Research Groups

Unlocking Research Excellence: Your Partner in Advancement

Welcome to IE University research groups, where innovation meets knowledge, and research is our driving force. We take immense pride in presenting our diverse array of research teams, each dedicated to exploring and pioneering new horizons across various critical domains. These teams have been meticulously assembled to provide valuable insights and solutions to businesses seeking to stay at the forefront of their industries.

MARKETING, BEHAVIOR, SOCIETY, AND WELFARE

Our research group investigates topics such as consumer decision-making; well-being; consumer interactions with technology and AI; sensory marketing; social-media influence; consumer reactions to corporate and public issues; and finally, persuasion, cognition, and meta-cognition.

Our group is also interested in understanding how these processes affect society as a whole in terms of marketing, economic, and societal outcomes such as sustainability and equality.

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

Image DILNEY GONÇALVES

DILNEY GONÇALVES

Marketing, Behavior, Society and Welfare Research Group Director

The Marketing, Behavior, Society, and Welfare research group specializes in examining the intricate relationship between marketing and society, covering a wide range of topics from social media-influence to sensory marketing. Our end goal is to advance ethical and sustainable marketing practices that benefit both individuals and society as a whole.

We are a welcoming and collaborative research community, actively encouraging interdisciplinary partnerships and valuing diverse viewpoints. Please explore our ongoing projects and publications, and don't hesitate to get in touch with our team directly. We are open to collaboration opportunities, partnerships, and knowledge exchange with fellow researchers, organizations, and industry professionals who share our interest in the transformative role of marketing in society.

The team

INNOVATION, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AND EMERGENT TECHNOLOGIE

This research group focuses on leveraging AI and emerging technologies to respond to societal and ethical challenges. We examine the dynamic interplay between new technologies, organizations, and society, studying their role in fostering innovation, their impact on individuals and communities, and the potential for sustainable solutions to real-world problems. Our research employs a diverse range of methodologies, including statistical analysis, qualitative methods, algorithm development, and real-world experiments. Collaboration with industry ensures the relevance and practicality of our findings.

Our group’s primary research areas encompass: the economics of information technology, digital platforms, and ecosystems; the use of AI and emerging technologies for social good; and how they can be used for sustainability and environmental impact. In summary, the group explores the transformative potential of tech, striving to drive innovation while considering societal implications and ethical concerns in various research domains.

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

Image Álvaro Arenas

Álvaro Arenas

Innovation, Artificial Intelligence and Emergent Technologies Research Group Director

I'm excited to lead the Innovation, Artificial Intelligence, and Emergent Technologies research group, especially in today's era where these technologies are pivotal for advancing innovation and societal well-being. Our research spans various areas, including IT outsourcing, digital platforms, auction system design, and leveraging AI and machine learning for dyslexia detection and sustainable mobility solutions.

Currently, we are actively involved in collaborative projects with leading companies in Spain and Europe, and we're proud participants in the EU Digymatex initiative, focusing on digital maturity among children and adolescents. We invite passionate PhD students to join us in contributing to our research endeavors. Our goal is to make substantial research contributions while fostering collaboration with both industry and academia to drive positive change.

The team

IE RESEARCH DATALAB

The IE Research Datalab participates in two main activities. On the one hand, we’re involved in interdisciplinary projects where knowledge on data science, machine learning, mathematical modeling, and optimization impacts other fields of knowledge.

On the other hand, we conduct fundamental research in the domain of applied mathematics and statistics, such as data science and machine learning, mathematical and statistical modeling, optimization, and dynamical systems and control, among others.

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

Image David Gómez Ullate

David Gómez Ullate

IE Research DataLab Research Group Director

We are a newly formed research group within the IE School of Science and Technology with a diverse toolbox of mathematical and statistical expertise. Our capabilities extend to various collaborative projects, including applications in the maritime, fishing, legaltech, biomedical, and energy sectors. Additionally, we explore fundamental aspects of mathematical objects.

We warmly welcome graduate students and encourage anyone interested in open PhD or postdoc positions or collaborative research proposals to reach out to us. Our expertise in applied mathematics, data science, machine learning, and NLP is readily available to provide quantitative solutions to a wide array of technical challenges across diverse projects.

OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT

The Operations Research group includes scholars who investigate process design, organizational design and decision-making with a pluarity of methodologies, including econometric analysis of secondary data, field and lab experiments, and case studies, as well as simulation, optimization and machine learning.

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

Image Fabrizio Salvador

Fabrizio Salvador

Operations & Management Research Group Director

The Operations and Management research group comprises world-class faculty and doctoral students. Our expertise spans a diverse range of methodological and subject areas, enabling us to study and enhance organizations, processes, and decision-making across various industries—including healthcare, high tech, professional work, manufacturing, retail, banking, insurance, and more.

