Dr. Nils Grashof

• Since 05/2021
  Post-doc researcher (Habilitand), Chair of Economics/Microeconomics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany
• 10/2025-02/2026
  Deputy Professor of Transformational Economics, University Kassel
• 09/2023-12/2023
  Visiting research fellow, Scandinavian Consortium for Organizational Research (SCANCOR), Stanford University, USA
• 10/2020-04/2021
  Post-doc researcher, Centre for Regional and Innovation Economics (CRIE), University of Bremen, Germany; Laboratory Manager of the Bremen Research & Policy Lab (BreLAB) at the University of Bremen
• 09/2020
  PhD in Economics, University of Bremen, Thesis title: "Regional clusters: Really the place to be? - A multidimensional investigation of firm performance within clusters" (degree: Dr. rer. pol.; Grade: summa cum laude)
• 03/2016-09/2020
  Scientific Assistant/Doctoral student, Centre for Regional and Innovation Economics (CRIE), University of Bremen, Germany
• 10/2013-11/2015
  M.A. in International Management Studies - Spanish, European-University in Flensburg, Germany
• 07/2012 - 12/2012
  Semester abroad at the Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María in Chile
• 10/2010-10/2013
  B.Sc. in International Management - Spanish, European-University in Flensburg, Germany

Peer-reviewed journals

• Dehghan, R., Grashof, N., Schmidt, S., Kopka, A., Woywode, M. (2026). Thinking machines, shrinking footprints? The impact of Artificial Intelligence on energy consumption in regions. Energy Economics, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2026.109526External link.
• Ozgun, B., Grashof, N., Graf, H., Broekel, T. (2026). Authenticity or Strategy? How Universities Communicate the Sustainable Development Goals. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 13(1), https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-026-07714-xExternal link. 
• Cantner, C., Grashof, N., Grebel, T., Xijie, Z. (2026). Rethinking excellence: the impact of the Excellence Initiative on the relative productivity of German universities. Science and Public Policy, https://doi.org/10.1093/scipol/scag048External link . 
• Cantner, C., Grashof, N., Grebel, T., Xijie, Z. (2026). Performance, competition, and structural Change in the university sector – the case of Germany. Journal of Evolutionary Economics, 36(39), https://doi.org/10.1007/s00191-026-00955-8External link . 
• Ingstrup, M. B., Grashof, N., Steinþórsson, R. S., Damgaard, T. M. (2026). Internationalizing cluster organizations on market terms. European Planning Studies, 34(7), 1317-1336, https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2026.2650198External link . 
• Schwierzy, J., Dehghan, R., Schmidt, S., Grashof, N., Hottenrott, H., Woywode, M. (2026). Mapping technology diffusion with AI: A web-based approach for tracking additive manufacturing adoption. International Journal of Information Management Data Insights, 6(1), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jjimei.2025.100387External link.  
• Grashof, N., Graf, H. (2025). The role of universities in regional knowledge base renewal. Regional Studies, 59(1), https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2025.2521052External link.  
• Brenner, T., Grashof, N., Hesse, K. (2025). Core vs. Periphery: New insights on the emergence and diffusion of radical innovations in clusters. European Planning Studies, 33(6), 980-1000, https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2025.2526698External link.  
• Gottinger, A., Ladu, L., Grashof, N. (2025). Fostering technological innovation systems through adaptive policy mixes: The case of the German Bioeconomy. Cleaner and Circular Bioeconomy, 12, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clcb.2025.100154External link.  
• Grashof, N. (2025). Rethinking regional performance: examining the role of economic growth and industrial clusters in the objective well-being of European regions. Journal Review of Regional Research, 45(3), 421-464, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10037-025-00224-4External link.  
• Grashof, N., Basilico, S. (2025). Divergent paths for green transition: regional disparities in technology diversification, Regional Studies, 59(1), https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2024.2363327External link.  
• Grashof, N. (2024). Familiar but also radical? The moderating role of regional clusters for family firms in the emergence of radical innovation. Journal Review of Regional Research, 45(1), 17-49, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10037-023-00199-0External link.   
• Grashof, N., Basilico, S. (2024) Accelerating the sustainability transition of brown regions: Unlocking the speed factor. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 51, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2024.100840External link.   
• Grashof, N., Kopka, A. (2023). Artificial intelligence and radical innovation: an opportunity for all companies?. Small Business Economics, 61(2), 771-797, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-022-00698-3External link.    
• Kopka, A., Grashof, N. (2022). Artificial intelligence: Catalyst or barrier on the path to sustainability? Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 175, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.121318External link.   
• Grashof, N. (2021). Spill over or Spill out? - A multilevel analysis of the cluster and firm performance relationship. Industry & Innovation, 28(10), 1298-1331, https://doi.org/10.1080/13662716.2021.1967728External link.  
• Grashof, N. (2021). Putting the watering can away - Towards a targeted (problem-oriented) cluster policy framework. Research Policy, 50(9), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2021.104335External link.    
• Grashof, N., Fornahl, D. (2021). "To be or not to be" located in a cluster? - A descriptive meta-analysis of the firm-specific cluster effect. Annals of Regional Science, 67(3), 541-591, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00168-021-01057-yExternal link.   
• Grashof, N., Kopka, A., Weßendorf, C., Fornahl, D. (2020). Industry 4.0 and Clusters: Complementaries or Substitutes in Firms Knowledge Creation?. Competitiveness Review, 31(1), 83-105, https://doi.org/10.1108/CR-12-2019-0162External link.   
• Grashof, N. (2020). Firm-specific cluster effects - A meta-analysis. Papers in Regional Science, 99(5), 1237-1260, https://doi.org/10.1111/pirs.12526External link.   
• Arant, W., Fornahl, D., Grashof, N., Hesse, K., Söllner, C. (2019). University-industry collaborations - The key to radical innovations?. Review of Regional Research, 39, 119-141, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10037-019-00133-3External link.   
• Grashof, N., Hesse, K., Fornahl, D. (2019). Radical or not? The role of clusters in the emergence of radical innovations. European Planning Studies, 27(10), 1-20, https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2019.1631260External link.  

