Keynotes

 Catherine Beaudry
Polytechnique Montréal

Rhodes scholar Catherine Beaudry holds a master’s degree and PhD in economics from the University of Oxford. From her studies in electrical engineering specializing in spatial technology, she has retained a profound interest in technology, science and innovation.

She is a full professor at the Department of Mathematics and Industrial Engineering and holds the Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in the Creation, Development and the Commercialization of Innovation (Innovation Chair) at Polytechnique Montréal, and leads the Partnership for the Organization of Innovation and New Technologies (4POINT0).

She also serves on the Governing Council and Programs Committee of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), and is a member of the Centre interuniversitaire de recherche sur la science et la technologie (interuniversity centre for research on science and technology – CIRST), a fellow of the Center for Interuniversity Research and Analysis of Organizations (CIRANO), an associate professor at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) and a founding member of the Global Young Academy.

Ben Spigel
 Université d’Edinbourg, Business School

Ben Spigel is Associate Professor  and Chancellor's Fellow at the University of Edinburgh Business School. He is an internationally recognised expert on entrepreneurial ecosystems, entrepreneurship policy, and the geography of high growth entrepreneurship.

His work has examined the growth, development, and impact of entrepreneurial ecosystems in the US, Canada, and the UK.

His work has been published in major journals such as Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, the Journal of Economic Geography, and Regional Studies.

His current research focuses on the ways in which Scottish technology entrepreneurs draw resources from their local entrepreneurial ecosystems and how this affects their growth and innovation potential. 

Keld Laursen
Copenhagen Business School

Keld Laursen is professor of the Economics and Management of Innovation at Copenhagen Business School and DNV-GL Professor II at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).

He earned his doctorate in international economics from Aalborg University. His current research focuses on open and distributed innovation processes and on organizational practices and innovation outcomes.

His research has been published in outlets such as Strategic Management Journal, Organization Science, Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of Economic Geography and Research Policy.