Lead researcher

Lead researcher

Peter Robbins
Peter Robbins

Innovation is a Top 3 priority for over 80% of CEO’s (McKinsey, 2025) - with 45% of CEO’s concerned that their current business model will no longer be viable in 10 years  (PwC, 2025). The AI and Responsible Innovation Group investigates how artificial intelligence is reshaping the way organisations manage, scale, and sustain innovation across diverse contexts. We explore how firms can harness AI to accelerate innovation cycles, enhance digital transformation, and embed risk-aware, responsible practices. By examining mechanisms, now often underpinned by AI,  such as economic value capture, strategic imitation, and the professionalisation of innovation management, our research generates evidence-based insights that strengthen competitiveness, drive sustainable growth, and advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure (SDG 9) and Decent Work & Economic Growth (SDG 8). Our expertise spans AI and gender, trust in e-commerce, the economics of innovation, intellectual property, mergers and acquisitions, machine learning, risk management, family business, imitation strategy, design thinking, and challenge-based learning. Working at the intersection of AI and organisational strategy, we collaborate internationally, inform national policy, and partner with academia and industry to shape the future of responsible innovation.

Research Themes

  • Digital Transformation: Investigating how emerging technologies reshape business models and operations

  • Strategic Imitation: Understanding how businesses adopt and adapt innovations from competitors and adjacent industries

  • Design-led innovation: Innovation projects that use design thinking methodologies

  • Economics of Innovation: Exploring the impact of different types of innovation on firms, industries, regions and countries

Selected Projects

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