Author: Veronica Colombo

Creativity in the age of generative AI: a theoretical framework for Human–AI collaboration

Posted on | by Veronica Colombo

A researcher at the POLIMI School of Management presents a theoretical model exploring how humans and AI can work together effectively in creative and innovation processes.

 

In today’s innovation landscape, creativity is no longer a uniquely human talent. Thanks to generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), a new kind of creative process is emerging – hybrid, collaborative, and constantly evolving. But how can humans and AI truly co-create? This is the central question of the paper “Human agents, generative AI, and innovation: A formal model of hybrid creative process” by Mattia Pedota, researcher at the POLIMI School of Management of the Politecnico di Milano, and co-authors Francesco Cicala and Alessio Basti.

The paper develops a theoretical model to explain and optimise the way people and GenAI interact during creative tasks. At its heart lies a shift in perspective: in the age of AI, creativity is no longer just about generating ideas, but about orchestrating a collaboration between human and Artificial Intelligence.

The authors conceptualise GenAI as a “superposition of latent entities” – different internal modes, styles, or “personalities” that can be activated and guided through prompts. Each of these entities represents a distinct way of thinking or domain expertise. In this framework, the human role evolves: rather than acting as a traditional creator, humans become orchestrators, able to select, combine and refine the AI’s contributions to produce coherent and meaningful outcomes.

The model draws inspiration from Bayesian optimisation, a process of iterative experimentation, evaluation, and refinement to identify the most suitable “AI mindset” for a given problem. In practice, this involves experimenting with prompts, assessing results, and progressively improving them to reach the most promising creative direction. To deal with the complexity of creative processes, the authors suggest breaking complex problems into smaller subproblems, assigning each to a specific AI entity, and later recombining the outputs. This modular approach mirrors human design thinking and helps overcome both human and AI cognitive limitations, combining the speed and diversity of AI with the human ability to interpret and contextualise.

The paper’s key insight is that creativity in the age of AI requires a blend of analytical and soft skills. It requires both the analytical skills needed to navigate AI’s latent space and the human sensitivity to interpret and align outputs with cultural, ethical, and strategic goals. In this light, AI does not replace humans but acts as a creative partner, reshaping the very notion of creativity as a process of collaboration and mutual adaptation.

This contribution is part of HumanTech – Humans and Technology, the project of the Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering at the Politecnico di Milano, selected and funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR) for the period 2023–2027 as a “Department of Excellence”.

In this perspective, human–AI collaboration becomes a new frontier of creativity, where value emerges from the meeting of human intuition and the generative power of machines.

For more information: Human agents, generative AI, and innovation: A formal model of hybrid creative process – ScienceDirect

POLIMI School of Management among the winners of the SGAC – OHB SE Competition 2025

Posted on | by Veronica Colombo

Alessandro Paravano, Assistant Professor at the POLIMI School of Management, has been recognised for his innovative research on the future of commercial space stations.

 

The POLIMI School of Management at Politecnico di Milano is among the winners of the SGAC – OHB SE Competition 2025, an international initiative that rewards innovative ideas on the future of space stations in low Earth orbit (LEO) – the area of space a few hundred kilometres above Earth where the International Space Station is currently located, and where new infrastructures for research, innovation and economic activity are expected to be developed in the coming years.

Organised by the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) in collaboration with OHB SE, one of Europe’s leading space technology companies, the competition brings together young professionals and researchers from around the world, inviting them to propose original perspectives on the future of Commercial Space Stations (CSSs). These infrastructures will succeed the International Space Station as platforms for scientific research, technological innovation and commercial initiatives.

The School’s achievement was made possible thanks to the contribution of Alessandro Paravano, Assistant Professor at POLIMI School of Management, author of the paper “Cross-Fertilization in Commercial Space Station Ecosystems: A Catalyst for Innovation and Growth”, co-authored with Sofia Morrone, Elisa Negrisolo and Paolo Trucco. Submissions to the competition were assessed for their ability to propose innovative approaches to new business models, global cooperation dynamics, and the long-term sustainability of commercial space station ecosystems.

