11964: Innovating For All: The Role Of Diversity In Shaping Research And Innovation Outcomes

Sunday, July 27, 2025

10:45 - 13:15 CEST (GMT+2)

Location: Bella Center: Hall C- C2-m3

Session Type: PDW (workshop)
Orientation: International,Research,Diversity
Shareable link: https://cdmcd.co/yKAjnw

Organizer(s)

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Yotam Sofer

Copenhagen Business School - Department of Strategy and Innovation, Sweden
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Sofie Cairo

Copenhagen Business School - Department of Strategy and Innovation, Denmark
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Alice Arusyak Zakaryan

Grenoble Ecole de Management, France

Moderator(s)

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Rembrand Michael Koning

Harvard Business School, United States

Speaker(s)

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Michael A. Bikard

INSEAD, France
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Ariel Dora Stern

Hasso Plattner Institute, Germany
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Marlène Koffi

University of Toronto
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Laurel Smith-Doerr

University of Massachusetts Amherst, United States
CL

Carolin Lerchenmueller

University of Zurich, Switzerland

Understanding the forces driving innovation is crucial for economic growth. This PDW shifts focus from demand-side incentives to supply-side factors, emphasizing how scientists’ and inventors' characteristics and experiences shape innovation and societal progress. Greater diversity among scientific and innovation workforce broadens the scope of knowledge, technologies, and solutions produced through Research and Innovation (R&I) activities, to the benefit of wider populations (Bell et al., 2019; Hoisl et al., 2022). The session highlights research on systemic barriers for underrepresented groups in science and innovation. Marlène Koffi examines racial disparities in knowledge production and diffusion process. Michaël Bikard investigates the demographic factors influencing the technological impact of scientific ideas. Laurel Smith-Doerr explores how organizations and institutions shape inequalities in career outcomes. Carolin Lerchenmüller discusses the health inequities resulting from lack of diversity in medical research and their societal implications. Ariel Dora Stern highlights the promise of FemTech in addressing women’s unmet health needs while tackling funding and data gaps The session concludes with a panel discussion moderated by Rembrand Koning, facilitating dialogue between speakers and the audience. Together, we will explore actionable strategies to enhance diversity in innovation, foster inclusion, and address inequities that hinder societal progress.