Sofie Cairo (Copenhagen Business School)
15 April 2025 @ 12:30 - 13:30
Beyond Profit: How Personal Experiences Influence the Rate and Direction of Science and Innovation
Abstract: Understanding what drives the rate and direction of innovation is essential for economic growth. While traditional research has focused on demand-side incentives, recent work highlights the role of supply-side factors, including personal experiences, in shaping innovation. This project examines how exposure to serious personal or family health shocks influences entry into science and the research focus of scientists. Using Danish administrative data and bibliometric records from PUBMED, we link health shock exposure to shifts in research direction. Our findings reveal that personal experiences can shape scientific inquiry, suggesting a broader and more inclusive perspective on innovation policy. This research contributes to literature on diversity in innovation, the amenability of taste for science, and the impact of non-pecuniary incentives on research trajectories.