsheldon@escp.eu

Alisa Sydow   -   Associate Professor

 - ESCP

Alisa Sydow

Associate Professor
London
asydow@escp.eu

Hao Zhong -   Associate Professor

 - ESCP

Hao Zhong

Associate Professor
Paris
hzhong@escp.eu

Ulrich Pape -   Professor - ESCP

Ulrich Pape

Professor
Berlin
upape@escp.eu

Researchers (PhDs and PostDocs)

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 recent journal publications:

Innovation
Chang-Zunino, M., Grodal, S., & Krabbe, A.

2023

The evolution of technology

Academy of Management Annals, 17(1)

Gerges-Yammine, R., & Ter Wal, A.

2023

Firm exit from open multiparty alliances: The role of social influence, uncertainty, and interfirm imitation in collective technology development

Research Policy, 52(4)

Habersang, S., Küberling-Jost, J., Reihlen, M., & Seckler, C.

2019

A process perspective on organizational failure: A qualitative meta-analysis

Journal of Management Studies, 56(1): 19-56

Transformation
Chang-Zunino, M.

2024

Sophie Mützel. Making Sense: Markets from Stories in New Breast Cancer Therapeutics

Administrative Science Quarterly, 69(4): NP88-NP91

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Fischer, D., Brettel, M., & Mauer, R.

2020

The three dimensions of sustainability: A delicate balancing act for entrepreneurs made more complex by stakeholder expectations

Journal of Business Ethics, 163(1): 87–106

Petzolt, S., & Seckler, C.

2025

The human side of digital transformation: A tool for identifying innovation promotors

Technovation, 140, 103161

Entrepreneurship
Jiang, Y. D., Straub, C., Klyver, K., & Mauer, R.

2021

Unfolding refugee entrepreneurs' opportunity-production process—Patterns and embeddedness

Journal of Business Venturing, 36(5)

Kirschning, R., & Mrożewski, M.

2023

The role of entrepreneurial absorptive capacity for knowledge spillover entrepreneurship

Small Business Economics, 60: 105–120

Sydow, A., Argiolas, A., & Rawhouseer, H.

2024

Social entrepreneurs concerned about impact drift: Evidence from contexts of persistent and pervasive need

Journal of Business Venturing, 39(1)

Sydow, A., Cannatelli, B., Giudici, A., & Molteni, M.

2022

Entrepreneurial workaround practices in severe institutional voids: Evidence from Kenya

Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 46(2): 331-367

Our Contributions to Debates

Other Contributions

The Choice

2025

Petzolt, S., & Seckler, C.

Identifying the drivers of change: A tool for SME digital transformation

Harvard Business Manager

2025

Seckler, C.

Identifying the drivers of change: A tool for SME digital transformation

Harvard Business Manager, March Issue

Harvard Business Review

2023

Kupp, M., Sola, D., & Rayport, J.

The overlooked key to a successful scale-up

Harvard Business Review, January/February

DIE ZEIT

2023

Seckler, C.

Forschung muss Teil der Lösung sein!

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

2023

Seckler, C., & Mauer, R.

Die Management-Forschung muss näher an die Praxis

AACSB Insights

2023

Seckler, C., Mauer, R., & vom Brocke, J.

The world needs design science now more than ever

Entreprendre & Innover

2023

Sheldon, R. C., & Lüdeke-Freund, F.

Business with a mission: Introducing sustainability entrepreneurship

Entreprendre & Innover, 16-26

EY Germany

2023

Taapken, N., Seckler, C., & Fischer, S.

Fehlerkultur Report 2023: So steht es um die Fehlerkultur in deutschen Unternehmen