I am an economist and researcher examining how innovation, entrepreneurship, institutions, and access to resources shape business performance and inclusive economic development. My work connects firm-level evidence to broader questions of employment, inequality, land governance, and sustainability, with a particular focus on sub-Saharan Africa and experience researching in Germany.

I hold a PhD in Economics and an MSc in Economics, specializing in Innovation and Change, from Friedrich Schiller University Jena, alongside a BSc in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Ghana. My doctoral research explored dynamic capabilities and innovation optimization, establishing the foundation for my research on how organizations develop capabilities, commercialize knowledge, and respond to changing environments.

At the Thünen Institute of Innovation and Rural Economics, I take an interdisciplinary approach to innovation, entrepreneurship, land governance, institutional performance, trust, and unequal access to resources. Previously, as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Bremen, I investigated barriers to modernization and technology transfer in the former German Democratic Republic.

My publication record includes 14 peer-reviewed journal articles and a Springer book chapter, with work appearing in Research Policy, The Journal of Technology Transfer, Land Use Policy, Resources Policy, and the Journal of Innovation & Knowledge. These contributions examine frugal innovation, intellectual property, firm capabilities, employment growth, entrepreneurship, and land inequality. I also received a Best Paper Award at the 2019 International Conference on African Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Alongside my research, I have experience teaching at university, leading modules, and supervising postgraduate theses. I have taught innovation economics, entrepreneurship, and the internationalization of research and innovation.

My international experience includes research collaboration as a Senior Research Associate at the University of Johannesburg and participation in the Open-AIR Queen Elizabeth Scholars program at the University of Ottawa. I also contribute to academic quality through peer review for journals including Research Policy, Technovation, Small Business Economics, and many more.

I bring rigorous empirical analysis, a strong publication record, and the ability to communicate complex economic questions clearly. I welcome connections with universities, research institutes, development organizations, and employers seeking expertise in innovation, entrepreneurship, economic development, and sustainability.

You can reach me via medase.kehinde@gmail.com