Monograph

• Grashof, N. (2020). Regional clusters: Really the place to be? - A multidimensional investigation of firm performance within clusters. Dissertation, https://doi.org/10.26092/elib/324External link.

Edited volumes / Book chapters

• Fornahl, D., Grashof, N. (2022). Missionsorientierte Industrie- und Strukturpolitik als Ansätze zu einer sozial-ökologischen Transformation in Niedersachsen. In: Priebs, A., Brandt, A. (eds.), Sozial-ökologische Transformation in Niedersachsen. Wachholtz Verlag, Kiel/Hamburg.
• Grashof, N., Brenner, T. (2021). Radical innovations in cluster - The role of cluster internal and external relationships. In: Fornahl, D., Grashof, N. (eds.), Regional cluster in the Global Economy - Between localization and internationalization advantages. Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham.
• Grashof, N., Fornahl, D., Becker, J. (2021). Regional clusters and internationalization - Complementary or contrasting fields of research?. In: Fornahl, D., Grashof, N. (eds.), Regional cluster in the Global Economy - Between localization and internationalization advantages. Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham.
• Fornahl, D., Grashof, N., Kopka, A. (2020). Nachhaltigkeit in Zeiten künstlicher Intelligenz - Teil oder Lösung des Problems?. In: Hartard, S., Schaffer, A. (eds.), Mensch und Technik - Perspektiven einer zukunftsfähigen Gesellschaft. Metropolis-Verlag, Marburg.
• Fornahl, D., Grashof, N., Söllner, C. (2018). Effects of Being Located in a Cluster on Economic Actors. In: Belussi, F., Hervas-Oliver, J.-L. (eds.), Agglomeration and Firm Performance (pp. 11-24). Springer, Cham.

