ZEW innovation economist Philipp Böing takes over Professorship with a Focus on China
PersonnelPhilipp Böing becomes Professor at Goethe University Frankfurt
Professor Philipp Böing, senior researcher in ZEW’s “Economics of Innovation and Business Dynamics” Unit, has accepted a joint appointment from Goethe University Frankfurt and ZEW Mannheim. Starting 1 February 2024, he will assume the position of “Professor of Empirical Innovation Research with a Focus on China” in the Department of Economic Policy and Quantitative Methods at the Faculty of Economics and Business. As part of the professorship, he will collaborate with the Interdisciplinary Centre for East Asian Studies.
“My research focuses on innovation and the global competitiveness of firms in China. The effectiveness of Chinese innovation and industrial policy, China’s technological sovereignty compared to Europe and the US, and a critical understanding of data-generating institutions in China are other key areas of my work,” explains Böing. “Through my teaching and involvement in public debates, I aim to make a significant contribution to strengthening China expertise in Germany. Additionally, as the project head of the ‘Modern China Research’ funding initiative by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, I am actively contributing to the expansion of China expertise in Germany.”
Economics and China research
“Philipp Böing’s research approach combines empirical economic methods with linguistic and institutional expertise in China research. He pursues a quantitative approach based on the use of Chinese and international datasets. I warmly congratulate him on his professorship and wish him every success,” says Hanna Hottenrott, head of the ZEW Research Unit “Economics of Innovation and Business Dynamics”. ZEW President Achim Wambach adds, “China is our largest trading partner. At the same time, geopolitical tensions are straining the relationship. More economic research on China is therefore essential. It is necessary to build up our own independent China expertise, and we aim to contribute to that at ZEW. I wish Philipp Böing much success in this endeavour.”
“There are indeed different narratives when it comes to China’s economic and technological development potential. We base our findings on empirical research, considering the data-generating processes in China. This approach provides an objective, evidence-based contribution that, if necessary, corrects existing narratives,” says Philipp Böing of the relationship between China and his research.
About Philipp Böing
Philipp Böing has taught and conducted research as a visiting assistant professor at Peking University’s China Center for Economic Research. He has also provided policy advice to the World Bank, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the German Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation (EFI). In addition, he is a research affiliate of the Institute of Labor Economics (IZA) in Bonn and a fellow of Tsinghua University in Beijing. In 2023, he visited the Institute of Economics of the Academia Sinica as a Taiwan Fellow.
