Integration and Challenges of Inter- and Transdisciplinary Research from an Innovation Management Perspective

Lunch Seminar in presence

Andrés Ramírez Portilla
Ibero-American University, Mexico

This seminar will explore the integration and challenges of inter- and transdisciplinary research through the lens of innovation management. Innovation, by its very nature, is a cross-cutting and systemic phenomenon that requires collaboration across diverse fields of knowledge. While this interconnection offers unique opportunities for richer analysis and broader impact, it also presents significant challenges in terms of language, methodology, institutional logic, and research evaluation. Drawing on practical cases and project-based experiences, the seminar will discuss topics such as technology transfer in academic settings, entrepreneurship education, the forced adoption of innovations, the use of artificial intelligence to enhance creativity, and the integration of futures design with other disciplinary and methodological frameworks. Rather than offering prescriptive models, the seminar will present lessons learned—both successes and failures—gathered from real-world interdisciplinary projects. The aim is to foster critical reflection among participants on how to approach innovation-related research that transcends disciplinary boundaries. Through the exchange of situated insights and experiences, attendees will be invited to reflect on possible paths, common pitfalls, and emerging practices that may inform their own collaborative research efforts.

Andrés Ramírez-Portilla is Associate Professor and Research Coordinator at the Department of Business Studies at Ibero-American University in Mexico City. His academic and professional work focuses on open innovation, innovation management, design thinking, project management, and futures design. In recent years, his research has explored how innovations—both voluntary and imposed—are adopted and diffused across organizations, using inter- and transdisciplinary approaches. He has led and participated in various international research collaborations, contributing to publications and conferences on innovation in Latin America and the Global South. Beyond academia, he provides consulting services to private organizations, helping them develop innovation strategies and future-oriented decision-making processes. Dr. Ramírez-Portilla holds a dual Ph.D. in Industrial Management and Economics from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm and the Department of Management, Economics, and Industrial Engineering (DIG) at Politecnico di Milano. Since 2017, he has been a Scientific Panel Member of ISPIM (International Society for Professional Innovation Management).

Please click here to register.