Master of Science in Innovation Sciences
Utrecht University
Key Information
Campus location
Utrecht, Netherlands
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
2 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
EUR 2,209 / per year *
Application deadline
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Earliest start date
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* EU/EEA, Surinam or Swiss students; €20,750: International students
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Introduction
Analyze the Journey from Knowledge to Innovation
Creating a culture of innovation is one of society’s greatest challenges. Innovation creates new opportunities that lead to sustainable economic growth and can help tackle serious social problems such as climate change or pandemics.
In this Master’s program in Innovation Sciences you will learn how to transform new ideas into marketable innovations and to manage and promote innovation processes within companies as well as in society at large. Furthermore, you will learn about the role of companies and other knowledge-producing organizations in the wider innovation system.
Areas of study
This two-year multidisciplinary Master’s program focuses on the dynamics of emerging technologies and innovation. After completing this program, you will be able to link emerging technologies to human and economic wants and needs, as well as to grand societal challenges. Particularly, around energy, sustainable transport, and life sciences. How does innovation contribute to economic growth, welfare, health care, climate change, energy security, mobility, and sustainability?
Ideal Students
Who are we looking for?
Utrecht University offers you a challenging setting in which to make a significant contribution to tomorrow's society. This program will be of particular interest to students with a background in technology, health, life sciences, natural sciences, or industrial engineering that wish to extend their technical background with knowledge about innovation management and social processes. Moreover, the program is also of interest to talented students with a background in the social sciences (for example economics, economic geography, entrepreneurship, or business) that have demonstrated an affinity with science and technology. Innovation Sciences students typically pursue a career in high-level consultancy, strategic research, and development (R&D) management, policymaking, entrepreneurship, or academic research.
Program Outcome
As an Innovation Sciences student, you will analyze the various stages of the innovation process with a view to developing effective strategies for promoting innovation. The aim of this program is to give you an insight into the nature of technological change and the conditions affecting innovation and knowledge production. It also aims to give you an understanding of the societal uptake of innovations and the role of companies and other stakeholders such as research institutes, governments, and citizen initiatives in the wider innovation system.
As part of the Innovation Sciences Program you will:
- explore innovation processes by combining technology, natural sciences, life sciences, and social sciences;
- expand your knowledge on technology and innovation by studying and applying theories and methods;
- acquire hands-on skills;
- understand the innovation process by analyzing the societal dynamics of emerging technologies and innovation;
- (if admitted) gain practical experience by taking part in consultancy projects, case studies, and internships;
- (if admitted) take part in the Climate-KIC Summer School or the Young Innovators League;
- form a network for life by becoming a member of our community of innovation students, staff members, and alumni.
Career Opportunities
As an Innovation Sciences graduate, you will have an excellent basis for a further career. Whilst science and technology play an important role in almost all domains of our knowledge society’s daily life, a Master’s degree in Innovation Sciences opens doors to a large, diverse, and challenging set of jobs. Your ability to integrate science and social science to understand complex, multidisciplinary problems makes you well suited for jobs in high-level consultancy, strategic management, or policy-making in innovation-related fields. The Master's also prepares for positions in research such as a Ph.D. or at research institutes.
Experience shows that employers are in great need of people who are able to analyze complex innovation processes and systems and develop strategies, advice, and action plans to further improve these systems and processes. Given the increasing importance of innovation for societal wellbeing and welfare caused by major societal problems in, for instance, sustainability, transport, health, and the growing economic competition from BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China), this need will even grow further in the future. What employers value most in Innovation Sciences graduates is their ability to understand and analyze new problems very rapidly and in an academic and multidisciplinary way.
Professional Careers
Innovation Sciences graduates have found jobs like Operations Engineer, HR Operations, and Project Engineer at:
- ABN AMRO
- Accenture
- Alliander
- Blue Terra
- Boskalis
- Capgemini
- Coolblue
- Deloitte
- Dialogic
- ECN
- Ernst & Young
- Essent
- European Parliament
- FME
- GlaxoSmithKline
- Janssen Biologics
- Ministries (IenM, EZ, BZK)
- Navigant
- Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland
- RoyalHaskoningDHV
- XTNT
Academic Careers
Innovation sciences are also a strong basis for those who wish to pursue an academic career as a Ph.D. student and later lecturer. About half of the Ph.D. students in the Innovation Studies group in Utrecht come from the Innovation Sciences master. Moreover, many students publish the results of their master's students in international peer-reviewed scientific journals.
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