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75784-01 - Lecture: Innovation in the Global Economy (3 CP)
| Semester | spring semester 2026 |
| Course frequency | Every spring sem. |
| Lecturers |
Augustin Ignatov (augustin.ignatov@unibas.ch)
Christian Rutzer (christian.rutzer@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | This course is designed to be highly interactive, focusing on the management of innovation and technological processes by both firms and governments, with particular emphasis on Switzerland’s position in the global economy. The curriculum integrates two components: (1) original background material, including a reading list of scientific papers and expert interviews conducted by our team and published as Innoscape Talks on the website innoscape.ch (https://innoscape.ch/en/publications#category-innoscape-talks ), and (2) a multi-competency assessment framework comprising of active classroom participation and a final examination. Our course examines the challenges of fostering innovation in a globally interconnected economy. Emphasis is placed on understanding the economic and social consequences of innovations. We ask how a productive innovation ecosystem can be cultivated within firms, at the regional level, and across an entire country. Key topics include typical barriers to innovation, as well as the role of management and government in regulating innovation processes and intervening when innovations prove unproductive, environmentally harmful, or socially disruptive. The course combines theoretical foundations with applied perspectives on innovation, enabling students to develop a comprehensive understanding of how firms drive technological change, how this shapes specific industries, and which factors facilitate or impede innovation. Students will critically evaluate whether Switzerland, other European countries such as Germany, and Europe as a whole should adapt business models and policy frameworks to accommodate new technologies. The course further explores the potential obstacles to such adaptation and the conditions required to ensure a successful technological transition. |
| Learning objectives | At the end of the course, students should have the ability to: 1. Understand key concepts and theories related to innovation and have a systematic view on the technological transformation in Switzerland and globally. 2. Identify key challenges the Swiss economy faces in developing and integrating AI, Machine Learning and Big Data technologies. 3. Critically analyze the factors influencing innovation in a country by synthesizing insights from diverse fields such as economics, technology, policy-making and management. 4. Engage in discussions and debates using specialized knowledge and advanced communication skills related to innovation strategies and challenges. 5. Formulate evidence-based policy and management recommendations aimed at enhancing the innovative capacity of the Swiss economy. 6. Design strategic approaches for international and multinational firms to allocate research and development resources effectively on a global scale. 7. Assess and address organizational and systemic barriers that hinder innovation performance within firms in Switzerland and across Europe. |
| Bibliography | The course literature includes selected Innoscape Talks, which are expert interviews conducted with representatives from academia, industry, and government. Segments of these conversations will be discussed in class. In addition, each weekly session will be accompanied by designated article(s) or book chapter(s), which will be made available on ADAM. A detailed reading list for each session will be provided in the course outline. |
| Comments | We will use videos based on interviews we conducted as part of our research project “Innoscape.ch” with leading experts in the field as a basis for our discussions. Each session will cover one or two videos. All students will watch the video(s) and read the complementary article(s) assigned to the video before class. In class, we will recall the contents, deepen certain aspects and discuss the arguments and their implications. We will add additional information from our own research during the class when appropriate. The outline of the course will be published on our homepage: https://wwz.unibas.ch/de/aussenwirtschaft-und-europaeische-integration/lehre/ A detailed week-by-week schedule will also be available there. |
| Weblink | Teaching |
| Admission requirements | We expect that students have completed an introductory course in Business and Economics, such as: 10125-01 - Vorlesung: Grundlagen der Betriebswirtschaftslehre (6 KP) or 10130-01 - Vorlesung: Grundlagen der Volkswirtschaftslehre (6 KP) But this is not mandatory. The most important prerequisite is interest in the topic, preparation of the individual sessions and active engagement during the weekly meetings. Since our approach prioritizes grasping the intuition and main ideas behind the innovation related concepts, students from Political Science, Law, European Global Studies, and other fields are warmly encouraged to join. |
| Course application | Registration: Please enroll in the Online Services (services.unibas.ch); Eucor-Students and mobility students of other Swiss Universities or the FHNW first have to register at the University of Basel BEFORE the start of the course and receive their login data by post (e-mail address of the University of Basel). Processing time up to a week! Detailed information can be found here: https://www.unibas.ch/de/Studium/Mobilitaet.html After successful registration you can enroll for the course in the Online Services (services.unibas.ch). Applies to everyone: Enrolment = Registration for the course and the exam/assignment! |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Friday | 10.15-12.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 118 |
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 20.02.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 118 |
| Friday 27.02.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Fasnachtsferien |
| Friday 06.03.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 118 |
| Friday 13.03.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 118 |
| Friday 20.03.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 118 |
| Friday 27.03.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 118 |
| Friday 03.04.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Ostern |
| Friday 10.04.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 118 |
| Friday 17.04.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 118 |
| Friday 24.04.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 118 |
| Friday 01.05.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Tag der Arbeit |
| Friday 08.05.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 118 |
| Friday 15.05.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Auffahrt |
| Friday 22.05.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 118 |
| Friday 29.05.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 118 |
| Modules |
Modul: Aufbau Business (Bachelor's Studies: Business and Economics) Modul: Wahlbereich in Wirtschaftswissenschaften (Bachelor's degree subject: Business and Economics) Modul: Wirtschaft in Osteuropa (Bachelor's degree subject: Eastern European Cultures) Modul: Wirtschaft in Osteuropa (Bachelor's degree program: Eastern European Studies) |
| Assessment format | record of achievement |
| Assessment details | In this course, students will be assessed through a combination of two evaluation methods designed to measure their understanding and their capability to apply the content discussed in the course: 1) The final examination accounts for 50% of the overall grade, providing a comprehensive assessment of the students’ grasp of key facts, concepts and arguments presented and discussed throughout the course. The examination will be held during the final session of the course. 2) Regular and active participation accounts for 50% of the overall grade. This component assesses students’ engagement in class discussions, consistent attendance, timely preparation through assigned readings and lecture videos, and the overall quality of their contributions during class. Information on registration and deregistration for examinations can be found on the homepage of the Dean of Studies Office: https://wwz.unibas.ch/en/studies/examinations/de-/registration-of-examinations |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration, dereg: cancel course registration |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | 1-6 0,1 |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Business and Economics , studiendekanat-wwz@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Faculty of Business and Economics |