PhD in Business Administration

We invite applications for a PhD project that will explore the evolving relationship between sustainability, public funding mechanisms, and innovation in nascent industries. The research will focus particularly on emerging sectors such as the drone industry, which are characterised by rapid technological development, regulatory fluidity, and increasing societal relevance. These industries offer fertile ground for examining how public investment, financial innovation, and integrated reporting frameworks can be mobilised to support sustainable transitions. The project is situated within a broader inquiry into how innovative and sustainable business models are conceived, financed, and scaled in contemporary organisational and market contexts. It seeks to understand the role of public funding—through grants, subsidies, and mission-oriented innovation policies—in shaping the strategic direction of early-stage industries. At the same time, it will investigate how financial instruments such as green bonds, impact investment, and sustainability-linked loans interact with integrated reporting practices to influence investor behaviour, corporate governance, and long-term value creation.