PhD position-Business Model Innovation in Low-Income Countries

3/30813
label Burse autorenew 2025-09-29, 17:01 history_edu Catan Andreea Corina
This is a joined PhD position of the Service Research Centre at the Karlstad University in Sweden (CTF) and Eawag. CTF is one of the worlds leading research centers focusing on service management and value creation through service.

Innovations for making markets work have become critical factors for poverty alleviation in developing countries. Innovation in the context of the low-income segments in developing countries goes beyond traditional product, process, and service innovations. Due to the lack of market structures and institutions, business model innovations are critical factors for making markets work for the poor. Business model innovation strengthens the economic viability.

On one hand, business model innovations support local business ventures to leave the stage of existing and surviving and to reach sustainable successes. Such successes enable business ventures to take-off and scale-up, which, in turn, would create employment opportunities. On the other hand, more ‘inclusive’ business models contribute to human development by including the poor in the business eco-system as consumers, producers, business owners or employees.

The empirical research of the PhD concentrates on infrastructure services such as drinking water provision, sanitation, and energy services. Together with local partners, the PhD should investigate business model innovation in business ventures for drinking water provision, sanitation, and energy services.



Given the relatively new and unexplored nature of the business model innovations in developing countries, the PhD candidate should apply concepts such as service innovation, business model thinking, dynamic capabilities, sustainability research, and service systems (business eco-systems) within the context of developing countries. The empirical research consists of

(i) exploratory research,

(ii) in-depth case study research, and

(iii) focus groups.

The PhD should be able to present the key findings to researchers and managers and to publish the key findings in high-ranked peer-reviewed journals.