Transformative strategies and innovation represent departures from traditional technological-centric and growth-driven approaches addressing complex social challenges such as climate change, security, inequality, and corruption. These challenges span national borders, requiring comprehensive solutions that engage diverse actors within and beyond a single organization, industry, and nation. I primarily analyze intended and realized transformative strategies such as technological innovation, business model innovation, organizational innovation, business digital diversification, sustainability transition, institutional works, and entrepreneurship. I regularly assess the gap and alignment between diverse implementations and explore if and how intended strategies are realized.
Solmaz Filiz Karabag
Professor
My research focuses on national, industrial, and organizational transformative strategies and innovations that address complex societal challenges such as climate change, inequality, security, an aging population, and corruption.
Presentation
Brief facts
International & National Commitments
- Member of the review panel of The Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare
- The chief editor of the Journal of Applied Economics and Business Research
- Member of The Swedish Project Academy [Svenska Projekt Akademien (SPAK)]
Research
Currently I lead three research projects related to digital business transformations and push the scientific knowledge boundaries forward
Research areas
- Transformative business model innovation in a large-size energy equipment supplier
- Implementation of transformative innovation system:
- Dual transformative strategies (Digitalization vs Sustainability) in Swedish leading and established businesses.
- Technological, business model and organizational innovation for transformative industrial change.
- Responsible academia and sustainable data-driven business and organization transformation for effective societies to meet the grand challenges.
Research Projects
Current research projects
- Transformative business model innovation in a large-size energy equipment supplier (Energimyndigheten: 2025-2029): 9.35 million SEK
- Partnership between corporates and start-ups in collaborative innovation platform for transformative innovation policy (Vinnova: 2025-2026). 1,65 million SEK
- Implementation of sustainability strategies: New ways of working to accelerate transitions in the Swedish process industry (Energimyndigheten: 2023-2025)
- The future of event and meeting industry after COVID-19 for transport effective society (Energimyndigheten 2021-2025): 5,65 million SEK
- Intended and Realized Digitalization & AI Strategies at Swedish Incumbents (Vinnova: 2021-2025) 2.20 million SEK
Completed research projects
- Organizational Innovation for Digital Transformation (Vinnova 2019-2021): 2,5 million SEK
- Competition, collegiality and integrity: A study on norms and scientific ethics at Swedish universities (Forte 2019-2022), 4 million SEK
- Rapid innovators in emerging economies (Vinnova 2014-2017): 5,5 million SEK
- Innovating firms in emerging economies - a challenge for Swedish technology-based firms and innovation research (Vinnova 2013): 1 million SEK
Publications
2025
Continue to DOI
2024
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Education
Courses
PhD Courses
- Strategy, Firm & Sustainable Transition (2023 & 2025)
- Classics in Innovation & Entrepreneurship (2016, 2018, 20202022)
- Innovation Management (2017, 2019)
- Innovation in Emerging Economies (2014)
- Case study Methodology and Writing (seminar leader, 2015)
- Qualitative Research Method (seminar leader, 2021)
- Research Ethics (since 2017)
Master courses
- 1TS340 Strategic Management for Technology Intensive Firms (2023-2025)
- TEIO07 Project-Based Organization (since 2020)
- TEIO41 Corporate Social Responsibility (since 2016)
- TEIO13 Leadership and Organizational Change (2013-2019)
- TEIO90 Innovation Management (2012, 2018-2021)
Undergraduate Course
- TEIO32 Project Management and Organization (2015-2019; 2022)
- ETES01 Innovation & Entrepreneurship in Swedish Context (2017-2019; 2022)
Undergraduate Course
- 1043TR Information, kommunikation & teknik i turismaffärsverksamhet (Smart, Responsible & Sustainable Business Model Innovation) (since 2016)
- Tourism Management (since 2012-2014)
- Event and Project Management (2012-2014)