Inauguration of the TEAM GLOBAL Chair for Disruptive Innovation
Purpose and vision
This new chair is more than a title—it is a platform for building bridges between the worlds of science, policy, capital, and entrepreneurship. Rooted in ESMT’s mission to unite theory and practice, the chair aims to explore how disruptive innovations move from insight to implementation, and how Europe can cultivate an ecosystem where such ideas scale sustainably.
Professor Henry Sauermann, an internationally recognized expert on strategy and human capital, was named the inaugural TEAM GLOBAL Chair. His research focuses on the motivations and incentives of scientists and their role in innovation and entrepreneurial processes. He also studies how new models of knowledge generation create breakthrough innovations of both scientific and societal value. Prof. David Robinson, an internationally recognized expert in private equity, venture capital, and entrepreneurial finance, will support the chair’s initiatives. A Duke University faculty member and distinguished affiliate professor at ESMT, he brings deep global expertise and will spend time in Berlin to reinforce the chair’s international dimension.
Strategic impact
The TEAM GLOBAL Chair will:
- Serve as hub for research on drivers of disruptive innovation
- Play a central role in educational programs at ESMT Berlin as well as internationally in collaboration with other institutions
- Provide support for innovators and founders and create ties with startup and policy communities through Vali Berlin
Lukasz Gadowski, founder of TEAM GLOBAL, articulated the broader vision behind this commitment: “An innovation is disruptive when it does not merely make something a little better, but raises it to an entirely new level,” said Lukasz Gadowski, founder of TEAM GLOBAL. “Examples include the transition from horse-drawn carriages to the automobile or, today, from search engines to artificial intelligence. Similarly, the introduction of compulsory schooling or bureaucracy was disruptive in its time. The chair will conduct research and teaching in this field, inspiring and empowering students, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and society. What elevates civilization to the next level, and how do we contribute to it?”
By connecting ESMT's academic rigor with real-world urgency, the chair aims to explore what disruptive innovation entails and what disruptive innovators have done differently, enabling them to succeed where others have not.
Key learnings from the inauguration
- Disruption requires ecosystem thinking
Disruption = invention + capital + policy + purpose
Disruptive innovation flourishes only when these elements are aligned. The chair was created to bring these sectors together intentionally—something Europe urgently needs.
- Europe has the ingredients—but lacks integration
Despite having world-class research and daring founders, Europe still lags in scaling ventures. The chair responds directly to this challenge, aiming to connect the dots across institutional and geographic divides.
- ESMT Is doubling down on purpose-driven innovation
This move is consistent with ESMT’s founding values and future ambitions: to be a convener and contributor to the continent’s innovation agenda—not just a commentator.
- Leadership matters—on and off campus
Lukasz Gadowski’s transformation from founder to funder sends a clear message: Europe must build—not borrow—its disruptive future. His investment is a call to action for others to follow.
- The chair is a strategic talent magnet
With professor Sauermann at the helm, ESMT is well-positioned to generate fresh insights on how innovations are governed for long-term societal benefit.
The event featured keynote remarks by Jörg Kukies, former German Finance Minister, and Professor Ann-Kristin Achleitner, who framed disruption as an “ecosystem challenge.” She reminded the audience:
“Disruption is not a solo act. It is an ecosystem. This chair ensures we build it intentionally, not accidentally”.
The evening closed with a commitment to ensuring that Europe’s next wave of innovation will be built in Europe—and for Europe.