Implementing Innovation (Innovation Design & Digital Innovation)

// Content

Due to the digital transformation, innovation management is currently facing many new challenges which have so far reived comparably little attention. In many ways, open innovation activities have become a de-facto standard in industry, as the boundaries between different organisations are constantly permeated by purposive flows of knowledge on modern communication media. This course explores the ways how innovation can be managed under such circumstances. In addition to the original view of open innovation from a single company’s perspective, it looks at open innovation as a systemic activity in networks of different organizations and on wider platforms of innovation. In doing so, the students get acquainted with different analytical approaches to the management of open innovation and their benefits in practice. As part of their assignment, students will study a case of open innovation on their own and discuss its managerial implications.

=> The course and module Implementing Innovation consists of two parts: Digital Innovation and Innovation Design.

=> Please note: In WS 25/26 only the part Innovation Design will be offered.

The part Digital Innovation will be held in a mixture of physical (Kick-off Lecture, Live Case Studies) and virtual elements (Knowledge Bites). Core concepts tackled in this course will be introduced and explained in Knowledge Bites in the form of weekly uploaded videos. The information provided through the Knowledge Bites will be augmented by the Live Case Studies, in which students will have the opportunity to deepen this knowledge by applying the presented concepts to the real-life example and by afterwards discussing this application with other students, the lecturers and our practical partners. All synchronous elements will take place in the timeslot indicated in the header.

The part Innovation Design is practice-oriented and aims to encourage students to solve real-life challenges that are provided by partner companies. The seminar follows a hands-on approach, where the students work in small teams and progress through a structured path e.g., from a fuzzy idea to a concrete prototype, where they are supported by professional material and templates as well as examples from practice. Throughout the various activities, the students acquire sound knowledge about lean and design thinking approaches to analyze, drive and design innovation-oriented projects and value-creation strategies. They also learn how to establish a convincing value proposition as well as business model to achieve a product-market fit, for example by integrating their customers along the innovation design process. Finally, the course aims to develop the presentation and storytelling skills of the students and enhance their pitching abilities.

// Admin

The application for this seminar is done on StudOn (link) and will be open from 28th March. Please scroll down for the application deadlines.

The number of places is limited and participants will be drawn randomly from the students, who registered for this course in the mentioned registration period.

Furthermore, an examination registration is obligatory via campo (in the examination registration period). Students not registered for the examination will not be allowed to finish the course in the respective semester.

Further information will be provided during the KickOff.

// Two Course Cohorts

In winter term 2024, the course is planned to be offered in two cohorts, both targeting the same learning goals and similiar contents, but taking place at different times in the semester. You only have to take part in one of the two cohorts to pass the course.

Students drawn into the course will be automatically allocated to the cohorts in the following way:

• Cohort A is for FAU Tech students (taking place in Erlangen)
• Cohort B is for FAU WiSo students (taking place in Nuremberg). WING students will be included in this cohort.

=> Cohort A – Application Deadline 24th April 2025

The course for Cohort A is going to be offered as a block course only for FAU Tech students by lecturer and chair alumnus Dr. Carlos Rabes.

Important note: Changes to some of these dates might be communicated on this website early in the semester, as we are still figuring out room bookings. The final schedule will be announced in the kickoff.

=> Cohort B – Application Deadline 28th April 2025

The course for Cohort B is planned to be offered within the following timeslots by Nina Lugmair, Matthäus Wilga & Joni Riihimäki:

Important note: Changes to some of these dates might be communicated on this website early in the semester, as we are still in discussions with practical partners for this course. The final schedule will be announced in the kickoff.

*Please note: In winter semester 2025/26, the course Innovation Design will still be offered for students, who have already started the module (e.g. taken Digital Innovation). In summer semester 2026, Implementing Innovation will be offered as one 5 ECTS course — with a limited number of places. From winter semester 2026/27, the course Implementing Innovation will be offered annually as a 5 ECTS course during the winter semester. The module and module number will not change.