Professor Jakob Edler

Jakob is Executive Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI in Karlsruhe/ Germany since October 2018. He is also Professor of Innovation Policy and Strategy at the Manchester Institute of Innovation Research (MIoIR, UK), which he led from 2011 to 2018.

Jakob’s research focuses on governance and policy in science and innovation, including the impact of science and innovation policy. The main focus of his work in recent years has been on the conceptualization of technological sovereignty, demand-side innovation policy and public procurement of innovation. Another, long-standing area of interest is understanding of the impact of science and scientific advice on policy making.

Jakob is appointed member of the German Council of Science and Humanities, a member of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, an elected member of the German National Academy for Science and Engineering (Acatech). Since July 2023, he has been Chairman of the Fraunhofer Group for Innovation Research. He was President of the European Forum for Studies of Policies for Research and Innovation” (Eu-SPRI Forum) from June 2016 to June 2021.