Author: Ehsan Khavandkar
Bio: Ehsan Khavandkar (Ph.D., FHEA, M.Sc., B.Sc.) received his PhD in Economics of Innovation (ABS-funded) from Aston Business School, Aston University, where he also began his teaching career. Over the years, he has taught a variety of courses in the areas of innovation, entrepreneurship and business strategy at Loughborough University, Aston University, Essex University and University of Wales (UWTSD). In recognition of his teaching success, he received the 2016-17 Aston University`s Excellence in Teaching Award.
Ehsan`s research spans economics of innovation, entrepreneurship, network externalities, knowledge & innovation ecosystem and agglomeration studies. A unifying theme across his work is an interest in “co-creation and co-evolution” as an avenue to engage individuals, firms, institutions and communities in sustainable, intersectoral and collaborative innovation practices in the short and long term.
Over the last fifteen years, he has co-authored six books related to his work on innovation and entrepreneurship. One of his published books, Intellectual Capital: Management, Development and Measurement Models, won the Student Book of the Year Award in 2011. He has also received various awards recognising his contributions to the field.
His most recent research project, `United Kingdom Science and Technology Parks Survey  which has received funding from Aston Business School, focuses on understanding how micro and small firms` open innovation practices differ from one another, whether spatial and cognitive proximities matter in shaping firms` open search and appropriation strategies, and what these mean for knowledge ecosystem design in Britain. Before joining the academia, he worked in industry as an industrial and management consultant for 5 years.