THERMOIS: Designing a thermodynamic model to assess innovation systems’ performance
Business and Territorial Competitiveness, Innovation and Sustainability
Jon Mikel Zabala Iturriagagoitia: https://www.deusto.es/cs/Satellite/deusto/es/universidad-deusto/sobre-deusto-0/deusto-quienes-somos/profesores/14499/profesor
Fernando Gómez Cortés: https://www.deusto.es/cs/Satellite/deusto/es/universidad-deusto/sobre-deusto-0/deusto-quienes-somos/profesores/10918/profesor
There would be two host research units in collaboration:
* Deusto Business School. Department of Economics.
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* ESIDE. Department of Mechanics, Design and Organizational Management.
The candidate should have a bachelor in Management Engineering. That background would give a potential candidate knowledge not only in innovation but also in mathematical modelling as well as in physics and thermodynamics. However, other disciplines could also be considered.
1. Bachelor in Physics, Engineering or closely related areas, with emphasis on Thermodynamics.
2. Able to work in a highly motivated environment.
3. Strong team working and communication skills.
4. Excellent English skills.
5. Driven, independent personality.
The candidate should be interested in applying concepts commonly used in Engineering and Physics to the measurement of innovation.
- Social Sciences and Humanities (SOC)
- Economic Sciences (ECO)
- Information Sciences and Engineering (ENG)
- Physics (PHY)
Thermoeconomics is a branch of thermodynamics that aims to explain economics through general physics law. While initially thermoeconomics was just related to the improvement of the ‘cost’ of thermodynamic processes, a new trend has emerged pointing at the generation of physics-based models and their application into economics. Thermoeconomics thus uses thermodynamic models to evaluate economic performance through the perception and consideration of statistical physic approaches, in what is commonly referred to in the literature as ‘econophysics’.
Innovation is a key component of the economy and has for long become crucial to boost the competitiveness of firms and territories. From an economic geography point of view, considering the co-location of partners in the same territory is central to elucidate innovation. The literature on innovation studies has discussed at length how the innovation performance achieved by a system as a whole is to a great extent determined by its interactive character, which is in turn dependent on the relationships among the actors involved in the generation of innovations and the processes that translate innovation into economic growth.
The aim of the research is to develop a new approach to assess innovation performance based on thermal machine principles (i.e., heat pump) from a systemic perspective, developing a new perspective for the measurement and characterization of innovation systems at national, regional and sectoral levels.
EXCELLENCE OF THE HOST RESEARCH UNIT
• Porto, I., Zabala-Iturriagagoitia, J.M., Leydesdorff, L. (2019) Innovation Systems in México: A Matter of Missing Synergies. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, in press.
• Doloreux, D., Gaviria de la Puerta, J., Pastor, I., Porto Gomez, I., Sanz, B., Zabala-Iturriagagoitia, J.M. (2019) Territorial Innovation Models: To be or not to be, that’s the question. Scientometrics, 120(3), 1163-1191.
• Porto Gómez, I., Zabala-Iturriagagoitia, J.M., Martínez, F. C., & Mateo, C. G. C. (2019). The value pump: Introducing a thermodynamic model to assess innovation systems’ performance. Estudios de Economía Aplicada, 63(81), 37-2.
• Edquist, C., Zabala-Iturriagagoitia, J.M. , Barbero, J., Zofio, J.L. (2018) On the meaning of innovation performance: is the synthetic indicator of the Innovation Union Scoreboard flawed?. Research Evaluation, 27(3), 196-211.
• Gómez-Uranga, M., Zabala-Iturriagagoitia, J.M., Barrutia , J. (Eds.) (2016) Dynamics of Big Internet Industry Groups and Future Trends: A View from Epigenetic Economics. Springer, Heidelberg.
Jon Mikel Zabala-Iturriagagoitia is a member of the B-Creative research platform at the University of Deusto, which aims to provide a space to reflect upon the need for -and effect of- creative solutions for the challenges territories are increasingly facing in the context of the global challenges (i.e. sustainable development goals). Likewise, it fosters the co-creation of ground-breaking initiatives contributing to enhance social, economic and environmental returns, while sustaining and reproducing the creative capital of cities. Some of the most significant projects developed by Jon Mikel Zabala-Iturriagagoitia, include the following:
– Competitividad empresarial y desarrollo económico. Diferencias en el crecimiento económico entre las regiones (2016-2021)
– El concierto económico: ¿Una herramienta influyente en nuestro desempeño? (2018-2019).
