Advancing technology management: integrating policy, innovation, and systems thinking for industrial transformation
Technological advancement is a defining feature of modern industrial transitions. From artificial intelligence reshaping productivity to the deployment of capital-intensive technologies such as renewable energy systems, the development, adoption and acceleration of new technologies is no longer confined to a single discipline or function. It requires a coordinated, systems-level approach and stakeholder collaboration that integrates innovation, public policy, financing, and organisational transformation.
Research in technology management has traditionally focused on adoption frameworks such as the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) (Davis, 1989), the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) (Venkatesh, Morris, Davis, & Davis, 2003), and the Diffusion of Innovation (DoI) theory (Rogers, (1962/2003)) to name a few. More recently, scholars have begun to explore the broader systemic factors influencing technology uptake. For example, Geddes and Schmidt (2020) examined the role of financial intermediaries in shaping technological niches. Kanda, Hjelm, Clausen, and Bienkowska (2018) emphasized the importance of the finance–innovation–policy nexus in overcoming barriers to eco-innovation and developed an approach for analysing the functions of intermediaries. Research by Howells (2006) and Colovic, Caloffi, Rossi, Paladini, and Bagherzadeh (2024) highlights the role of innovation intermediaries in facilitating knowledge exchange and reducing systemic failures, particularly in digital technology adoption. They also explore how digital innovation intermediaries contribute to institutionalizing systemic transitions by coordinating across ecosystems.
Despite these valuable contributions, the literature has focused on the adoption of asset-light digital technologies and organizational-level innovation. Many questions need further investigation. Are these models still suited for the adoption of newer technologies such as artificial intelligence? What role do intermediaries such as incubators and accelerators play? What does the recent emergence of venture studios, in supporting first-of-a-kind technology deployments, suggest about technology management? Can factors such as policy design, financing mechanisms, and intermediary support interact in tandem to advance technology management in complex contexts e.g. where technologies in question can be capital intensive e.g. renewable clean technologies and where a time-critical context such as achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 is the overarching objective.
This Special Issue aims to build on existing theoretical foundations, address some of the critical gaps and advance new insights. In doing so, we also seek to investigate how innovative business models—such as technology-as-a-service—may be needed to support the scaling and integration of new technologies to solve complex societal and industrial challenges. The Special Issue aims to focus on the interplay between technology management and the broader ecosystem through which technologies are developed, commercialized, and adopted.
References:
• Colovic, A., Caloffi, A., Rossi, F., Paladini, S., & Bagherzadeh, M. (2024). Innovation intermediaries and emerging digital technologies. Technovation, 133. doi:10.1016/j.technovation.2024.103022
• Davis, F. D. (1989). Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology. MIS Quarterly, 13(3), 319–340.
• Geddes, A. and Schmidt, T. (2020). Integrating finance into the multi-level perspective: Technology niche development and the role of financial intermediaries. Research Policy, 49(6), 103987. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2020.103987
• Howells, J. (2006). Intermediation and the role of intermediaries in innovation. Research Policy, 35(5), 715-728. doi:10.1016/j.respol.2006.03.005
• Kanda, W., Hjelm, O., Clausen, J., & Bienkowska, D. (2018). Roles of intermediaries in supporting eco-innovation. Journal of Cleaner Production, 205, 1006-1016. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.09.132
• Rogers, E. M. (1962/2003). Diffusion of innovations (Vol. 1st/5th ed.): New York: Free Press.
• Venkatesh, V., Morris, M. G., Davis, G. B., & Davis, F. D. (2003). User acceptance of information technology: Toward a unified view. MIS Quarterly, 27(3), 425–478.
Call for Contributions
We invite interdisciplinary perspectives that examine how:
• Emerging transformative and/or capital-intensive technologies are being scaled and diffused across sectors;
• Innovative business models, organizational practices, and partnership structures drive successful technology integration;
• Systems-level approaches—linking financing, partnerships, regulation, policy, and design—shape the pathways of technology management and adoption.
Topics of Interest (may include but are not limited to):
• New and Disruptive Technologies: How are transformative technologies—ranging from AI-driven platforms to indoor farming systems to capital intensive renewable energy—emerging and being integrated within industry sectors?
• Technology Adoption in Natural Resource Sectors: What are the dynamics of technology uptake in complex, asset-heavy environments such as agriculture, mining, oil and gas and energy?
• Organizational Innovation for ESG Impact: How are firms leveraging technology to achieve Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) objectives?
• Policy and Systems Thinking in Technology Acceleration: What roles do policy tools such as agenda setting, design iteration, and capacity building play in compressing technology adoption timelines?
• Digital Technologies for Strategic Decision-Making: How effective are AI and digital platforms in supporting strategic decisions within and between organizations?
• Blockchain and Smart Contracts for Sustainability: How are these technologies being applied to ensure traceable and sustainable supply chains?
• Frontier Technologies in Software and AI: What are the risks, governance challenges, and innovation opportunities surrounding the adoption of generative AI and related technologies?
