Dr. Thomas Stahlecker

Coordinator of Business Unit Regional Innovation Dynamics and Knowledge Exchange, Project Manager

Dr. Thomas Stahlecker studied Economic Geography, International Technical and Economic Cooperation and Geography at Technical University Aachen (RWTH) with a focus on spatial economic analysis, economic development promotion and industrialization of emerging economies. Master's degree in 1998.  Doctorate in 2005 at the University of Stuttgart on the topic "Regional ties in the start-up and development process of knowledge-intensive service companies" (funded by the German Research Foundation). 

Between 1999-2000 he worked as a research assistant at the Academy of Technology Assessment in Baden-Württemberg, where he focused on topics in the field of "interdisciplinary entrepreneurship research". Since May 2000 research assistant at the Competence Center Policy and Society at Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI in Karlsruhe. Since 2007 Head of the Business Unit Regional Innovation Dynamics and Knowledge Exchange. In particular, he carries out research related to systemic competitiveness of regions and functional spaces, which includes theoretical concepts in the areas of innovation systems, clusters and network economics, as well as empirical-methodological work on the measurement of innovation and technological change. Furthermore, Dr. Stahlecker is active in the evaluation of innovation-oriented funding programmes, innovation policy as well as accompanying scientific research projects.