Working Papers

• Dahlke, J., Schmidt, S., Lenz, D., Kinne, J., Dehghan, R., Abbasiharofteh, M., Schütz, M., Kriesch, L., Hottenrott, H., Kanilmaz, U. N., Grashof, N., Hajikhani, A., Liu, L., Riccaboni, M., Balland, P.-A., Wörter, M., Rammer, C. (2025). The WebAI paradigm of innovation research: Extracting insight from organizational web data through AI. ZEW Discussion Papers., No. 25-019, https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/319890/1/1928977391.pdfExternal link.
• Grashof, N., Kopka, A. (2023). Widening or closing the gap? The relationship between artificial intelligence, firm-level productivity and regional clusters. Bremen Papers on Economics & Innovation, No. 2304, https://doi.org/10.26092/elib/2663External link.
• Wessendorf, C., Grashof, N. (2023). Key Enabling Technologies (KETs): Firms’ Key to Radical Innovation?. Bremen Papers on Economics & Innovation, No. 2303, https://doi.org/10.26092/elib/2662External link.
• Cantner, U., Grashof, N., Grebel, T., Kosmützky, A., Krücken, G., & Zhang, X. (2023). Competitive positioning of German Universities: Deliberate Decision, Fate, or Fiction?. Jena Economic Research Papers, No. 2023-012, https://oweb.b67.uni-jena.de/Papers/jerp2023/wp_2023_012.pdfExternal link.
• Fornahl, D., Grashof, N., Kopka, A. (2021). Do Not Neglect The Periphery?! - The emergence and diffusion of radical innovations. Bremen Papers on Economics & Innovation, No. 2102, https://doi.org/10.26092/elib/478External link. 
• Grashof, N. (2020). Sinking or swimming in the cluster labour pool? - A firm-specific analysis of the effect of specialized labour. Jena Economic Research Papers, No. 2020 - 006, http://www2.wiwi.uni-jena.de/Papers/jerp2020/wp_2020_006.pdfExternal link.

Other contributions

• Grashof, N. (2026). Forschung für eine bessere Welt? Die Nachhaltigkeitsziele und was Hochschulen wirklich dazu beitragen. Science Slam, Haus der Wissenschaft Braunschweig.Grashof, N. (2023). Strategien für eine erfolgreiche Innovationspolitik, Interview für die vom BMBF initiierte Homepage Bioökonomie.de, https://biooekonomie.de/foerderung/foerderbeispiele/strategien-fuer-eine-erfolgreiche-innovationspolitikExternal link.
• Grashof, N. (2025). Forschung für eine bessere Welt? Die Nachhaltigkeitsziele und was Hochschulen wirklich dazu beitragen. Science Slam, Schumpeter-Tag an der Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, https://www.jsec.uni-jena.de/1892/schumpeter-tag-2025 de.
• Grashof, N. (2023). Strategien für eine erfolgreiche Innovationspolitik, Interview für die vom BMBF initiierte Homepage Bioökonomie.de, https://biooekonomie.de/foerderung/foerderbeispiele/strategien-fuer-eine-erfolgreiche-innovationspolitikExternal link.
• Grashof, N. (2022). Der Bürgerdialog ist für den Wandel dringend nötig, Zeitungsinterview mit dem Weser-Kurier, https://www.weser-kurier.de/bremen/wirtschaft/bremen-mit-biooekonomie-zu-einer-nachhaltigeren-wirtschaftsweise-doc7nraink0u5x1hlq66oapExternal link.
• Grashof, N. (2021). Viele Wege führen zur Bioökonomie – oder nicht? Eine Analyse der regionalen Transformationspotenziale. Science Slam, Haus der Wissenschaft Braunschweig.
• Grashof, N. (2021). Viele Wege führen zur Bioökonomie – oder nicht? Eine Analyse der regionalen Transformationspotenziale. Science Slam im Rahmen des Wissenschaftsjahres 2020/21.
• Grashof, N. (2021). Bioökonomie - Regional gedacht. Expertenbeitrag im Rahmen des Wissenschaftsjahres 2020/21, https://www.wissenschaftsjahr.de/2020-21/aktuelles-aus-der-biooekonomie/koepfe-des-wandels/biooekonomie-regional-gedachtExternal link.
• Grashof, N. (2020). Auf dem Weg zur Bioökonomie: Potentiale identifizieren und nutzen. Expertenbeitrag im Rahmen des Wissenschaftsjahres 2020/21, https://www.wissenschaftsjahr.de/2020-21/aktuelles-aus-der-biooekonomie/koepfe-des-wandels/auf-dem-weg-zur-biooekonomie-potentiale-identifizieren-und-nutzenExternal link.

