Contact Details

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Position

PhD Alumnus

Affiliation

Dr Johann J Napp

Research Project

Johann did his PhD at the Centre for Technology Management from January 2007 to March 2010 on the topic of corporate venture capital (CVC) investments, i.e. equity investments of large corporations in entrepreneurial ventures which originated outside the corporation. Embedded in a broader project on how to implement open innovation, the research aimed at understanding how companies capture and measure strategic value from corporate venture capital investments. Findings were generated based on case studies of nine multinational technology companies. In total, more than 35 managers of CVC units, involved start-up companies and the parent firm’s business units as well as external industry experts and consultants have been interviewed. An executive summary of findings from the research can be found here. Should you be interested in getting access to the complete thesis, please contact Johann via the email address provided on this website.

Background

Johann joined the Centre for Technology Management as a doctoral researcher in January 2007. He works under supervision of Dr Tim Minshall, investigating processes of collaborative and open innovation and completed his PhD in March 2010. Johann now works as Associate Consultant for Bain & Company in London.

Prior to starting his PhD in Cambridge, Johann studied mechanical engineering at Hamburg University of Technology in Germany, where he graduated as "Diplom-Ingenieur" in November 2006. As part of his studies in Germany, Johann focused on new product development, dealing with questions of technology management at the Institute for Technology and Innovation Management. He also conducted research at Imperial College on medical mechatronics, and held internships at companies including Porsche AG, Beaufort Capital and Körber AG.

Publications

Report

How to implement open innovation: lessons from studying large multinational companies (September 2009)

This report may be downloaded (free).

• Mortara, L., I. Slacik, J. J. Napp and T. Minshall (2010). "Implementing open innovation (OI): Cultural issues". International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, 11(4): 369-397.
• Minshall, T.H.W., F. Livesey, L. Mortara, J. Napp, J. Shi, Y. Zhang (2010): "Manufacturing and Open Innovation", in: T. Ryhänen, M.A. Uusitalo, O. Ikkala, A. Kärkkäinen, "Nanotechnologies for Future Mobile Devices", Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Napp, J. J., T.H.W. Minshall, D.R. Probert (2009): "External Corporate Venture Capital Investments: Towards a Framework for Capturing and Measuring Strategic Value", PICMET Conference 2009, 2-6th August 2009, Portland (OR), USA.
• Mortara, L., J. Shawcross, J. Mills, J. J. Napp and T. Minshall (2009): "Skills for open innovation", R&D Management Conference 2009, 21-24th June 2009, Vienna, Austria.
• Napp, J. J. and T. H. W. Minshall (2008): "External Corporate Venture Capital Investment: Development of a Framework for Capturing and Measuring Strategic Value", Judge Business School Doctoral Conference 2008, 8-9th December 2008, Cambridge, U.K.
• Mortara, L., T. H. W. Minshall, J. J. Napp and I. Slacik (2008). "Implementing Open Innovation: cultural issues", International Society for Professional Innovation Management (ISPIM) 2008, 15-18th June. Tours, France.
• Minshall, T. H. W., L. Mortara and J. J. Napp (2007). "Implementing Open Innovation: Challenges in Linking Strategic and Operational Factors for HTSFs Working with Large Firms". 15th High Tech Small Firms Conference, 14-15th June 2007, Manchester Business School, Manchester, UK.
• Minshall, T. H. W., L. Mortara and J. J. Napp (2007). "Open innovation: Linking strategic and operational factors". R&D Management Conference 2007, 4-6th July 2007. Bremen, Germany.