Peter Robbins

Assoc. Prof

Contact Details


Q136
T:01 700 5450

E:Peter.Robbins@dcu.ie
Profile Photo
Peter Robbins is one of Ireland’s foremost experts in innovation and new product and service development. He was global head of innovation excellence for GlaxoSmithKline where he led many of the worldwide, new product launches for Lucozade, Aquafresh, Sensodyne, Panadol, Ribena, alli and NiQuitin. Peter’s PhD is in Innovation. His area of research is how firms organise for innovation. He is a former head of the Department of Design Innovation in Maynooth University. He is an innovation advisor to the Governments development agencies and has developed and run courses and workshops in innovation for organisations in the public and private sector. He is on a number of innovation advisory boards in business and the third sector. Peter has trained in the renowned Stanford D School, he is a graduate of London’s What-if creativity programme.  He has published in the Journal of Product Innovation Management, R&D Management, Technovation,  the Irish Journal of Management: International Journal of Innovation Management; London Strategy Review and regularly speaks at international conferences on the subject of managing creativity and innovation

Book

Year Publication
2013 Devitt, F.; Robbins, P.; (2013) Design, Thinking and Science. [DOI]
2012 Peter, Robbins (2012) Understanding Innovation; Contemporary Issues in Innovation Management. : Pearson.
2012 Peter, Robbins (2012) Organising for Innovation How Large Companies Accelerate Innovation. : Pearson Business.
2012 Robbins, Peter (2012) Organising for Innovation: How Leading Companies Accelerate Innovation. Saarbrucken, Germany: Lambert Academic Publishing.

Book Chapter

Year Publication
2025 Peter, Robbins (2025) 'Customer Engagement: How AI can turn up the Volume on the Voice of the Consumer in New Product Development' In: : Routledge.
2025 Robbins, P. (2025) 'Customer Engagement: How AI Can Turn Up the Volume on the Voice of the Consumer in New Product Development' In: Customer Engagement and Digital Business. [Link] [DOI]
2023 Peter, Robbins (2023) 'Innovating Innovation in Healthcare: How Covid has torn up the rule book' In: : Bingley/Bradford: Emerald.
2020 Dr Peter Robbins (2020) 'How businesses can benefit from collaborating with the arts' In: Innovation and the Arts: The Value of Humanities Studies for Business. London : Emerald. [Link]
2020 Peter, Robbins (2020) 'From Design Thinking to Art Thinking with an Open Innovation Perspective' In: : Mc Graw Hill.
2019 Peter, Robbins (2019) 'How businesses can benefit from collaborating with the arts' In: : Emerald.
2018 Peter, Robbins (2018) 'Citizen crowdsourcing: 'Ask not what your country can do for you...'' In: : Blackwell Publishers.
2017 Peter Robbins (2017) 'Dublin and Ireland's Entrepreneurial Revolution: The Force Awakens' In: Entrepreneurial Renaissance: Cities striving towards an Era of Rebirth and Revival. London : Springer. [Link]
2017 Peter, Robbins (2017) 'Dublin's and Ireland's Entrepreneurial Revolution: The Force Awakens' In: : Springer.
2013 Peter, Robbins,Frank, Devitt (2013) 'Design Thinking & Design Science' In: : Spinger.
2012 Peter, Robbins (2012) 'Introduction to Innovation and New Product and Service Development' In: : Wiley Publications.