• WiSe 2025: “Economics of Innovation and Transformation (VL & ÜB)”, 4 SWS, University Kassel (MA Economic Behaviour and Governance, M.Sc.).
• WiSe 2025: “Innovation und Nachhaltigkeit (VL & ÜB)”, 4 SWS, University Kassel (BA Wirtschaftswissenschaften, B.Sc.).
• WiSe 2023, WiSe 2024: “Regional Dynamics (VL)”, 2 SWS, Friedrich Schiller University Jena (MA Economics, M.Sc.).
• WiSe 2023, WiSe 2024, WiSe 2026: “Economics of Innovation III: Economic Dynamics and Structural Change (VL & ÜB)”, 4 SWS, Friedrich Schiller University Jena (MA  Economics, M.Sc.).
• SoSe 2023, SoSe 2024, SoSe 2025, SoSe 2026: “Vertiefungsmodul Innovationsökonomik (VL)”, 2 SWS, Friedrich Schiller University Jena (BA Wiwi, B.Sc.).
• WiSe 2021, SoSe 2021, WiSe 2022, SoSe 2022, SoSe 2023, WiSe 2024, SoSe 2024, WiSe 2025, SoSe 2026, WiSe 2026: “Seminar Economic of Innovation”, 2 SWS, Friedrich Schiller University Jena.
• WiSe 2021, WiSe 2022: “Approaches to Economic Science”, 2 SWS, Friedrich Schiller University Jena.
• WiSe 2019: Instructor for the course “Einführung in die Volkswirtschaftslehre – Übung“, 2 SWS, Universität Bremen (BA Wiwi/BWL)
• Supervision of Seminar, Bachelor and Master Thesis

• 2026-2026: „Systematische Erfassung und Analyse des aktuellen Standes der KI-Kompetenzen in deutschen Unternehmen anhand von Unternehmenswebseitentexten (KiKo)“; BMLEH; Function: Project lead
• 2026-2026: „Querschnittsevaluation Innovationsorientierte Cluster- und Netzwerkförderung“; BMFTR; Function: Project member
• 2024-2027: „Internationale Dimensionen des multiplen Wettbewerbs: Deutsche Hochschulen im internationalen Vergleich“; DFG; Function: Project member
• 2024-2025: Evaluation der Programmfamilie „Unternehmen Region“; BMBF; Function: Project member
• 2024-2025: „ Resolving the Retro-innovation Paradox: Leveraging the Past for a Sustainable Future; University of Padua (Italy); Function: Project member (international cooperation partner)
• 2022-2023: „IST-Stand-Analyse Forschung und Transfer Thüringer Hochschulen“ (I-Saft); TMWWDG; Function: Project member
• 2022-2022: „Survey zur Vernetzung bei Wissensgenerierung und Innovation: Rationale, Mechanismen und Politikrelevanz“ (NetSurvey); BMBF; Function: Project member
• 2021-2023: „(Autonome) Hochschulen im dynamischen Wettbewerb“; DFG; Function: Project member
• 2019-2022: „Transformationsorientierte Innovationspolitik in der Bioökonomie – Stand, Potenziale und Strategien“ (BioTOP); BMBF; Function: Project lead
• 2018-2020: „Internationalisierung von Spitzenclustern, Zukunftsprojekten und vergleichbaren Netzwerken“ (InterSpiN+); BMBF; Function: Project member
• 2015-2021: Evaluierung der Förderinitiative „Zwanzig20 – Partnerschaft für Innovation“; BMBF; Function: (Internal) Project lead
• 2015-2018: „Internationalisierung von Spitzenclustern, Zukunftsprojekten und vergleichbaren Netzwerken“ (InterSpiN); BMBF; Function: Project member