– Estudio de Impacto del Programa PREMIE (2014)
– Mutual Learning Exercise on innovation procurement (2017-2018) INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION
The thesis aims to contribute with a theoretical and empirical framework to the measurement of innovation by linking the disciplines of economics, thermodynamics, physics and innovation studies.
Yes. This project has been designed as a joint PhD thesis between the Department of Economics of the Deusto Business School and the Management Department of the Engineering School, both at the University of Deusto.
Prof. Jon Mikel Zabala-Iturriagagoitia will be the responsible person from the Deusto Business School, while Prof. Fernando Cortes will be the person in charge at the Engineering School.
As already mentioned, this research project has been designed as a joint collaboration between the department of Economics of the Deusto Business School and the Management Department of the Engineering School, both at the University of Deusto. The Department of the Engineering will provide the theoretical and methodological basis for the application of thermodynamic principles to the analysis of economic phenomena. In turn, the Department of Economics will provide the necessary knowledge for the analysis of innovation systems and the data required for such a purpose in different regional and national contexts. INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION
The following SDGs are related to the purposes of the current proposal:
8.- decent work and economic growth
9.- industry, innovation and infrastructure
11.- sustainable cities and communities
15.- responsible consumption and production
NO. The thesis will be totally developed at the University of Deusto.
However, research stays in international research groups that both supervisors are related to, particularly in Europe, will be encouraged. INTERSECTORAL COLLABORATION
Iberdrola
CAF
Ibermática
Tecnalia
NO IMPACT
The application of thermodynamic processes to explain economic phenomena is gaining momentum. Nonetheless, and in spite of its potential to explain technical change and firm as as well as territorial dynamics, the field of innovation studies has not been approached from such thermodynamic logic. This proposal aims to address this gap by introducing a thermodynamic approach that relies on heat pump models and that is applied to measure innovation performance at the systems level.
A potential area for further research may be related to the measurement of the interactions among the knowledge exploration, knowledge exploitation and the institutional subsystems. Since every innovation system needs to have all these three subsystems in place, it would be interesting to discuss which is the performance achieved by each of these subsystems independently, and then by the system as whole. As discussed in the proposal above, exploring these new research paths requires gaining access to data we do not in many cases have as to date. Further research will thus also need to be developed to feed the research system with more heat that can be converted into more research work. INNOVATION
New theoretical development, new empirical development, potential for creating new online platforms and/or applications to other related fields INCLUSION
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
• Porto, I., Zabala-Iturriagagoitia, J.M., Leydesdorff, L. (2019) Innovation Systems in México: A Matter of Missing Synergies. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, in press.
• Doloreux, D., Gaviria de la Puerta, J., Pastor, I., Porto Gomez, I., Sanz, B., Zabala-Iturriagagoitia, J.M. (2019) Territorial Innovation Models: To be or not to be, that’s the question. Scientometrics, 120(3), 1163-1191.
• Porto Gómez, I., Zabala-Iturriagagoitia, J.M., Martínez, F. C., & Mateo, C. G. C. (2019). The value pump: Introducing a thermodynamic model to assess innovation systems’ performance. Estudios de Economía Aplicada, 63(81), 37-2.
• Edquist, C., Zabala-Iturriagagoitia, J.M. , Barbero, J., Zofio, J.L. (2018) On the meaning of innovation performance: is the synthetic indicator of the Innovation Union Scoreboard flawed?. Research Evaluation, 27(3), 196-211.
• Gómez-Uranga, M., Zabala-Iturriagagoitia, J.M., Barrutia , J. (Eds.) (2016) Dynamics of Big Internet Industry Groups and Future Trends: A View from Epigenetic Economics. Springer, Heidelberg.
Jon Mikel Zabala-Iturriagagoitia is a member of the B-Creative research platform at the University of Deusto, which aims to provide a space to reflect upon the need for -and effect of- creative solutions for the challenges territories are increasingly facing in the context of the global challenges (i.e. sustainable development goals). Likewise, it fosters the co-creation of ground-breaking initiatives contributing to enhance social, economic and environmental returns, while sustaining and reproducing the creative capital of cities. Some of the most significant projects developed by Jon Mikel Zabala-Iturriagagoitia, include the following:
– Competitividad empresarial y desarrollo económico. Diferencias en el crecimiento económico entre las regiones (2016-2021)
– El concierto económico: ¿Una herramienta influyente en nuestro desempeño? (2018-2019).
– Estudio de Impacto del Programa PREMIE (2014)
– Mutual Learning Exercise on innovation procurement (2017-2018)
The thesis aims to contribute with a theoretical and empirical framework to the measurement of innovation by linking the disciplines of economics, thermodynamics, physics and innovation studies.
