I have been Chair in Geography of Innovation since 2019. Prior to joining the Department of Human Geography and Planning, I have held academic positions at the University of Groningen, Utrecht University (Copernicus Institute for Sustainable Development) and Eindhoven University of Technology. I was a Robert Solow Postdoctoral fellow, right after obtaining my PhD in Economics and Management from Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy.

My research deals with processes of innovation and how they unfold over time and over space. My goal is to develop a broad account of innovation, as including both technological and non-technological forms. I combine theories in an interdisciplinary way, integrating evolutionary economic theories with institutional and organizational theories. My original methodological contribution includes the development of novel indicators of innovation, exploiting patent and trademark data. I have published my work across disciplines, including economics, management and geography. 

Current PhD candidates under my supervision are: Tingting Liu, Fabia Beckers, Christian Hoefnagel, Lia Millar, Martijn Stut.

Completed PhD projects under my supervision include PhD work by: Frank van Rijnsoever, Matthijs Janssen, Marcel Seip, Pablo Morales, Yuanyuan Cai, Adrian Toroslu.

My teaching is strongly connected to my research and covers courses at the Bachelor, Master and PhD level, at Utrecht University. I also regularly teach as a guest speaker at different other institutions and PhD schools. 

Thanks to my expertise, I work with regional, national and international policymakers on matters related to innovation, intellectual property rights and sustainable regional development.

I am an Editor at Economic Geography and  Industrial and Corporate Change, editorial advisor at Research Policy and Progress in Economic Geography, member of the Board of EPIP (European Policy for Intellectual Property) and program team member of the UU Strategic Theme Institutions for Open Societies .

Since 2026 I am Head of the Section Economic Geography. 

You can read my inaugural lecture “ Places of Innovation” here

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