Researchers

Khuram Shahzad (UVA)

Khuram Shahzad
Assistant Professor
Khuram Shahzad
UVA

Seconded from the University of Vaasa (UVA) to UPTEC (Porto) and RMIT Europe (Barcelona)

2 months, Summer 2022

Khuram Shahzad is an Assistant Professor of Digital Innovation Management at the School of Technology and Innovations/InnoLab, University of Vaasa Finland. With a background in industrial management, his current research interests concern digital technologies and innovations, open innovation, R&D and innovation/entrepreneurial ecosystem, blockchain, digital transformation and supply chain management. His research work has been published in several journals of international repute. Dr. Khuram is involved in several projects related to energy transition, renewable energy and digitally mediated energy communities funded by EU and Academy of Finland. He is also currently leading two projects; one is tackling the entrepreneurial/innovation ecosystem issues (e.g., coopetition, university-industry, intermediaries) and the other explores the blockchain implementation in public and private sector from management perspectives (e.g., organizational change and leadership).      

Khuram’s secondment experience:

I am working on innovation management in organizations and how technological innovations reshape the ways of working in companies. I also focus on how companies can open-up to external world for co-creation and co-innovation. This does not only help the businesses but also engage society at large.   

  • Why did you decide to go on a secondment?

I think a secondment is a great way to explore new opportunities for network, collaboration and learning a new culture. So I decided to go on a secondment as I, as a researcher, would like to learn another context and how things work in a different environment. In addition to my aims to build network and collaboration, I experienced to encounter with new cultures, values and norms, as well as gained new knowledge and skills in my own research field.  

  • What are the main research topics that you worked on during your secondment?

Main research topics that I worked with during my secondment include industry 4.0 and all the technological innovations and their impact on organizations and university-industry collaborations.

  • Why did you decide to visit UPTEC and RMIT EU?

UPTEC is a vibrant actor of Porto’s ecosystem that plays a role of an accelerator for start-ups and spin-offs. So it was good to learn how entrepreneurial ecosystem works in practice where different actors have their boundary conditions.

As RMIT EU, as a European hub of RMIT,  works as a connector between Australia and Europe, and they carry a great portfolio of relevant research, I wanted to learn their role in Barcelona city network through different projects as well as benefit from their location and network.   

  • What was the most valuable thing you took from your secondment?

I think it’s all about learning new knowledge, new people, new culture and specially great insights on my research areas.

  • Why would you recommend to go on secondment?

Secondment is great opportunity to expand your research as well as personal portfolio as you meet great amount of people and gain a different perspective. Of course there are several opportunities to expand your network and explore some possibilities for a collaboration. 

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