Paravano’s research, based on network theory, highlights how the interdependencies between different actors – space agencies, private companies and research institutions – shape value creation processes within commercial space stations. His work stands out for its methodological rigour and innovative perspective, going beyond traditional market or technical analyses and offering new insights into how commercial space stations may evolve in a context where both competition and collaboration are crucial. This line of research also reflects broader trends in the space economy.

As part of the recognition, Paravano took part in two major international events: the 23rd Space Generation Congress (SGC) and the 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), both held in Sydney between September and October 2025. These high-profile gatherings brought together young professionals, academics, industry leaders and policymakers, providing valuable opportunities for exchange and international collaboration.

The SGAC – OHB SE Competition 2025 was made possible thanks to the support of OHB SE, one of Europe’s leading space systems integrators. Headquartered in Germany, the company has over 40 years of experience and works closely with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) on major programmes such as the ISS, the Lunar Gateway, PLATO and ExoMars.

This award highlights the commitment of the POLIMI School of Management to advancing research on the value, governance and long-term impact of complex projects, with a particular focus on the emerging challenges of the space economy.

Find out more about the SGAC – OHB SE Competition 2025 and its winners: SGAC Announces the Winners of the 2025 SGAC – OHB SE Competition – Space Generation Advisory Council

A POLIMI School of Management research recognised at the Academy of Management Annual Meeting 2025

Posted on | by Veronica Colombo

Giacomo Dei, a PhD candidate at the POLIMI School of Management of Politecnico di Milano, has been awarded the Ronald B. Shuman Award at the Academy of Management Annual Meeting 2025 for a study on how historical narratives influence decision-making in major infrastructure projects.

 

The Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management is the world’s leading event for advancing research in management and organisations. Each year, it brings together thousands of scholars to share knowledge, foster networks, and address the key challenges of the 21st century. 

At the 2025 edition held in Copenhagen, Giacomo Dei, PhD candidate at the POLIMI School of Management of Politecnico di Milano, received the prestigious Ronald B. Shuman Award for the Best Student Paper of the Management History Division. The award was granted for his contribution, “The Battle of Narratives: How outsiders create pasts to shape Fehmarn Belt Link’s prospects”, co-authored with Joana Geraldi and Giorgio Locatelli. 

The research addresses a crucial issue for the planning and governance of large-scale infrastructure projects: how external actors (such as the media, interest groups and political parties) construct historical narratives to guide current decisions and shape future project outcomes. The case study focuses on the Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link, the immersed tunnel that will connect Denmark and Germany, but the findings provide practical insights for managing, governing, and communicating complex projects in a variety of contexts. 

Three key levers emerge for the strategic management of stakeholders: 

  1. Continuity: framing the project within recognised historical trajectories (e.g., European integration, territorial connectivity) strengthens the legitimacy of investment decisions and project planning. 
  1. Lessons learned: selectively drawing on past experiences (e.g., financing models, governance structures, environmental mitigation) allows potential bottlenecks to be anticipated and contracts, permits and interfaces along the supply chain to be adjusted. 
  1. Recurring patterns: identifying in advance common scenarios (delays, cost overruns, disputes) enables the proactive design of countermeasures. 

The key message is that narratives are an integral part of project architecture. Mapping who communicates what becomes a strategic activity in itself, translating into scenarios, communication milestones, measurable success criteria, and contracts that incorporate transparency, data and environmental monitoring requirements. The aim is not to impose a single dominant narrative, but to orchestrate multiple voices so that the project gains support from all stakeholders. 

This recognition highlights the scientific excellence of the POLIMI School of Management and its ability to generate knowledge that supports strategic decision-making in complex contexts. 

