NICOLAS FRIEDERICI

Nicolas is a doctoral candidate at the Oxford Internet Institute. He studies technology innovation systems and networks in Sub-Saharan Africa, and in particular the role of technology innovation hubs. Earlier, Nicolas was consultant for the Mobile Innovation for Development and ICT Policy & Regulation programs at infoDev (World Bank). Nicolas was a Fulbright scholar at Michigan State University, where he received an MA in Telecommunication, Information Studies and Media.

Learning From Innovation Hubs: Fluidity, Serendipity, and Community Combined

Innovation hubs are popping up from Addis to Amsterdam and Boston to Bangalore. Fuelled by ideals of openness, community and collaboration, hubs aim to be the next orgware for innovation—beyond business incubators and R&D labs. Managers, policymakers and investors have taken note, but are grappling with how to engage. What makes hubs so appealing and can they teach innovation managers anything new?