• Since 2025: Associate Member at INCHER, University of Kassel.
• Since 2025: Member of the Committee for Evolutionary Economics of the Verein für Socialpolitik (German Economic Association).
• Since 2023: Elected member of the extended board of directors of the Schumpeter Center for Research on Social and Economic Change.
• Since 2022: Associate Editor, European Research on Management and Business Economics.
• 2021: Segnitz Prize for outstanding doctoral thesis at the Faculty of Business Studies and Economics at the University of Bremen: "Regional clusters: Really the place to be? - A multidimensional investigation of firm performance within clusters".
• 2017: Dr. Hans-Adolf-Rossen Prize for the master's thesis: "Pioniervorteile in Plattformmärkten - Darstellung und kritische Auseinandersetzung mit dem First-Mover Advantage in Plattformmärkten und dessen strategischer Relevanz für Tesla Motors" (Pioneer Advantages in platform markets - Presentation and critical analysis of the First-Mover Advantage in platform markets and its strategic relevance for Tesla Motors).

Presentations at conferences and workshops

• 07/2026: 21st International Schumpeter Conference: Capitalism and Democracy: Paradigm Shifts and Creative Transformations, in Strasbourg (France)
• 03/2026: Congreso Internacional de Gestión Organizacional 2026 “Estrategias en tiempos de crisis”, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa in Mexico, virtuelle Präsentation (auf Einladung)
• 01/2026: Geography of Innovation Conference, in Budapest (Hungary), Session: The Geography of Artificial Intelligence
• 07/2025: Workshop: Kausale Auswirkungen und Mechanismen der Forschungs-, Technologie- und Innovationspolitik [Causal effects and mechanisms of research, technology, and innovation policy], Leibniz-Geschäftsstelle Berlin
• 07/2025: 8th International Research Symposium: Networks in changing business ecosystems, in Flensburg
• 06/2025: EU-SPRI Annual Conference 2025: Shaping societal futures with STI Policies, TU Dortmund
• 02/2025: Speaker in the course „Gestión Estratégica de Clúster“ [Strategic Cluster Management], Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa in Mexico, virtual presentation (upon invitation)
• 07/2024: Annual Conference 2024 of the Committee for Evolutionary Economics (German Economic Association), in Ilmenau
• 06/2024: 20th International Schumpeter Conference: Transformation: Creative Accumulation & Creative Destruction in the Economy, in Gothenburg (Sweden)
• 01/2024: Geography of Innovation Conference, in Manchester (UK), Session: Economic Development and Human Well-being (Geographies of Innovation and Well-being)
• 11/2023: Scandinavian Consortium for Organizational Research (SCANCOR): Thursday Seminar Series, in Stanford (USA)
• 06/2023: RSA Annual Conference: Transforming Regions: Policies and Planning for People and Places, in Ljubljana (Slovenia)
• 01/2023: Speaker in the course „Gestión Estratégica de Clúster“ [Strategic Cluster Management], Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa in Mexico, virtual presentation (upon invitation)
• 09/2022: 5th International Conference on Rethinking Clusters: Crisis and Path Renewal of Places in Time of Uncertainty, Online Conference
• 07/2022: Geography of Innovation Conference, in Mailand (Italy), Session: Geography, Environment and Justice
• 06/2022: The 6th Global Conference on Economic Geography: Territorial Development: Evolution, Innovation, Disruption and Marginalisation under the Anthropocene and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, in Dublin (Ireland)
• 11/2021: Science Slam as part of the Braunschweiger Science Slam organised by the Haus der Wissenschaft Braunschweig (upon invitation)
• 09-10/2021: Speaker at the panel discussion during the Bioeconomy Camp 2021, Research Convention in the Bioeconomy Year of Science, in Berlin (upon invitation)
• 09/2021: Clusters and Competitiveness: Building Resilience in Knowledge-based Regions, Hybrid-Conference together with the Annual Meeting of the European Chapter of the Microeconomics of Competitiveness Affiliate Network