SOMe: the third edition of the POLIMI School of Management eMagazine is now online

Posted on | by Veronica Colombo

The new issue of SOMe, the eMagazine of the POLIMI School of Management, is now online, featuring research, projects and collaborations that demonstrate our School’s commitment to addressing today’s most pressing challenges.

 

From short food chains to 5G, exploring European projects and international achievements

This edition explores how short food chains contribute to sustainability, the opportunities offered by 5G positioning, and the role of cross-sector partnerships in driving urban transformation. It also highlights two major EU-funded projects: ADALTIM, focused on Impact Rating, and RISE-IN, developing resilient solutions and innovative financing models to tackle climate change.

Other features include key events hosted by the School, such as the iBEGIN Workshop on digital globalization, the XXXIII AEDE Meeting on education and policy, and the INFLUENCES Workshop on inflation. The issue also introduces HumanTech | Unfolding Pathways for the More-than-Human Society, a public event taking place on 30 October 2025, dedicated to exploring the interaction between technology and people in the digital transition, with contributions from companies and professionals.

Finally, the issue celebrates the School’s latest milestones: Politecnico di Milano entering the Top 100 of the QS World University Rankings, the POLIMI Graduate School of Management’s recognition as a Pioneering School in the 2025 Positive Impact Rating, and new partnerships and networks strengthening international collaboration.

 

To read previous issues of SOMe, click here.

To receive it directly in your inbox, subscribe here.

MEETmeTonight 2025: POLIMI School of Management showcases its research on society, innovation and digital transformation

Posted on | by Veronica Colombo

The POLIMI School of Management of the Politecnico di Milano is taking part in the MEETmeTonight, the event taking place in Milan on 26–27 September 2025 as part of the European Researchers’ Night. The initiative is dedicated to science outreach, with activities, workshops and talks designed to bring the world of research closer to the public.

 

Inspired by the missions of the Horizon Europe programme, the 2025 edition will be structured around five thematic areas featuring talks, workshops, interactive activities and performances. Throughout the event, audiences will explore some of the major global challenges of our time: from health to sustainability, and from innovation to the complex relationship between technology and society.

The initiative, free and open to everyone, will be held at the Università Statale di Milano, Via Festa del Perdono 7. It will be an opportunity to meet also researchers from the POLIMI School of Management and gain insights into how research helps us understand social, economic and technological change.

 

The contribution of our School

The POLIMI School of Management will contribute to the 2025 programme with three events, held in Italian, focusing on digital transformation, the role of data, and the future of artificial intelligence.

 

  • Stories of digital transformation in traditional companies
    Friday 26 September, 6:00–6:20 pm – Talk Space
    A session exploring, through real-world cases and practical tools, how even traditional companies can embark on innovation journeys, embracing digital solutions while at the same time strengthening their identity.
    Led by Professors Tommaso Buganza and Daniel Trabucchi, POLIMI School of Management.
    To visit the official page dedicated to this talk, click here.

 

  • Data for social inequalities: how citizens can support their collection and use
    Saturday 27 September, 11:00 am–4:00 pm – Room 420
    A workshop to explore and reflect on some of the most pressing social challenges facing the city of Milan, with a particular focus on the role of data: which information can help us better understand these challenges, who can collect data, and how they can be used to develop innovative solutions.
    The workshop, led by Researchers Enrico Bellazzecca and Federico Bartolomucci, will last two hours and be offered in two sessions (11:00 am–1:00 pm or 2:00–4:00 pm).
    Advance booking is required. To register for the workshop, click here.

 

  • Artificial intelligence and the future of digital healthcare
    Saturday 27 September, 4:00–4:20 pm – Talk Space
    A talk exploring the impact of Artificial Intelligence on digital healthcare. Drawing on data from the Digital Healthcare Observatory, the session will provide insights into future scenarios, key challenges and opportunities linked to its applications.
    Presented by Mattia Olive, Researcher at the POLIMI School of Management of Politecnico di Milano.
    To visit the official page dedicated to this talk, click here.

