About us
Doctoral School of Innovation Management (IMDI) – Introduction
The Doctoral School of Innovation Management (IMDI) at Obuda University was established in early 2023 as the first doctoral program in innovation management in Hungary and the wider region. Its mission is to educate highly qualified researchers and professionals capable of understanding, shaping, and managing innovation processes, while ensuring their economic and societal impact.
The IMDI program builds on the entrepreneurship development master’s programs of the Keleti Károly Faculty, while its equalization module enables applicants from diverse academic backgrounds to acquire advanced innovation management knowledge at the doctoral level. The program uniquely integrates theoretical foundations with practical application, focusing on the drivers of successful market-oriented innovation.
Aligned with Obuda University’s strategic research priorities—robotics, health informatics, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, green technologies, materials science, and creative industries—the doctoral school offers a multidisciplinary research and training environment. A distinctive feature of the program is its focus on health industry innovation, including regulatory and strategic aspects such as compliance with the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR).
In close cooperation with the University Research and Innovation Center, IMDI actively supports the commercialization of academic research results and strengthens university–industry collaboration. The program contributes to the realization of the “entrepreneurial/investor university” model and the development of a dynamic startup ecosystem.
Research activities at IMDI cover the full innovation lifecycle, from managed idea generation and assessment of innovation needs to the measurement of economic and societal impact. Key research areas include:
- innovation ecosystems, social innovation, and innovation science,
- sustainability, environmental and ESG-related research,
- the application of artificial intelligence in innovation,
- health industry innovation and health economics,
- as well as innovation performance measurement, impact assessment, forecasting, and monitoring.
The primary objective of IMDI is to explore national innovation potential, identify critical research gaps, and develop methodological frameworks that enhance competitiveness. Through its multidisciplinary and internationally oriented research activities, the doctoral school aims to contribute to both scientific advancement and practical innovation outcomes.
IMDI welcomes applicants from diverse professional backgrounds who are motivated to engage in a forward-looking, creative, and impactful field that bridges theory and practice: innovation.