MIOIR Seminar Series with Dr. Nicola Cortinovis

Dr. Nicola Cortinovis, Assistant Professor of Economic Geography at Utrecht University, will be discussing the potential of crowdfunding (CF) platforms to foster industrial diversification.
Since the 2000s, crowdfunding (CF) platforms provide opportunities for entrepreneurs to make their innovative ideas become reality. Often, CF reaches locations and industries outside the radar of venture capitalists, business angels and traditional investors, effectively providing resources to innovative ideas in less-dynamic regions and less-hyped industries. For this reason, CF can be an important driver for the emergence of new industries and strengthening the local industrial base. One of the main limitation in analyzing the impact of CF has been the difficulty in linking CF projects to specific industries. To address this limitation, I developed a new database linking projects on Kickstarter – one of the main CF platforms – and 4-digit industries and locations in the US using OpenAI Large Language Model (ChatGPT). Exploiting this newly developed database, I investigate whether and how CF contributes to the development of new industries and the revival of regional economies in the US. Specifically, I analyze the relation between an industry receiving CF through Kickstarter and its development trajectory, considering also the mediating role played by location-specific factors (relatedness to existing industries in the region, presence of venture capital investments). The analysis suggests that industries receiving funds through Kickstarter campaigns are more likely to become one of industrial specializations of the county.

About Dr. Nicola Cortinovis:
Nicola Cortinovis is Assistant Professor of Economic Geography at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. He holds a PhD in Economic Geography from Utrecht University. His research interests are at the intersection of economic geography, innovation economics and digitization. In particular, Nicola focuses on the role of external linkages – among which crowdfunding - in shaping regional economic and innovation dynamics. Nicola is also an affiliate member of CESifo in Munich.

The runs a series of regular seminars given by visiting speakers to Manchester. These seminars are open to anybody who is interested in science, technology and innovation policy and management.

This event is in person for AMBS and UoM staff and students, with an online option available. External participants are welcome to join online via Zoom:
https://zoom.us/j/96654888918
Meeting ID: 966 5488 8918 | Passcode: 656116

Host or Publisher Alliance Manchester Business School