 

For more information and to view the full programme, please visit the official MEETmeTonight website.

A POLIMI School of Management project wins the Best Proposal Award at the SEJ-ESSEC Paper Development Workshop

Posted on | by Veronica Colombo

The research proposal by Davide Moiana and Antonio Ghezzi, focused on coordination mechanisms in venture studios, received the Best Proposal Award at the first European edition of the SEJ-ESSEC Paper Development Workshop.

 

At the 2025 edition of the SEJ-ESSEC Paper Development Workshop, held in Paris, the research project from the POLIMI School of Management of Politecnico di Milano by Davide Moiana and Antonio Ghezzi received the Best Proposal Award. The proposal focuses on coordination in the startup creation processes within venture studios.

Organized by the Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, one of the leading international journals in the fields of entrepreneurship and strategy, in collaboration with ESSEC Business School, the workshop was held in Europe for the first time. The initiative brought together scholars from around the world to present and discuss early-stage research projects, fostering scientific dialogue and the development of innovative contributions in the fields of strategy and entrepreneurship.

In this stimulating environment, the proposal by Davide Moiana and Antonio Ghezzi stood out for its potential. Their work examines the complex dynamics of coordinating experimentation activities within venture studios, an emerging entrepreneurial model in which an organization acts as both co-founder and investor, providing strategic and operational support for the development of a portfolio of startups. The goal is to shed light on the mechanisms that enable these organizations to manage serial entrepreneurial processes while maintaining strategic coherence and operational effectiveness.

The jury, composed of ESSEC faculty members and Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal editors Sam Garg, Yong Li, and Pinar Ozcan, recognized the originality of the approach and the potential impact of the project, encouraging the team to further develop it with a view to future submission to a scientific journal. Following this important achievement, Davide Moiana and Antonio Ghezzi will continue to advance their research.

The award not only highlights the academic excellence of the POLIMI School of Management, but also underscores its ability to make a significant contribution to the global debate on strategic entrepreneurship and new organizational models for startup creation.

POLIMI School of Management stands out at ENTFIN Conference 2025 with research on AI and startup acceleration

Posted on | by Veronica Colombo

David Heller, researcher at the POLIMI School of Management of the Politecnico di Milano, was awarded the “Best Paper Award” and the “European Investment Fund Best Paper Award on Policy Impact” at the ENTFIN Conference 2025 for two of his pioneering studies on the role of Generative AI in business productivity and the impact of public policies on startup internationalization.

 

At the 9th Annual Meeting of the Entrepreneurial Finance Association (ENTFIN), held from July 2 to 4, 2025, at Erasmus University Rotterdam, David Heller, researcher at the POLIMI School of Management of the Politecnico di Milano, was awarded the Best Paper Award and the European Investment Fund Best Paper Award on Policy Impact.

The ENTFIN conference is a prestigious international event that brings together scholars interested in entrepreneurial finance from different fields in management, finance, and economics. The aim of the ENTFIN Association is to provide a platform for developing cooperation between academics and practitioners interested in the field of entrepreneurial finance and its applications, in particular, to stimulate high quality research between entrepreneurial finance scholars.

During the 2025 edition, David Heller received two prestigious recognitions for his studies on the implications of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) on firm-level productivity and the effects of government-funded accelerator programs on startups’ internationalization efforts.

The “Best Paper Award” was granted for Heller’s contribution on “Generative AI and Firm-level Productivity: Evidence from Startup Funding Dynamics”, co-authored with Dominik Asam (full article accessible here). This paper provides first large-scale evidence on the productivity effects of Generative AI in organizations. To study this, it exploits the release of GitHub Copilot in 2021 as a quasi-natural experiment and shows that software developing startups obtained initial external funding significantly faster (+19%) and with significantly fewer employed software developers (-20%). Yet, to elicit these results startups must be led by highly experienced founders, demonstrating that GenAI can have significant productivity gains, but it requires complementary human capital to appropriate these returns.

