Course content

This course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of how organisations develop, manage, and protect innovation in an increasingly competitive global environment. Drawing on established and contemporary research, the course examines how firms build innovative capabilities, how technological change shapes competitive advantage, and how intellectual property rights (IPR) influence both the direction and commercialisation of innovation. Through interactive sessions, case-based exercises, and research-informed literature, students will gain insight into organisational innovation processes, national and regional innovation systems, and frameworks governing intellectual property.

Topics Covered

• Foundations of innovation and key theoretical perspectives
• Innovation processes and infrastructure, organizational knowledge, and dynamic capabilities
• Open innovation, new product development (NPD), and technology transfer
• Strategic alliances, networks, and national systems of innovation
• Intellectual Property Rights (IPR): legislation, protection mechanisms, and real-life cases
• Management of R&D projects and Sustainable business models

Learning outcome

Students will develop the capacity to:

• Demonstrate advanced, research-informed knowledge of key theories, methods, and multilevel challenges in innovation, including organisational, national, and regional dynamics.
• Critically analyse and evaluate theoretical perspectives, methodological approaches, and empirical studies within innovation and intellectual property research.
• Understand fundamental legislation and processes related to the protection of intellectual property rights.
• Produce and communicate original, analytically informed insights and problem-oriented analyses for stakeholders across corporate, public, and third-sector groups.

Learning methods and activities

Students will engage in dialogue-based lectures, guest sessions, academic readings, and applied reflections to strengthen their analytical and communication skills. Active participation is required, guest lectures and company visit(s) are mandatory.

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

Completion of a relevant undergraduate degree programme or equivalent. For more information, please see the admission requirements for the Master in International Business.

Required previous knowledge

This course is only available to students who have been admitted to the following programmes: - Master in International Business and Marketing, at Department of International Business (NTNU Aalesund) - Mater in Management of Innovation and Sustainable Business Development, at Department of International Business (NTNU Aalesund) - Master in Business Administration, at Trondheim Business School (NTNU Trondheim) - Master in Financial Economics, and Master in Economics, at Department of Economics (NTNU Trondheim) - Master in Entrepreneurship, and Master in Industrial Economics and Technology Management, at Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management (NTNU Trondheim)

Course materials

The main syllabus contains a number of classical and contemporary articles, complemented by some chapters from the main course book.