A Week of Innovation, Collaboration, and Inspiration in Madeira
The 2024 edition of the NITIM Graduate School took place from June 20th to June 22nd, hosted by UNINOVA on the breathtaking island of Madeira, Portugal, as part of the Digital Transformation Week in Funchal. With its unique format, the school brought together a diverse group of PhD candidates, faculty mentors, and keynote speakers, fostering an environment of academic exchange and meaningful collaboration.
Over the days, the participants took part in intensive feedback sessions, sharing insights and providing constructive advice to help refine each other's PhD projects. This dynamic exchange was enriched by the guidance of experienced faculty from various academic disciplines, creating the perfect opportunity to step out of individual “academic bubbles” and embrace fresh perspectives on research challenges and opportunities.
The program was highlighted by two inspiring keynotes:
"The Value of NITIM in My & Your PhD Journey" by Nicolai Heinzelmann, who shared his experiences as a former NITIM participant and insights from his research on corporate entrepreneurship.
"Theory Building: What is the Object That We Build?" by Suzanne Rivard, a distinguished professor from HEC Montreal, who captivated the audience with her expertise in strategic IT management and her reflections on the art of constructing theories in academic research.
Beyond the intensive academic sessions, the school offered opportunities for relaxation and networking. Our local hosts curated an inspiring atmosphere with delicious cuisine, scenic evening excursions, and a diverse cultural program, that provided the participants with inspiring conversations and exchanges in a family atmosphere.
Special thanks go to Christina Ungerer, Erich Heumüller, and Kevin Reuther for their outstanding efforts in organizing this year’s event. Their dedication ensured that the NITIM Graduate School 2024 was not only academically enriching but also an unforgettable experience for all participants.
We look forward to seeing how these ideas and connections will shape the doctoral theses or further research in the upcoming years!
In line with Edinburgh’s strategic vision for Data-Driven Innovation making the city Europe’s Data Capital by 2030, the NITIM 2023 Graduate School (alongside ICE 2023 Conference), had a specific focus on data-driven engineering, innovation and entrepreneurship. We specifically discussed socio-technical issues in engineering, how these shape the design of products and services, and what innovation, technology, and entrepreneurial processes are involved.
The Doctoral school featured two special keynotes:
Geography of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Prof Fumi Kitagawa, University of Birmingham
Deep History of Innofusion Prof James Fleck, University of Edinburgh
We had a record number of 27 participants working in 8 groups through 6 intensive presentation and discussion sessions. Given such a high number of participants, we are particularly grateful to the amazing team of 16 faculty mentors.
Alongside the core doctoral school activities, we also networked through a number of social events:
Welcome Dinner: Pizza Posto, South Bridge
Pub Meal: Sailisburys’ Arms, Newington
Whisky Tasting: Edinburgh University Whisky Society, Teviot Committee Room, George Square
Exploratory Tour: National Museum of Scotland, George IV Bridge
Closing Dinner: Le Cote, New Town
Optional trekking: Arthur’s Seat, Holyrood Park
See you in 2024 in Madeira!
NITIM Summer School 2018, Germany
The NITIM Graduate Summer School is an international doctoral program that specializes in themes such as entrepreneurship, innovation, technology management, and information and communication technologies. This annual summer school is held in conjunction with the ICE/IEEE ITMC conference, which means that it is held at various locations. This year, it was held in Constance, Germany, and it was an excellent experience. We would like to express our gratitude to everyone who participated. Thank you!