The European Investment Fund Best Paper Award on Policy Impact was awarded to Heller for the study “Learning from Abroad? Startup Accelerators and International Market Entry” (co-authored with Daehyun Kim and Dietmar Harhoff). The study examines internationalization efforts of startups, a key strategy for many entrepreneurial ventures today, by leveraging a unique dataset that combines proprietary application data from the German Accelerator (GA) – a government-financed program designed to support startups’ international market entry – with detailed startup-level, founder, and investment information. The analysis shows that participating startups significantly raised funding and hired more employees in the GA’s target countries. However, these effects are muted for startups that took part in online programs that were introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the results are strongest among startups whose founders had limited international experience prior to participating. This way, the study advances the understanding of the potential and limitations of startup accelerators in supporting international market entry.

The awards received confirm the scientific value and practical relevance of the research conducted, and reaffirm the contribution of the POLIMI School of Management of the Politecnico di Milano to advancing knowledge in entrepreneurial finance, innovation policy, and the transformative potential of emerging technologies.

The representation of scientists in society: an image still dominated by stereotypes

Posted on | by Veronica Colombo

A scoping review published in Sociology Lens analyzes over one hundred academic studies, highlighting how the collective representation of scientists remains anchored to rigid and exclusive stereotypes.

 

Why is it that, even today, the most common image of a scientist is that of a brilliant, solitary man, perhaps slightly eccentric, working alone in a laboratory? Starting from this question, Cristina Rossi-Lamastra and Omar Mazzucchelli from the POLIMI School of Management of Politecnico di Milano conducted a scoping review, published in Sociology Lens under the title Still a Man in a Lab Coat? A Scoping Review on the Stereotypical Scientist.

The scoping review examines 106 academic studies selected from the Scopus database, aiming to investigate how the figure of the scientist is portrayed in the media, public communication, and educational materials. Using the theoretical framework based on social representation theory, the authors distinguish between core elements – stable and widely shared over time – and peripheral elements, which are more subject to change.

The analysis reveals that the scientist stereotype is based on particularly persistent core elements: male gender, exceptional intelligence, and affiliation with the natural and physical sciences. These aspects remain stable despite the increasing presence of women in research and inclusion policies in STEM fields. On the other hand, peripheral elements, including physical appearance (lab coat, glasses, messy hair) or certain personality traits (solitude, eccentricity), are more flexible but do not substantially alter the prevailing image. The core of the stereotype remains unchanged: scientists are still perceived as men.

The study reflects on how the image of the “stereotypical scientist” influences the public’s relationship with science, especially in an era of growing disinvestment in scientific research. In a context marked by cuts to public funding and occasional distrust towards science, a distorted perception of scientists – as distant, opaque, or even threatening elites – can contribute to fueling skepticism and justify disinvestment policies. Moreover, the stereotype limits the inclusion of diverse profiles, reducing the visibility of female researchers, young scholars, and experts from social sciences and humanities.

The review concludes with a call to action. Public representations of science and its protagonists are not neutral: they can either foster trust and engagement or create distance and misinformation. Therefore, a collective effort is needed – from educational institutions, the media, policymakers, and the academic world itself – to build more inclusive and realistic narratives. Only in this way can we transform the collective imagination, strengthen public trust in science, and make it truly accessible to all.

For more details on the article: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/johs.70003

How Brexit reshaped venture capitals market

Posted on | by Veronica Colombo

A study from POLIMI School of Management of Politecnico di Milano published in Research Policy 

 

After Brexit, London slowed down investments in Europe, while Europe continues to focus on the United Kingdom. A recent study in Research Policy, co-authored by Andrea Odille Bosio, Vincenzo Butticè and Annalisa Croce from the POLIMI School of Management of Politecnico di Milano, and Simone Signore and Andrea Crisanti of the European Investment Fund (EIF) shows these findings.

