Meet your professors | Prof. Torsten-Oliver Salge PhD

Prof. Torsten-Oliver Salge PhD

Could you briefly introduce yourself?

I joined RWTH Aachen University as Head of the Innovation, Strategy, and Organization Group in 2013. Prior to that, I held positions at several universities in Germany and abroad including the Universities of Auckland, Cambridge, Oxford, and Pennsylvania. But I really wanted to join RWTH Aachen University as the leading center of excellence for research and teaching on the interface of management and technology. I really could not have made a better decision!

How does your research blend into your teaching?

Among others, I do a lot of research on strategic networks and ecosystems that may span different industries. For instance, take a look at Tesla: Tesla does not only design and produce sleek electric cars. They also started a strategic alliance with Panasonic to build the largest battery factory in the world. In Aachen, StreetScooter started as a small start-up, but quickly became an important player in the electric vehicle industry – not least thanks to its strategic partnerships. So, many of the things I teach are directly related to what I observe and experience as a researcher here in Aachen.

You are the academic director of the MME TIME program: What is your view on the program?

The MME TIME is a truly unique program that we were able to build from scratch. It is completely tailored to the needs of ambitious STEM graduates that are technical experts in their field and want to become true technology leaders in an established technology company or a new venture. The MME TIME program equips them with both the technology management skills and state-of-the-art insights into key technology fields they need to turn these aspirations into reality. This is a unique focus that very much represents what I think is the key success factor of the German economy: the combination of high tech and smart management!