Civera, A., Schenkenhofer, J., Vismara, S. (accepted pre-print), A taxonomy of the knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship: firm types and knowledge sources, The Journal of Technology Transfer.
Asst. Professor Julian Schenkenhofer
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Group
Assistant Professor
Phone: +49 (0)261 6509 782
Email: julian.schenkenhofer[at]whu.edu
Assistant Professor
Phone: +49 (0)261 6509 782
Email: julian.schenkenhofer[at]whu.edu
Apply for External PhD Supervision
I supervise external PhD projects with a thematic focus on Entrepreneurship, Hidden Champions, Innovation, and Entrepreneurial Families. My aim is to foster high-quality academic research that addresses relevant economic and societal challenges. Applications are welcome from candidates interested in empirically grounded and internationally impactful research.
Please feel free to contact me directly via email.
Core Research Areas
- Entrepreneurship
- Hidden Champions
- Innovation
- Entrepreneurial Families
Example PhD Topics (Selection)
- Socioemotional Wealth (SEW) and strategic decision-making in family firms
- Legacy Motivation and Status-Attainment in the next generation of entrepreneurial families
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a strategic driver of innovation in family businesses
- Green innovation and sustainability strategies in mid-sized firms
- Hidden Champions and Corporate Visibility: market visibility, competitive advantages, and risk dynamics
- Knowledge spillovers and regional innovation ecosystems created by niche market leaders
- Entrepreneurial identity and leadership roles across generations in business families
- Next Generation Entrepreneurship: how young family members shape innovation capacityr Innovationsfähigkeit beeinflussen
Short biography
Julian Enrik Schenkenhofer is a Junior Professor of Entrepreneurial Families at WHU, where he joined in late summer 2025. He is affiliated with the newly founded Center of Excellence for Entrepreneurial Families, funded by LGT Private Bank, where he works alongside Professor Nadine Kammerlander to advance research and teaching on entrepreneurial families and family businesses.
Born in Augsburg, Germany, in 1991, Schenkenhofer studied Business Administration at the University of Augsburg, completing both his B.Sc. (2014) and M.Sc. (2016) in information-oriented business administration. He earned his doctorate (Dr. rer. pol.) in 2021 under the supervision of Prof. Erik E. Lehmann, graduating summa cum laude.
From 2022 to 2025, he was a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Bergamo under the mentorship of Professor Silvio Vismara, where he deepened his expertise in entrepreneurship, innovation, and family business research. Since 2021, he has also been serving as an Adjunct Research Fellow at Indiana University Bloomington (USA) with Professor David B. Audretsch, where he previously taught as a Guest Lecturer. His academic career began at the University of Augsburg, where he worked for several years at the Chair for Management and Organization, progressing from Research Assistant to Postdoctoral Researcher. In 2025, he was also invited to join the Family Business Research Group at the University of Mannheim, led by Professor Jan-Philipp Ahrens.
Research focus
Schenkenhofer’s research focuses on socioemotional wealth (SEW) theory and innovation management in family firms, with particular emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI) and green innovation. Besides, he targets his research on next-generation family entrepreneurship, including the role of legacy motivation and status attainment in shaping entrepreneurial choices. In parallel, he is among the most prolific international scholars on hidden champions, where he continues to advance the field with contributions on corporate visibility, niche strategies, and knowledge spillovers.
His research has been published in leading international journals, including Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Small Business Economics, R&D Management, amongst others. He is also the author of two scholarly monographs on hidden champions and niche entrepreneurship. His work has been presented at major conferences such as the Academy of Management (AoM), EURAM, R&D Management, and the G-Forum, where it has received a Best Paper Award and multiple nominations.
Schenkenhofer is an active reviewer for numerous top-tier journals in entrepreneurship, innovation, and family business research, including Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Family Business Review, Journal of Product Innovation Management, Small Business Economics, Long Range Planning, R&D Management, Journal of Technology Transfer, and Management Review Quarterly, amongst others.
In addition to his research, he has developed a substantial international teaching portfolio, with courses delivered at the University of Augsburg and Indiana University Bloomington, in close cooperation with the University of Bergamo. His teaching has been recognized with multiple nominations for the Best Teaching Award at the University of Augsburg. He has also co-directed international summer schools in collaboration with Indiana University and the University of Bergamo.
Schenkenhofer is a member of the FGF (FGF – Forschungsnetzwerk Entrepreneurship, Innovation und Mittelstand e.V.), VHB (Verband der Hochschullehrerinnen und Hochschullehrer für Betriebswirtschaft e.V.), EURAM, and the Academy of Management (AoM).
Quicklinks