My name is Dr Paolo Gerli and I am an Associate Professor of Digital Innovation and Enterpreneurship at Edinburgh Napier University, where I also act as the Deputy Director of the Urban Innovation Policy (Unity) Lab. Previously I have been a Lecturer of Digital Entrepreneurship at Northumbria University and a regulatory analyst for public and private organisations in the Italian telecommunications industry. You can find my CV here.

Since my PhD (exploring public-private partnerships and community-led initiatives in the EU broadband market) I have been researching the governance of digital transformations and smart places, with a focus on grassroots approaches and policy orientations to make digital transitions and smart places more inclusive. My research has been presented at international conferences and published in top-ranked journals. I have also acted as a consultant for international organisations and co-author of policy reports for national and international institutions. A full list of my academic work is available here.

As an educator, I also have a multi-year experience in designing and delivering modules on innovation management and entrepreneurship at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. I have also acted as a programme leader and I have been a member of several Faculty committees.

When I am not teaching and researching, I love exploring the Scottish coasts, reading short stories, going for art exhibitions, and cooking Italian food (don’t put cream in your carbonara, please!).