The research examined more than a decade of venture capital (VC) investments in the UK and EU, distinguishing between pre-announcement, the uncertainty period (2016 referendum to formal exit), and post-Brexit stages. The result was an asymmetric response from investors on the two sides.

Vincenzo Butticè, Professor of Business Data Analytics, said: “UK investors reacted immediately, cutting back investments in Europe after the Brexit announcement. European investors, instead, waited for greater clarity before changing their behaviour. This supports the idea that Brexit raised uncertainty in the market for financing innovative entrepreneurship.”

According to the analysis, after the 2016 referendum, UK funds drastically reduced their operations in continental Europe, maintaining a cautious approach and focusing on the domestic market. EU investors waited until after Brexit’s official implementation in 2020 before significantly boosting investments in British startups.

A ossible explanation is that EU investment growth in the UK may stem from weaker fundraising by British funds, coupled with new partnership strategies between UK and EU investors to navigate post-Brexit barriers, as indicated by the analysis of syndicated investment data from funds in both regions.

The study provides a novel perspective on the reshaping of innovation-driven capital flows across Europe and their lasting implications for the startup ecosystem. Italy, with its modest VC share, can use Brexit as an opportunity to strengthen its foothold in Europe’s investment market.

Learn more: How Brexit reshaped venture capitals market: An analysis of UK and EU investments – ScienceDirect

Research, impact and collaboration: an international debate on Outcomes-Based Contracts at POLIMI School of Management

Posted on | by Veronica Colombo

How to rethink the design and financing of public services to address complex challenges such as health, education or urban regeneration? At POLIMI School of Management, a workshop dedicated to Outcomes-Based Contracts (OBCs) sought to answer this question.

 

On May 29–30 2025, the POLIMI School of Management of the Politecnico di Milano hosted the Outcomes-Based Contracts Workshop, an international event that brought together over 30 academics and practitioners from all over Europe – and beyond. The workshop was organised by the TIRESIA research centre and focused on the potential of Outcomes-Based Contracts (OBCs) to enhance effectiveness, innovation, and social impact in public policy management. OBCs are a contractual mechanism that ties funding to long-term outcomes, shifting the focus from outputs to actual, measurable results over time.

Partnerships between diverse actors are increasingly being studied as mechanisms for implementing strategies aimed at addressing global grand challenges, as outlined in the 2030 Agenda (SDG 17). In this context, Outcome-Based Contracts (OBCs), including Social Impact Bonds (SIBs) and Pay-for-Success (PFS) initiatives, have emerged as innovative forms of partnerships between public and private sectors with the purpose of tackling these wicked problems. These contracts are designed to drive reforms in public services by coordinating funding, management, and provision of public services. By linking financial resources to performance outcomes, OBCs place the evaluation of both performance and public value generation at the centre of stakeholder negotiations.

The Outcomes-Based Contracts Workshop was a clear sign of growing interest in these themes. Throughout the sessions, theoretical and methodological contributions explored the different perspectives of the actors involved: from the role of private companies in sustainability, to hybrid logics in investment processes, to the analysis of social impact and the most effective contractual mechanisms. Particular attention was paid to the role of public administrations as orchestrators of social innovation ecosystems, highlighting how OBCs can enable new forms of participatory and territorial governance.

Over the two-day workshop, participants shared case studies and empirical research illustrating how OBCs can improve the accountability and efficiency of public services. A wide range of experiences were presented, spanning diverse contexts—from the UK and South Africa to Italy and Ghana. Notable examples included the Education Outcomes Fund, active in several African countries to improve access to and quality of pre-school education, and the Italian pilot project TOUCH, aimed at activating a regional outcome fund to fight youth drop-out.

The event provided an important opportunity to consolidate an international network of research and practice, share emerging experiences, and reflect on new ways of collaboration between the public, private and third sectors to generate social value. The workshop confirmed how urgent – and possible – it is to innovate public policy funding and management mechanisms, focusing on results and impact for people.