About us
The department of Management, Strategy and Innovation (MSI) of the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) is a multidisciplinary research group bundling expertise in the areas of Strategy, Industrial Organization, Political Economy, International Business, Management and Entrepreneurship. Research concerns the organization of institutions, firms, industries and markets in an international context, with a particular focus on innovation and corporate renewal. The department includes faculty members across the three campuses of the FEB located in Leuven, Brussels and Antwerp, and also hosts the expertise centre on R&D monitoring, ECOOM. The department currently has about 25 faculty members, 30 PhD students and 10 postdocs.
Vacancy in Strategy (BOFZAP)
The department of Management, Strategy and Innovation of the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) at KU Leuven invites scholars to apply for a full‐time research professorship in strategy. This position is funded by the Special Research Fund (BOFZAP), established by the Flemish Government.
Vacancy in International business
The department of Management, Strategy and Innovation of the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) at KU Leuven invites scholars to apply for a full‐time research professorship in International Business.
EVENTS
Upcoming events
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25/08/2026 11:00 - 12:00
MSI (first) Doctoral seminar by Luca Bollinger open_in_new videocam
"Mapping Professional Identity Strategies in Academic Narratives (Doctoral seminar)" -
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08/10/2026 11:00 - 12:00
MSI (1st) Doctoral Seminar by Brecht Depreitere open_in_new videocam
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13/10/2026 12:00 - 13:00
MSI Seminar by Chiara Franzoni (PoliMi) open_in_new videocam
Open positions
We currently do not have any open positions.
Discussion Paper Series
See here for the most recent MSI Discussion papers:
M. Bergamini, L. Sleuwaegen, B. Van Looy (2025) “Aesthetic innovation and the growth of EU regions: Real effects of artists?” MSI_2508, 32 pages
L. Alekseeva, S. Dalla Fontana, C. Genc, L. Peng (2025) "The look of success: AI-measured face factors and venture financing”, MSI_2507, 67 pages
M. Freimane (2025) "Substituting away? The effect of platform bargaining regulation on content display", MSI_2506, 29 pages
J. Malek, J. Seldeslachts and R. Veugelers (2025) "Are M&As spurring or stifling innovation? Evidence from antidiabetic drug development", MSI_2505, 77 pages
- D. Xia, B. Cassiman and D. Wehrheim (2025) "Escaping product market rivalry through innovation”, MSI_2504, 47 pages
- D. Czarnitzki, R. Lepers, M. Pellens (2025) “Adoption of circular economy innovations: The role of artificial intelligence”, MSI_2503, 29 pages
Arts S., Nicola Melluso N., Veugelers R. (2025) “Beyond citations: Measuring novel scientific ideas and their impact in publication text”, MSI_2502, 20 pages
Kriuchkova N., Vyacheslav Truba V., Nyenno I. (2025) “The role of start-ups in stimulating innovative economic growth: challenges and risks” MSI_2501, 13 pages
Recent Top Publications
Recent projects
Promoter: Belderbos Rene
Project code: 3H250601
Duration: January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2029
Awarded by: FWO (Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek)
Promoter: Filip De Beule
Project code: 3H250029
Duration: January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2027
Awarded by: The Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO)
Project title: Firm-centric Technology Roadmaps (FTRMs) and Technology Valuation
Promoter: Bruno Cassiman
Project code: 3H230741
Duration: 2024 - 2027
Awarded by: The Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO)
Project title: Government Ownership and Competition: Empirical evidence from the European Airline Industry following the COVID-19-Pandemic
Promoter: Jo Seldeslachts
Project code: 3H240016
Duration: 2024 - 2027
Awarded by: The Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO)
PhD student: Stijn Decneut
Academic promoter: Bart Leten (KU Leuven)
Industrial promoter: Luc Rottiers (Melexis Technologies)
Duration: 2024 - 2027
Awarded by: VLAIO - Baekeland Mandate
Education
The department of MSI at campus Leuven teaches courses at the bachelor, master, and PhD levels, in particular in the Business Economics and Business Engineering programmes, and the Master in Management.
It organizes three majors: the International Business, Strategy and Innovation major and the Entrepreneurship major in the Master of Business Economics programme, and the Technology and Enterpreneurship major in the Master of Business Engineering and Master of Business programmes.
The department of MSI organizes the Master of Science (MSc) in Business Administration programme and de Master in Handelswettenschappen in Internationale Zakenwezen at campus Brussels and campus Carolus Antwerp.
PhD program
MSI organizes a thriving internationally oriented PhD program, which enrolls more than 25 PhD students. Most of these PhD students are funded by project grants obtained by MSI faculty members, or individual fellowships obtained from the Flemish Research Foundation (FWO).
The MSI PhD trajectory is embedded in the broader PhD program in business economics. PhD students choose a major in the MSI domains: Economics of Science, R&D and Innovation; Foundations of Entrepreneurship; Industrial Organization; Innovation Management ; International Business and Economics; Political Economy; or Bibliometrics. In their first year, students take a literature exam in their major, they follow relevant courses in consultation with their advisor and they present a research proposal in June in front of MSI faculty members. Their scores on these determine whether they can continue with their PhD trajectory.