Yes. This project has been designed as a joint PhD thesis between the Department of Economics of the Deusto Business School and the Management Department of the Engineering School, both at the University of Deusto.
Prof. Jon Mikel Zabala-Iturriagagoitia will be the responsible person from the Deusto Business School, while Prof. Fernando Cortes will be the person in charge at the Engineering School.
As already mentioned, this research project has been designed as a joint collaboration between the department of Economics of the Deusto Business School and the Management Department of the Engineering School, both at the University of Deusto. The Department of the Engineering will provide the theoretical and methodological basis for the application of thermodynamic principles to the analysis of economic phenomena. In turn, the Department of Economics will provide the necessary knowledge for the analysis of innovation systems and the data required for such a purpose in different regional and national contexts.
INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION
The following SDGs are related to the purposes of the current proposal:
8.- decent work and economic growth
9.- industry, innovation and infrastructure
11.- sustainable cities and communities
15.- responsible consumption and production
NO. The thesis will be totally developed at the University of Deusto.
However, research stays in international research groups that both supervisors are related to, particularly in Europe, will be encouraged. INTERSECTORAL COLLABORATION
Iberdrola
CAF
Ibermática
Tecnalia
NO IMPACT
The application of thermodynamic processes to explain economic phenomena is gaining momentum. Nonetheless, and in spite of its potential to explain technical change and firm as as well as territorial dynamics, the field of innovation studies has not been approached from such thermodynamic logic. This proposal aims to address this gap by introducing a thermodynamic approach that relies on heat pump models and that is applied to measure innovation performance at the systems level.
A potential area for further research may be related to the measurement of the interactions among the knowledge exploration, knowledge exploitation and the institutional subsystems. Since every innovation system needs to have all these three subsystems in place, it would be interesting to discuss which is the performance achieved by each of these subsystems independently, and then by the system as whole. As discussed in the proposal above, exploring these new research paths requires gaining access to data we do not in many cases have as to date. Further research will thus also need to be developed to feed the research system with more heat that can be converted into more research work. INNOVATION
New theoretical development, new empirical development, potential for creating new online platforms and/or applications to other related fields INCLUSION
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
The following SDGs are related to the purposes of the current proposal:
8.- decent work and economic growth
9.- industry, innovation and infrastructure
11.- sustainable cities and communities
15.- responsible consumption and production
NO. The thesis will be totally developed at the University of Deusto.
However, research stays in international research groups that both supervisors are related to, particularly in Europe, will be encouraged.
Iberdrola
CAF
Ibermática
Tecnalia
NO
IMPACT
The application of thermodynamic processes to explain economic phenomena is gaining momentum. Nonetheless, and in spite of its potential to explain technical change and firm as as well as territorial dynamics, the field of innovation studies has not been approached from such thermodynamic logic. This proposal aims to address this gap by introducing a thermodynamic approach that relies on heat pump models and that is applied to measure innovation performance at the systems level.
A potential area for further research may be related to the measurement of the interactions among the knowledge exploration, knowledge exploitation and the institutional subsystems. Since every innovation system needs to have all these three subsystems in place, it would be interesting to discuss which is the performance achieved by each of these subsystems independently, and then by the system as whole. As discussed in the proposal above, exploring these new research paths requires gaining access to data we do not in many cases have as to date. Further research will thus also need to be developed to feed the research system with more heat that can be converted into more research work. INNOVATION
New theoretical development, new empirical development, potential for creating new online platforms and/or applications to other related fields INCLUSION
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
The application of thermodynamic processes to explain economic phenomena is gaining momentum. Nonetheless, and in spite of its potential to explain technical change and firm as as well as territorial dynamics, the field of innovation studies has not been approached from such thermodynamic logic. This proposal aims to address this gap by introducing a thermodynamic approach that relies on heat pump models and that is applied to measure innovation performance at the systems level.
A potential area for further research may be related to the measurement of the interactions among the knowledge exploration, knowledge exploitation and the institutional subsystems. Since every innovation system needs to have all these three subsystems in place, it would be interesting to discuss which is the performance achieved by each of these subsystems independently, and then by the system as whole. As discussed in the proposal above, exploring these new research paths requires gaining access to data we do not in many cases have as to date. Further research will thus also need to be developed to feed the research system with more heat that can be converted into more research work.
New theoretical development, new empirical development, potential for creating new online platforms and/or applications to other related fields
INCLUSION
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.