• 09/2021: 4th International Conference on Rethinking Clusters: Sustainable and Technological Transitions in a Network Society, Online Conference
• 08/2021: Science Slam as part of the Science Year of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research on the topic of Bioeconomy (upon invitation)
• 07/2021: 18th International Schumpeter Conference: Schumpeterian Perspectives on Radical Change: Robotics, Artificial Intelligence and Broad Societal Transformations, Online Conference
• 06/2021: Regions in Recovery: Building Sustainable Futures, Online conference
• 02/2021: 9. Norddeutsches WiGeo-Doktoranden-Kolloquium, Online seminar
• 01/2021: Invited talk at the Jena Economic Research Seminar (JERS) Winter Term 2020/21, Online seminar, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena
• 11/2020: 3rd International workshop on Rethinking Clusters: Place-based initiatives for inclusive, innovative and reflective societies, Online workshop
• 07/2020: Invited talk at Plan B - Bioökonomie für industrielle und urbane Räume in Baden-Württemberg: Umsetzung der Landesstrategie, invitation from BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg GmbH
• 06/2019: 2nd InterSpiN Workshop "Multinational enterprises in regional clusters - A promising nexus? -", in Bremen (Germany)
• 06/2019: RSA Annual Conference: Pushing Regions Beyond Their Borders, in Santiago de Compostela (Spain)
• 05/2019: 2nd International workshop on Rethinking Clusters: The local and global scale of Sustainability Transitions, in Padua (Italy), Special Session: Radical Innovations
• 07/2018: PhD Workshop "Innovation, Growth and Economic Geography", in Bremen (Germany)
• 06/2018: 2nd Research Symposium: Networks in changing business ecosystems, in Kolding (Denmark)
• 05/2018: 1st InterSpiN Workshop "Regional Clusters in a global world: Between localization and internationalization advantages", in Bremen (Germany)
• 05/2018: Jena Lecture Series Workshop "Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Regional Development - Concepts and Measurements", in Jena (Germany), Session: Perspectives on Innovation
• 01/2018: 1st International workshop on Rethinking Clusters: Critical Issues and new trajectories of cluster research, in Florence (Italy), Session: Cluster life cycle and evolutionary trajectories of local systems
• 01/2018: Geography of Innovation Conference, in Barcelona (Spain), Session: Industrial districts, clusters and the geography of innovation
• 08/2017: ERSA Congress, in Groningen (Netherlands), Special Session: Place-based Policies and International Embeddedness
• 06/2017: 1st Research Symposium: Networks in changing business ecosystems, in Flensburg (Germany)
• 06/2017: Invited talk at the Heilbronner Symposium: Evolution, Co-Evolution and Regional Innovation Processes, in Heilbronn (Germany)
• 06/2017: RSA Annual Conference: The Great Awakening: New directions, in Dublin (Ireland)
• 03/2017: 7. Norddeutsches WiGeo-Doktoranden-Kolloquium, in Kiel (Germany)
• 09/2016 & 10/2016: International PhD course on Economic Geography, in Utrecht (Netherlands), Main theme: Geography of entrepreneurship, networks and transition

 Organized conferences and workshops

• 06/2023: 6th International Research Symposium: Networks in changing business ecosystems“, in Jena
• 11/2022: NetSurvey Workshop “Approaches for future policy measures to target systemic innovation processes “, in Berlin
• 10/2020: BioTOP Workshop "Accelerating green innovations - A new chapter in transition studies -", Online workshop
• 09/2020: 3rd InterSpiN Workshop "Regional clusters in a globalized economy - A human capital perspective -", Online workshop
• 09/2019: 2nd Bremen Innovation and Economic Research Workshop "Artificial Intelligence - Between Panacea and Skynet", in Bremen (Germany)
• 06/2019: 2nd InterSpiN Workshop "Multinational enterprises in regional clusters - A promising nexus? -", in Bremen (Germany)
• 05/2018: InterSpiN Workshop "Regional Clusters in a global world: Between localization and internationalization advantages", in Bremen (Germany)