Franz Barjak is professor for Empirical Social and Economic Research at the School of Business of the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW). He obtained his degrees in Geography from the Technical University of Munich (Diploma, 1993) and the Ruhr University Bochum (PhD, 2010).

Franz has worked on and led numerous research projects in the fields of innovation research, technology transfer, science and technology studies, scientometrics, Internet studies and regional economics. He has been involved in several studies for different Directorate Generals of the European Commission and Swiss and German public authorities and companies. Several of these studies implemented large-scale surveys and interviews among scientists and companies worldwide. Besides, he teaches research methods and innovation in Bachelor and Master's programmes at FHNW. He taught as guest lecturer at the Qingdao Technological University in Qingdao, China, and the Universidad de la Empresa in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Language skills: German (mother tongue), English, Español

Courses

• Entrepreneurship & Innovation (5 ECTS) in the BSc Business Administration (in German) and BSc International Management (in English)
• Emerging Topics of International Management (6 ECTS) in the MSc International Management
• Cooperative Learning Project (6 ECTS) in the MSc International Management

Consulting

1. Overall evaluation of the research focus «Social Integration»

Sponsor: Zurich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW
Partner: Prof. Dr. Alexander Grob, University of Basel, Prof. Dr. Peter Voll, HES-SO
Duration: July – November 2022
Content: Peer review of an internal research funding programme through analysis of documents, programme management data and interviews

2. "Peer Review Research & Development" 2022 of the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts

Sponsor: Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts HSLU
Partner: Prof. Dr. Hans-Ulrich Häfeli, interface, Prof. Dr. Claus Jacobs, University of Bern
Duration: August – November 2022
Content: Peer for the Department of Economics, review of the department's research through analysis of documents, research-related data and interviews.

3. External audit of knowledge & technology transfer and partnership activities at the Uni-versity of Luxembourg

Sponsor: University of Luxembourg
Partner: Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA)
Duration: February-October 2019
Content: Evaluation of the knowledge and technology transfer activities of the university on the basis of data and discussions on transfer activities with employees of the university and its faculties and institutes and with external stakeholders of the Luxembourg research and innovation system.

4. Strategic Initiative Energy Chance (SIEC)

Sponsor: –
Partners: FHNW School of Engineering, FHNW School of Construction, Architecture and Geomatics, FHNW School of Applied Psychology, AEK Solothurn, eniwa
Duration: October 2015-December 2017
Content: Strategy and innovation workshops with energy supply companies to develop new products and business models for private electricity customers.

5. Swiss Space Sector Survey

Sponsor: Swiss Space Office (SSO)
Partner: –
Duration: December 2015-May 2016
Content: Implementation of a survey in the Swiss space sector

6. syndicom potential analysis member recruitment

Sponsor: syndicom
Partner: –
Duration: January-May 2015
Content: Procurement and analysis of secondary data for comparative analysis of syndicom member development

7. Project Z

Sponsor: anonymous
Partner: –
Duration: January-April 2012
Content: Procurement and analysis of secondary data for the selection of a call center location in Switzerland

• Knowledge and technology transfer, university industrial cooperation, open innovation
• Research and innovation systems
• Innovation policy
• Innovation management
• Knowledge and Technology Indicators, Scientometrics, Webometrics
• Regional disparities and cluster development

1. Survey of the Austrian space sector

Sponsor: Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK)
Partner: –
Duration: September 2022-June 2023
Content: 1) Full survey of the space sector as a whole and differentiated by segments (upstream, midstream, downstream), types of companies, research institutions, governmental and other institutions; 2) Identification of new actors in the space sector in Austria ("new space"); 3) Survey of key data of the space sector (turnover, employees); 4) Conception and development of a procedure for future surveys of the space sector in Austria.

2. Preparation of a study on the decline in innovation activities of Swiss companies

Sponsor: State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI)
Partner: ETH Zurich Business Cycle Research Centre (ETH-KOF), Chair of Economics & Management of Innovation, EPF Lausanne (CEMI-EPFL)
Duration: July 2022-January 2023
Content: Analysis of the declining shares of companies with internal research & development and the introduction of product and process innovations through industry hearings.

3. Overall evaluation of the SNSF: Value chain thematic block (Mandate D)

Sponsor: Swiss Science Council, Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research
Partner: –
Duration: March-December 2021
Content: Evaluation of the value chain-oriented funding of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), understood as funding of the interaction of basic research, application-oriented research and market-oriented innovation. Surveys of scientists who applied for value-chain oriented funding (approved and rejected applications) and a comparison group of non-applicants.
Publication: Annexe VI Study D: SNSF funding under the aspect of the value chain (accessed 10.11.2022)

4. Systemic evaluation of the AM-TTC-Alliance (and its overlaps with CSEM and inspire)

Sponsor: Swiss Science Council (SSC), Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research
Partner: –
Duration: November 2019-January 2020
Content: Evaluation of the Advanced Manufacturing-Technology Transfer Centers applications for funding from the Swiss Federation under Article 15 RIPA (Federal Act on the Promotion of Research and Innovation).
Publication: Systemic evaluation of the AM-TTC-Alliance (accessed 10.11.2022)

