In a decisive move to bridge the gap between cutting-edge scientific research and transformative entrepreneurial practice, ESMT Berlin has announced the establishment of the TEAM GLOBAL Chair for Disruptive Innovation. This endowed position, supported by the technology holding TEAM GLOBAL founded by Berlin entrepreneur Lukasz Gadowski, signifies a critical advancement in integrating academic rigor with the dynamism inherent in technology-driven markets. At the helm of this initiative is Professor Henry Sauermann, an internationally recognized scholar whose research illuminates the intricate linkages between scientific motivation, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
The foundation of the TEAM GLOBAL Chair underscores an emergent paradigm recognizing the unique role disruptive innovation plays in reshaping both economic structures and societal norms. Unlike incremental innovation, disruptive innovation catalyzes shifts that elevate entire systems to unprecedented levels of efficiency and capability. Examples range from the historical transition from horse-drawn carriages to automobiles to the contemporary leap from traditional data retrieval methods to the deployment of artificial intelligence. This endowed chair’s mission is to encapsulate such transformative innovation processes into actionable research, teaching, and practice that extends beyond the confines of the academic world.
Professor Sauermann’s appointment leverages not only his expertise but also the strategic participation of Professor David Robinson from Duke University, who brings a wealth of knowledge in private equity, venture capital, and entrepreneurial finance. This collaboration exemplifies the international and interdisciplinary character envisioned for the chair, fostering exchange between diverse academic traditions and entrepreneurial ecosystems. Robinson’s affiliation with ESMT Berlin as a distinguished affiliate professor symbolizes the chair’s commitment to integrating financial and strategic perspectives into the broader discourse on disruptive innovation.
Within the master programs and executive education frameworks at ESMT Berlin, the TEAM GLOBAL Chair will engage closely with Vali, the institution’s entrepreneurship hub. This collaboration will cultivate an ecosystem where scientific insights are not relegated to theoretical silos but rather translated into practical tools that empower entrepreneurs, policymakers, and educators alike. The intent is to foster a robust pipeline where innovative ideas can be nurtured, translated into viable ventures, and scaled for societal impact.
Central to the chair’s vision is the conceptual framework distinguishing disruptive innovation from incremental improvements. Lukasz Gadowski emphasizes that true disruption entails elevating an entire sector rather than mere enhancement of existing paradigms. This conceptual clarity provides a rigorous foundation for the chair’s research agenda, guiding investigations into how innovations can induce structural shifts across technology, economics, and education. Historically disruptive processes such as the institutionalization of compulsory schooling or the development of bureaucratic systems are reexamined through this lens, highlighting the universal patterns underlying innovation-driven progress.
Professor Sauermann approaches this challenge by focusing on the behavioral and motivational underpinnings of scientific actors. His research explores how scientists’ incentives and collaborative networks influence the generation of novel knowledge and subsequent entrepreneurial activity. By dissecting the mechanisms through which scientific curiosity, funding structures, and organizational dynamics converge, his work offers nuanced insights into fostering environments conducive to breakthrough ideas with both scientific merit and commercial viability.
Furthermore, Sauermann’s scholarly contributions extend to the study of emergent models of knowledge production, such as crowdsourcing, which democratize scientific research and accelerate innovation cycles. His recent open-access book, “How and When to Involve Crowds in Scientific Research” (Sauermann & Poetz, 2025), provides practical guidelines for leveraging collective intelligence, showcasing the interface between complex systems science and innovation management. These insights are foundational for the chair’s ambition to incorporate scalable, inclusive methods into innovation ecosystems.
The inauguration event, held on September 15, 2025, at the ESMT campus, celebrated this landmark establishment with a congregation of distinguished figures from academia, politics, and industry. Keynote addresses by Jörg Kukies and Ann-Kristin Achleitner emphasized the strategic importance of fostering disruptive innovation as a cornerstone of national and global competitiveness. The diverse audience underpinned the chair’s role as a nexus for interdisciplinary dialogues and impactful collaborations.
President Jörg Rocholl articulated the transformative potential of this endowed chair, emphasizing how it will act as a catalyst for translating scientific discoveries into tangible societal benefits. He acknowledged Lukasz Gadowski’s visionary support in enabling ESMT to expand its footprint in innovation research and practice—an investment that anticipates long-term dividends in technology, education, and economic development.
For entrepreneurs and innovators navigating the volatile terrains of emerging technologies, the chair offers an intellectual and operational beacon. It aims to foster a generation capable of discerning which technological advancements are truly disruptive and how to guide them responsibly to maximize positive societal impact. This mission resonates particularly with ongoing global challenges that require innovative solutions in sustainability, digital transformation, and socio-economic inclusion.
The interdisciplinary fabric of the TEAM GLOBAL Chair’s research and teaching mandates an integrative approach, combining insights from strategy, economics, engineering, and social sciences. By cultivating such a multifaceted perspective, the chair addresses the complex feedback loops between technological innovation, market dynamics, and regulatory frameworks. This holistic view is indispensable in crafting policies and business models attuned to the realities of disruption.
As Professor Sauermann remarks, his aspiration is to deepen ESMT’s role as a premier institution driving disruptive innovation forward. By fostering synergies among researchers, practitioners, and learners, the chair envisions a future where scientific advancements seamlessly inform entrepreneurial actions, ultimately steering societal progress in sustainable and ethically conscious directions. This vision aligns with broader shifts in innovation studies that prioritize impact-oriented research and responsible technology stewardship.
The exemplification of disruptive innovation at ESMT Berlin, supported by TEAM GLOBAL, also accentuates the essential role of endowed academic positions in nurturing sustained innovation. Such chairs provide critical resources and institutional backing necessary for long-horizon research programs that venture beyond short-term commercial pressures. Through this, they lay fertile ground for breakthrough discoveries that can redefine industries and redefine societal trajectories.
In conclusion, the establishment of the TEAM GLOBAL Chair for Disruptive Innovation at ESMT Berlin represents a milestone in academic entrepreneurship. It integrates rigorous scientific inquiry with practical entrepreneurial imperatives, setting a precedent for how universities can proactively engage with the challenges and opportunities posed by rapid technological change. As this chair flourishes, it will undoubtedly contribute to shaping the innovation landscapes of tomorrow, inspiring stakeholders across the globe to envision and enact transformative futures.
Subject of Research: Disruptive Innovation, Science and Entrepreneurship Interface, Innovation Ecosystems, Knowledge Generation Models
Article Title: ESMT Berlin Launches TEAM GLOBAL Chair to Accelerate Disruptive Innovation at the Nexus of Science and Entrepreneurship
News Publication Date: September 15, 2025
Web References:
https://esmt.berlin/person/henry-sauermann
https://esmt.berlin/person/david-t-robinson
https://esmt.berlin/de/ueber-uns/presse/neues-open-access-buch-bietet-anleitung-fuer-crowdsourcing-der-wissenschaftlichen
Image Credits: ESMT Berlin, Photo Ana Torres
Keywords: Scientific community, Education, Technology, Macroeconomics, Disruptive Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Knowledge Generation, Crowdsourcing, Venture Capital, Innovation Ecosystems
