In memory of Professor Stan Metcalfe
It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Professor Stan Metcalfe, Honorary Doctor in Economics within Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Management of Intellectual Assets, at the University of Gothenburg, and Professor Emeritus at the University of Manchester.
“Professor Metcalfe has contributed in a valuable way to the development of research, including our post graduate education in Innovation and Entrepreneurship.”
In studies of medical innovation, entrepreneurship as well as economic dynamics more generally, Professor Metcalfe has contributed to research, explaining why innovation processes rely upon distributed actors, with heterogeneous knowledge, as well as the formation of markets and institutions through public policy. Professor Metcalfe’s research has been pivotal in explaining the evolutionary nature of innovation, the selection processes and the dynamics of market structure, the importance of heterogeneous capabilities, and the restless nature of the capitalistic system. His theoretical work on Schumpeterian and evolutionary models of selection and industrial dynamics has been pioneering and path-breaking.
Close cooperation in the field of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Gothenburg
The Unit of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Gothenburg U-GOT KIES centre at the School of Business and Law at the University of Gothenburg had the great pleasure of cooperating with Professor Metcalfe. Maureen McKelvey, Professor in Industrial Management and Director of Gothenburg U-GOT KIES centre, was a close colleague and friend.
“One of the wonderful things about Stan was his enthusiasm and interest. He was forever curious and interested, and forever willing to engage in conversations with scholars at all levels of their careers. He was curious, wanted to know, asked interesting questions, and was never impatient. Instead, he asked just that question that got younger scholars re-thinking what they were doing. That is one of many contributions, his impact upon younger scholars.“
“Professor Metcalfe has contributed to our international community, and to our group in Gothenburg, especially in devoting time to young scholars. His work has inspired how we think about the field of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. He will be greatly missed.”
Honorary Doctorate at the University of Gothenburg in 2018
Professor Metcalfe was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Economics within Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Management of Intellectual Assets from University of Gothenburg in 2018.
In connection with our annual conferences about medical innovation and entrepreneurship (the WOMI workshops), Stan also delivered the Swedish Schumpeter Lecture in 2022, see news item at: Professor Metcalfe invited speaker at the Swedish Schumpeter Lecture | University of Gothenburg