13:30
Imperial College
November 26
Lecture theatre 200, City and Guilds Building
Join Professor Anne ter Wal, Professor of Technology and Innovation Management at Imperial Business School, as he explores how innovators and entrepreneurs can harness professional networks to transform technological possibilities into impactful innovations.
Please register to attend in person. A live stream link for online attendance is available here.
We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday 26 November!
Abstract
Technological innovation is transforming our societies and economies at an unprecedented pace. The rise of artificial intelligence, for instance, shows how new technological advancements are leading to new products, services, and even entire industries unimaginable even just a few years ago. Around the world, entrepreneurs and innovators are striving to develop technological solutions to address persistent global issues, for example to combat climate change and tackle other societal grand challenges. Successful innovation emerges when technological possibilities fuse with societal and business needs; in other words, when the “what’s possible” meets the “what’s needed”. Yet bridging the gap is rarely straightforward: the individuals best able to advance science and technology are not always the ones best placed to steer ideas toward business applications. Within organizations, responsibilities for technology and business are often divided—between CEOs and CTOs in startups, or between R&D scientists and managers in established firms. Networks play a vital role in connecting technology with business. In his inaugural lecture, Professor Anne ter Wal will show how innovators and entrepreneurs can build and leverage professional networks to generate ideas, embed them in a business context, and gain the support needed to overcome scepticism and drive implementation. The lecture will highlight concrete network practices that turn promising ideas into innovations that matter.
Biography
Anne ter Wal is Professor of Technology and Innovation Management at Imperial Business School and Deputy Head of the Management and Entrepreneurship department. His research, often in collaboration with leading multinationals and start-ups, examines the role of networks in innovation and entrepreneurship. Between 2017 and 2023, he led the EU-funded project Networking for Innovation, which investigated how entrepreneurs and innovators build the relationships that underpin business and innovation success. He holds a PhD in Economic Geography from Utrecht University and currently serves as Deputy Editor of the Academy of Management Journal.