Erkko Autio FBA is a Finnish academic and researcher in the fields of technology venturing and entrepreneurship. He currently serves as the chair in Technology Venturing at Imperial College Business School in London.
Autio is known for co-founding the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) and the Global Entrepreneurship Index (GEI), as well as for his research on digitalization, innovation ecosystems, and high-growth entrepreneurship. He is a Fellow of the British Academy.
Early life and education Autio was born in Rovaniemi, Finland. He completed his matriculation examination at Helsingin Suomalainen Yhteiskoulu in 1982. He later studied industrial management at the Helsinki University of Technology (now part of Aalto University), earning a Master of Science degree in 1990 and a Licentiate in Technology in 1993. He completed his Doctor of Technology degree in 1995.
Academic career Autio began his academic career at the Helsinki University of Technology (HUT), where he served as a professor and director of the Institute of Strategy and International Business from 1999 to 2003. From 2003 to 2006, he served as a professor and the director of the Institut Stratège at HEC Lausanne in Switzerland.
In 2006, Autio joined Imperial College Business School as the QinetiQ-EPSRC Research Chair Professor in Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer. He currently holds the position of chair in Technology Venturing. He directed the doctoral programme at the business school from 2008 to 2015.
Research and contributions Autio's research focuses on the impact of digitalization on entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystems, new venture internationalization, and business model innovation.
Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) In 1998, Autio co-founded the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), a major international research initiative that collects data on entrepreneurial attitudes, activities, and aspirations across nations. GEM is considered one of the largest ongoing social science research consortiums globally.
Global Entrepreneurship Index (GEI) Autio co-founded the Global Entrepreneurship and Development Institute (GEDI) and created the Global Entrepreneurship Index (GEI), which profiles and benchmarks country-level entrepreneurial ecosystems. The GEI has been used as an official benchmark for the Global Entrepreneurship Week. He also co-created the European Index of Digital Entrepreneurship Systems (EIDES) and the Asian Index of Digital Entrepreneurship Systems (AIDES).
Policy and advisory work Autio has acted as an advisor to various governments and international organizations regarding innovation policy and high-growth entrepreneurship. These include the European Commission, the OECD, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and the Asian Development Bank.
Honors and awards 2024: Elected member of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters 2022: Member of the Royal Academy of Engineering National Engineering Policy Centre Committee. 2019: Elected Fellow of the British Academy (FBA) 2013: Best Paper Award, Strategic Management Society 2010: Gerald E. Hills Best Paper Award, American Marketing Association
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