Peer Reviewed Journal

Year Publication
2025 berthinier-Poncet, A.; Podmetina, D.; Robbins, P (2025) 'The art of innovation: How arts-based initiatives can nurture innovation dynamic capabilities'. Technovation, 148 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2025.103337.
2023 Robbins, P.; O'Connor, G.C. (2023) 'The professionalization of innovation management: Evolution and implications'. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 40 . [Link] [DOI]
2023 Robbins, P.; Sandberg, B. (2023) 'Art Thinking: Amplifying the ‘R’ in R&D'. Journal of Innovation Management, 11 . [Link] [DOI]
2022 Robbins, P.; Fu, N. (2022) 'Blind faith or hard evidence? Exploring the indirect performance impact of design thinking practices in R&D'. R and D Management, 52 . [Link] [DOI]
2021 P., P.,C., C.,A.S., A.S. (2021) 'The impact of team goal orientation in the fuzzy front end of the innovation process'. International Journal of Innovation Management, 25  .
2021 Robbins P, O’Gorman C, Huff A, Moselein K. (2021) 'Multidexterity—A New Metaphor for Open Innovation'. Journal Of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, And Complexity, 7 (99):1-14. [Link] https://doi.org/10.3390/joitmc7010099
2021 Peter, Peter,Colm, Colm,Anne, Anne,Kathrin, Kathrin (2021) 'Multidexterity - A new Metaphor for Open Innovation'. Journal of Open Innovation, Technology, Market and Complexity, 7 . [Link]
2021 Robbins, P.; O'Gorman, C.; Huff, A.S. (2021) 'The impact of team goal orientation in the fuzzy front end of the innovation process'. International Journal of Innovation Management, 25 . [Link] [DOI]
2021 Dr Peter Robbins, Prof Colm O'Gorman and Prof Anne Huff (2021) 'The Impact of Team Goal Orientation in the Fuzzy Front End of the Innovation Process'. International Journal of Innovation Management, . [Link] [DOI]
2021 Peter, Peter,Colm, Colm,Anne, Anne (2021) 'The impact of team goal orientation in the fuzzy front end of the innovation process'. International Journal of Innovation Management, 25 . [Link]
2021 Robbins, P.; O’gorman, C.; Huff, A.; Moeslein, K. (2021) 'Multidexterity—a new metaphor for open innovation'. Journal of Open Innovation Technology Market and Complexity, 7 . [Link] [DOI]
2019 N.M., N.M.,P., P.,J., J. (2019) 'Dynamic capabilities and the entrepreneurial university: a perspective on the knowledge transfer capabilities of universities'. Journal of Small Business & Entrepreneurship, 31 .
2019 N.M., N.M.,P., P.,J., J. (2019) 'Dynamic capabilities and the entrepreneurial university: a perspective on the knowledge transfer capabilities of universities'. Journal of Small Business & Entrepreneurship, 31  .
2018 Peter, Peter,Noel, Noel (2018) 'Dynamic capabilities and the entrepreneurial university: a perspective on the knowledge transfer capabilities of universities'. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 0 . [Link]
2018 Alen, Alen,Peter, Peter,Devitt, Devitt,Trevor, Trevor (2018) 'How Irish Design Consultancies add value to Ireland's Innovation 2020 Priorities: a preliminary study'. Iterations, Design Research And Practice Review, . [Link]
2018 Robbins, P. (2018) 'From Design Thinking to Art Thinking with an open innovation perspective-a case study of how Art Thinking rescued a cultural institution in Dublin'. Journal of Open Innovation Technology Market and Complexity, 4 . [Link] [DOI]
2018 Peter, Peter (2018) 'Design Thinking: Design's Prodigal Son?'. Iterations, Design Research And Practice Review, .
2018 Peter, Peter (2018) 'From Design Thinking to Art Thinking with an Open Innovation Perspective--A Case Study of How Art Thinking Rescued a Cultural Institution in Dublin'. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, . [Link]
2018 P., P. (2018) 'From Design Thinking to Art Thinking with an open innovation perspective-a case study of how Art Thinking rescued a cultural institution in Dublin'. Journal of Open Innovation, Technology, Market and Complexity, 4  .
2017 Peter, Peter,Frank, Frank (2017) 'Collaboration, Creativity and Entrepreneurship in Tourism: A case study of how design thinking created a cultural cluster in Dublin'. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 21 . [Link]
2017 Robbins, P.; Devitt, F.; (2017) 'Collaboration, creativity and entrepreneurship in tourism: A case study of how design thinking created a cultural cluster in Dublin'. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, . [DOI]
2016 J., J.,Peter, Peter (2016) 'GETTING TO GRIPS WITH DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION'. Accountancy Plus, .
2016 Peter, Peter (2016) 'Innovation processes: do they help or hinder new product development outcomes in Irish SMEs?'. IRISH JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT, 35 (1). p . [Link]
2016 Birkinshaw, J.; Robbins, P.; Ryan, J.; (2016) 'GETTING TO GRIPS WITH DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION'. London Business School Review, . [DOI]
2015 Robbins, Peter; O'Gorman, Colm (2015) 'Innovating the innovation process: an organisational experiment in global pharma pursuing radical innovation'. R & D MANAGEMENT, 45 (1). [DOI]
2015 Peter, Peter,O' Gorman, O' Gorman (2015) 'Innovating the Innovation Process: An organisational experiment in Global Pharma pursuing radical innovation'. R and D Management, 45 .
2014 Peter, Peter (2014) 'Innovating the Innovation Process: An organisational experiment in Global Pharma pursuing radical innovation'. R and D Management, 45 . [Link]
2010 Birkinshaw, J.; Robbins, P.; (2010) 'Ideas at work: Sparkling innovation'. Business Strategy Review, . [DOI]