Our research focuses on pressing business challenges like digitalization, sustainability, and overall operational and supply-chain excellence. To support our research, we employ a diverse array of methodologies such as econometrics, machine learning, simulation, optimization, lab and field research, mathematical modeling, and qualitative research. As strong advocates for academic collaboration, we are keenly interested in developing projects alongside companies and other institutions.

The team

STRATEGY

We are an esteemed international research group of strategy scholars exploring the impact of firm strategies on both organizational performance and society at large. Thanks to IE University’s close relationships within the global business community, we’re able to foster collaborations with industry leaders that enhance our educational programs and enrich our students' learning experiences. We excel in various cutting-edge areas, including innovation strategy, non-market strategies, sustainability, and competitive strategy in platform markets.

As an internationally recognized research group, we share our findings through high-impact publications, influential industry conferences, and thought-leadership initiatives. We actively contribute to the global strategy discourse, facilitating meaningful change and guiding businesses through a rapidly evolving landscape. Our vibrant intellectual community offers exceptional opportunities for collaboration and professional growth, uniting scholars who are dedicated to academic excellence and innovative solutions.

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

Image Juan Santaló

Juan Santaló

Strategy Research Group Director

I warmly invite current and aspiring strategy scholars to join our research group on an exciting journey to shape the future of business strategy. We are dedicated to rigorous research with real-world impact, benefiting both organizations and society. Companies seeking strategic expertise are encouraged to collaborate with us, as we are eager to create partnerships that drive innovation and growth.

Our mission centers on collaboration, welcoming individuals, academics, and industry leaders to join us in co-creating a future where strategic innovation thrives. Whether you're a passionate scholar or a forward-thinking company, we look forward to working together to drive impactful change and shape a future of excellence in the international business community.

The Team

NON-ECONOMIC DRIVERS, GOALS, ANTECEDENTS, AND OUTCOMES OF ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITIES

The objective of this group is to examine both economic topics and other factors that affect entrepreneurial activities and outcomes.

These factors include but are not limited to: individual characteristics, attitudes, or behaviors; group characteristics; or environmental/contextual characteristics. Individual factors might include gender, social class, or financial situation, whereas group characteristics might look at the role that family plays in entrepreneurial activities. Environmental and contextual factors could include geography and the bottom of the income pyramid in different regions.

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

Image Julio De Castro

Julio De Castro

Non-Economic drivers, Goals, Antecedents and Outcomes of Entrepreneurial Activities Research Group Director

Entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial activity have been recognized as important for both individuals and for the advancement of societies. Moreover, entrepreneurial activities affect different elements of society in different ways, and it’s crucial to understand the drivers of entrepreneurial behavior and startup success.

Traditional research has focused on the economic drivers and effects of entrepreneurial behavior. However, the objective of this group is to examine—in addition to economic concerns—other activities and characteristics that affect entrepreneurial activities and outcomes, including outcomes for individuals and society at large. Those could include individual attitudes and behaviors, group characteristics, and environmental and contextual factors that drive entrepreneurial activities. This research group is, above all, a community of scholars interested in contributing to the understanding of these topics, and their effects on individuals, groups, firms, and society.

The Team

ECONOMICS & FINANCE

The Econ & Finance Research Group investigates topics such as: household decisions such as savings, investments, or labor supply; corporate choices such as compensation, governance, hiring, capital allocation, and financing decisions; causes and consequences of different accounting standards and auditing practices; asset markets such as stocks, bonds, and real estate; and fintech and the interactions of technology, society, and markets.

The group also looks at macroeconomic policies such as monetary and fiscal policies; governments and the consequences of different regulations; inequality and gender issues; cimate change implications for markets, governments, households, and firms; and much more.

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

Image Pedro Gete

Pedro Gete

Economics & Finance Research Group Director

The Economics & Finance research group studies how companies, households, markets, and governments make decisions and behave. The group’s mission is twofold: to better understand economic phenomena, and in turn, to propose optimal policies for firms, individuals, and policymakers. The group is made up of scholars who use analytical and quantitative tools to study economic, social, and financial questions. Our areas of research include finance, macroeconomics, microeconomics, quantitative political science, accounting, real estate, and labor relations.

The group welcomes a variety of methodological approaches, from identifying causal relations, to forecasting economic relations, studying quantitative models useful for economic policy; developing new theories, documenting new data, etc. If interested, don’t hesitate to get in touch to discuss research opportunities. We actively seek collaboration opportunities, partnerships, and knowledge exchanges with other researchers, organizations, and industry professionals.

The Team

Image Applied Research

Applied Research

Hand holding a crystal ball

PhD Programs

Research Publications

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