Intended Contributions
This Special Issue aims to advance multiple strands of scholarly and practitioner-focused literature by:
• Expanding the boundaries of technology management theories to incorporate system-level dynamics and cross-sectoral interdependencies;
• Illuminating the evolving role of intermediaries—such as accelerators, incubators, and development agencies—in enabling the acceleration and scale-up of emerging technologies;
• Providing evaluative frameworks for assessing the effectiveness of public policy interventions in catalyzing technology diffusion and adoption.
In addition to academic contributions, the Special Issue seeks to deliver actionable insights for policymakers, industry leaders, and innovation intermediaries engaged in managing complex technological transitions.
Two distinct channels of contribution are being invited:
- Research-informed articles (around 25,000 characters with spaces) which will undergo a formal peer-review process and be published in the E&M Plus Special Issue;
- Thought leadership pieces (around 6,000 characters with spaces), curated and reviewed by the Special Issue editors, designed to bridge research and executive practice.
Contributors may also be invited to participate in a related podcast series aimed at broadening dissemination and engagement with executive audiences. With a strong emphasis on the principle of “research-informed executives shaping executive thinking,” contributions from SDA Bocconi DBA alumni and current DBA cohorts are being encouraged. It is anticipated that the journal will feature at least 6–8 full-length research articles, with a broader range of voices featured through the thought leadership channel.
Timeline for Publication:
A formal call for abstracts is issued on 15 July. Abstract submissions will be due by 31 October 2025, with acceptance decisions communicated by 15 February 2026.
A professional development workshop (PDW) focused on writing and an associated conference, aligned with the Special Issue, will be hosted at SDA Bocconi in May 2026 to support author development and peer engagement.
Final manuscript submissions will be due by 30 June 2026. Following submission, a peer review process will be conducted, with revisions and final approvals targeted for completion by 31 October 2026.
The Special Issue is scheduled for official release at the inaugural DBA Conference in January 2027.
Abstract submissions must be in English and submitted electronically via ScholarOne Manuscripts at the following link: https://mc04.manuscriptcentral.com/ecoman
Target Audiences
• Scholars in innovation studies, technology management, public policy, and sustainability transitions;
• Practitioners involved in technology commercialization, venture building, and corporate innovation;
• Policymakers responsible for industrial strategy, technology regulation, and climate transition frameworks.
Further information:
If you have queries in relation to this initiative or the academic articles, please write to Dr. Christopher Vas at christopher.vas@dba.sdabocconi.it.
Should you have queries about the thought leadership pieces, please write to Dr. Fabi Sbaiti at fadi.sbaiti@dba.sdabocconi.it
For all other journal related and submission related information please visit: https://emplus.egeaonline.it/it/home
(Co)Editors
Professor Vincenzo Baglieri
Professor of Practice, Operations and Technology Management, SDA Bocconi School of Management
Professor Vincenzo Baglieri is Professor of Practice of Operations and Technology Management at SDA Bocconi School of Management and Professor of Technology, Innovation and Operations Management at Università Bocconi. He is currently Associate Dean for the Master Division and previously served as Director of the Executive MBA. His research focuses on the strategic management of innovation, service industrialization, and customer experience engineering. He has led consulting and training projects across Europe, North and Latin America with major corporations in banking, automotive, and telecommunications. His work has been published in leading journals such as the International Journal of Production Research, International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, and Journal of Computational and Applied Mathematics. He coordinates the Global Executive MBA module at UCLA Anderson and was previously a Visiting Scholar at UC San Diego. Professor Baglieri holds a PhD from Università di Pavia and completed the ITP at NYU Stern School of Business.
Dr. Fadi Sbaiti
General Manager, AgX at Khalifa University
Fadi Sbaiti is a seasoned leader with over 18 years of experience in project management, operations, and general management across multiple industries. He is currently the General Manager at Khalifa University AGX in Abu Dhabi, UAE, where he oversees the state-of-the-art research center focused on advancements in AgTech, plant sciences, and indoor vertical farming. His role involves driving innovative R&D in the AgTech ecosystem and fostering critical partnerships with local universities, research institutes, and private businesses to address agricultural challenges in desert and arid climates. Previously, Fadi served as the GM of AeroFarms, where he was responsible for setting up the company in the UAE, recruiting the operational team, and building and operating the AgX facility. He holds a DBA from SDA Bocconi in Milan, an MBA from IMD Business School in Lausanne, and a Bachelors in Systems Engineering from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis. His career is marked by his commitment to sustainable practices and innovation in engineering and business management.
Dr. Christopher Vas
General Manager, FIPWA; Director-Executive Officer, SECCA
Dr. Christopher Vas is General Manager of the Food Innovation Precinct Western Australia (FIPWA) and Director-Executive Officer of the South East Corridor Councils Alliance (SECCA), He is a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) candidate at SDA Bocconi, holds a PhD in Public Policy from the Australian National University, an MBA, and a Bachelor of Engineering. He has also completed an Executive Certificate in Strategy and Innovation from MIT Sloan School of Management. Dr. Vas’s current research focuses on how policy, finance, and intermediaries enable technology acceleration toward net-zero transitions. He has co-authored a book on SME innovation and productivity and has published in journals such as R&D Management, Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis, and Evidence and Policy. He is also Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Canterbury. With prior academic and advisory roles across Australia, Singapore, New Zealand, and India, he brings a unique blend of practice-informed insight to innovation scholarship.
Photo iStock / Kaikoro
