Leading International Innovation Researcher Appointed Bridgestone Chair in International Marketing at Kent State

Kent State’s College of Business Administration announces prominent global innovation and entrepreneurship researcher Joakim Wincent, Ph.D., as visiting scholar and endowed chair

Swedish researcher and professor Joakim Wincent, Ph.D., has joined Kent State University’s College of Business Administration faculty as a visiting professor and newly appointed Bridgestone Chair of International Marketing. Wincent is a professor of entrepreneurship and innovation at Luleå University of Technology in Sweden.

“According to a study by the United Nations’ World Intellectual Property Organization, Sweden ranks as one of the most innovative countries in the world,” said Deborah F. Spake, Ph.D., dean of Kent State’s College of Business Administration. “Dr. Wincent has spent his career researching strategic inter-organizational relationships, open innovation, competition and stress management in innovative processes in this setting. The College of Business Administration is fortunate to have him join us this year as a visiting scholar and the Bridgestone Chair of International Marketing.

“He will work with the faculty, staff and students in the Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation,” Spake continued. “Dr. Wincent’s research has been published in the top journals in the field of entrepreneurship and innovation.”

“I’m honored to be at Kent State because the faculty is pursuing the right research, asking the right questions and has a broad depth of knowledge,” Wincent said. “The college provides a very stimulating environment; global research is a major focus.”

Because of this, Wincent said he has co-authored several research papers in prior years with Kent State faculty.

As the Bridgestone Chair in International Marketing, part of Wincent’s time will be spent working with Sergey Anokhin, Ph.D., the interim director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation, to reach out and work with leading European research centers.

“Not only is the college a good school, it also has great resources like the Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation,” Wincent said. “I’m excited [to have been appointed] and look forward to conducting research with Dr. Anokhin and developing new global research initiatives for the center.”

Wincent said he is involved with several European centers and he sees a lot of potential at Kent State.

He has won several awards for his research, including most recently, an award for his paper at the European Academy of Management Conference and Wallenberg Academy Fellows nomination.

Wincent will be the keynote speaker later this month as part of the Michael D. Solomon Speaker Series on Nov. 20 at the Kent State University Hotel and Conference Center. His presentation titled “Global Innovation Leadership” will address how innovation can extend a company’s potential as a market leader. The event begins at 6:30 p.m., and it is free and open to the public.

For more information about Kent State’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation, the Michael D. Solomon Speaker Series and the College of Business Administration, visit www.kent.edu/business.

Media Contacts:
Michelle Parrish, mparris3@kent.edu, 330-672-2717
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595