5. Knowledge and technology transfer by scientific organisations in Switzerland

Sponsor: State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI)
Partner: ETH Zurich Business Cycle Research Centre (ETH-KOF)
Duration: January 2018-April 2019
Content: Analysis of the knowledge and technology transfer of Swiss science institutions on the basis of a full survey of Swiss science organisations and case studies on selected transfer projects.
Publication: Analyse des Wissens- und Technologietransfers in der Schweiz aus Sicht der Wissenschaftsorganisationen (accessed 14.04.2020)

6. Innovation Landscape MEM Industry Switzerland

Sponsor: swissmem
Partner: swissmem
Duration: January 2017-June 2017
Content: Analysis of innovation activity in the Swiss mechanical, electrical and metal engineering industries on the basis of a survey of member companies of the industry association swissmem

7. Evaluation of the existing Swiss institutional R&D funding instruments for the implementation of the space-related measures

Sponsor: Swiss Space Office (SSO)
Partner: -
Duration: September 2014-April 2015
Content: Impact analysis of the Swiss contributions to ESA and the national complementary measures on the Swiss space sector.
Publication: Evaluation of the existing Swiss institutional R&D funding instruments (accessed 10.11.2022)

8. Business model innovations

Sponsor: European Commission, DG Research & Innovation
Partner: empirica Kommunikations- und Technologieberatung, Bonn
Duration: July-November 2013
Content: Description of recent trends in business model innovation (GMI) and discussion of their impact on their appearance and success. Based on innovation surveys, the frequency of GMI is compared in Europe and beyond. By means of a multiple case comparison, the promoting and hindering factors of GMI, its contribution to the commercialisation of academic research and development and its importance in the public sector are analysed.

9. Research & innovation systems

Sponsor: European Commission, DG Research & Innovation
Partners: empirica Communication and Technology Consulting, Bonn, Dialogic innovatie & interactie, Utrecht
Duration: January-November 2013
Content: Research and innovation (R&I) are important determinants of economic competitiveness and growth as well as the creation of employment in Europe. This is why European governments and companies are investing heavily in R&D. However, such investments will be in vain if national R&I systems are not effective and efficient. At the same time, there is still considerable uncertainty about the factors influencing the effectiveness and efficiency of national R&I systems and how policy measures need to be designed to achieve the desired objectives. The study includes comparative analyses of (1) national R&I systems and their efficiency and (2) the impact of policy reforms and financing strategies on the effectiveness of national R&I systems. The study includes a description of policy instruments and reforms and an evaluation synthesis to better understand which policy measures have been effective in the countries studied.

10. Impact analysis of the federal government's promotion of innovation

Sponsor: Federal Office for Professional Education and Technology, Berne
Partner: –
Duration: September-December 2012
Final report: –

11. Knowledge Transfer Study 2010-12

Sponsor: European Commission, DG Research & Innovation
Partners: empirica Communications and Technology Consulting, Bonn, Maastricht Economic Research Institute on Innovation and Technology of the United Nations University UNU-MERIT, Maastricht
Duration: September 2010-April 2013
Content: Analysis of the factors influencing the performance of universities and non-university research institutions in Europe in terms of knowledge and technology transfer. Comprehensive empirical surveys (online surveys, telephone interviews) at universities and non-university research institutions and companies.
Further information and results: www.knowledge-transfer-study.eu

12. eResearch2020 - The Role of e-Infrastructures in the Creation of Global Virtual Research Communities

Sponsor: European Commission, DG Information Society & Media
Partners: empirica Kommunikations- und Technologieberatung, Bonn, Oxford Internet Institute at the University of Oxford/UK and the National Opinion Research Centre at the University of Chicago
Duration: December 2008-December 2009
Content: The main objective was to better understand the organisational, collaborative and technological developments in e-Infrastructures supporting virtual research organisations in different research fields.

13. AVROSS Accelerating Transition to Virtual Research Organisation

Sponsor: European Commission, DG Information Society & Media
Partners: empirica Kommunikations- und Technologieberatung, Bonn, National Centre for e-Social Science at the University of Manchester/UK, National Opinion Research Centre at the University of Chicago/USA
Duration: December 2006-March 2008

• Barjak, F., Lindeque, J., Koch, J. & Soland, M. (2022). Segmenting Household Electricity Customers with Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 157: 112014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.112014.
• Barjak, F., Heimsch, F. (2021). Organisational mission and the involvement of academic research units in knowledge sharing with private companies. Industry and Innovation 28(4): 395–423. https://doi.org/10.1080/13662716.2020.1813090.
• Barjak, F., Heimsch, F. (2021).Understanding the relationship between organizational culture and inbound open innovation. European Journal of Innovation Management, ahead-of-print, (10 November 2021). https://doi.org/10.1108/EJIM-03-2021-0139.
• Barjak, F., Es-Sadki, N., & Arundel, A. (2015). The effectiveness of policies for formal knowledge transfer from European universities and public research institutes to firms. Research Evaluation 24(1): 4–18. https://doi.org/10.1093/reseval/rvu024.