Stefan joined ESMT Berlin in February 2011 as an assistant professor and was the TUSIAD/TCCI Chair in European Economic Integration from 2014 to 2015. Previously he was an assistant professor in the Institute of Innovation Research, Technology Management, and Entrepreneurship (INNO-tec) at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany. Stefan received his Habilitation in 2010 and his Doctorate in Management (summa cum laude) in 2005 from LMU. Stefan's research interests cover the intersection of firm strategy, technological innovation, industrial organization and law. Currently, he is primarily interested in the interaction of the changing landscape of intellectual property rights (in particular patent systems) and firms' long term strategy regarding their innovative activities. From a more practical perspective, he is also interested in venture creation and growth strategies for young firms.