Conference Publication

Year Publication
2024 Peter, Peter,Anne, Anne,Daria, Daria (2024) How firms can build capabilities in corporate innovation that are both artistically inspired and environmentally sustainable KTH University, Stockholm [Link]
2022 Peter, Peter (2022) How University Leaders Interpret Entrepreneurial University Third Mission Expansion - A Phenomenological Study Trento [Link]
2022 Peter, Peter (2022) Design Thinking in the Circular Economy Copenhagen [Link]
2020 Dr Peter Robbins and Dr Na Fu (2020) ISPIM Innovation Conference . In: Steffan Conn eds. Design Thinking: Blind Faith or Hard Evidence Berlin, [Link]
2018 Peter, Peter (2018) Design Thinking in R&D: The Emperor's New Clothes? R&D Management Conference [Link]
2018 O'Reilly, N; Robbins, Peter (2018) Innovation: The Name of the Game . In: Prof Helen Perks eds. Dynamic Capabilities and the Knowledge transfer Activities of Universities Stockholm,
2017 Peter, Peter,Colm, Colm,Anne, Anne (2017) The Role of Goal Orientation in Radical Innovation ISPIM (International Society for Professional Innovation Management) Conference [Link]
2017 Frank, Frank,Peter, Peter,Martin, Martin,Trevor, Trevor (2017) Unlocking Design Thinking's Potential ISPIM [Link]
2016 Peter, Peter (2016) How to unlock innovation in Professional Services - An empirical study ISPIM - Porto
2015 Peter, Peter,Frank, Frank,Mary, Mary,Grainne, Grainne (2015) Collaboration and creativity: A case study of how design thinking created a cultural cluster in Dublin ISPIM (International Society for Professional Innovation Management) Conference
2015 Peter, Peter,Colm, Colm (2015) Innovation Process; Stage-gate or Strait-jacket? ISPIM (International Society for Professional Innovation Management) Conference
2014 Robbins,P; O' Gorman,Colm (2014) ISPIM How having an innovation strategy and process can improve NPD outcomes for Irish SME's Ireland,
2012 Peter, Peter,Colm, Colm (2012) Team leadership and managing for innovation: A case study of competing teams in a global firm ISPIM (International Society for Professional Innovation Management) Conference
2011 P, P,C, C (2011) Organising for Radical Innovation: A Case Study of Teams and Team Leadership in a Large R&D Intensive Firm Irish Acaedmy of Management
2011 Peter, Peter (2011) Accelerating Innovation in R&D-driven organisations Irish Academy of Management Annual Conference
2010 C, C,P, P (2010) �The right leader at the right time? A case study of New Product Development in GlaxoSmithKline� R&D Management Conference
2009 Robbins, P (2009) Commercialising Research: InterTrade Ireland All Island Conference . In: Prof Tom McCarthy eds. From Heartbeat to High-Street

Conference Contribution

Year Publication
2017 Robbins, P (2017) CXPA Annual Conference 2017 Consumer Experience Professional Association Trinity College, Dublin, .
2019 Robbins, P (2019) Health Research Board Annual Conference Introducing Design Thinking to Health Research Athlone, Ireland, 07/02/2019-08/03/2019.
2010 Robbins, P; Birkinshaw, J (2010) Academic Reflections and Future Challenges in Building Collaborative Networks in the Pharma Industry Intertrade Ireland National Innovation Conference UCD, Dublin, .

Newspaper

Year Publication
2021 Peter Robbins (2021) Innovation Nation: How Clever Ideas can Spark Success. NEWSA [Link]

Guidelines for Practice

Year Publication
2019 Peter Robbins (2019) Managing the Front End of Innovation - could Goal Orientation hold the key?. London: GFP [Link]

Reports

Year Publication
2021 Peter Robbins, Roisin Lyons, Muskan Sahdev (2021) The Future of Work in a Post Pandemic World: A guide for HR Managers. REPORT

Other Publication

Year Publication
2010 Birkinshaw, J.; Robbins, P. (2010) Ideas at work: Sparkling innovation. [Link] [DOI]
Certain data included herein are derived from the © Web of Science (2025) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.

Research Projects

Title Role Description Start date End date
Future of Work DCU PI 01/09/2020 11/07/2021
Remote and Flexible Working Toolbox DCU PI 30/06/2020 29/06/2021
Social Enterprise through Virtual Environments and Remote Entrepreneurship DCU PI 01/09/2020 31/08/2023

Current Postgraduate Students

Student Name Degree Supervision
Dias,Vasco PhD-track Supervisor