Master of Global Innovation Management

The Master of Global Innovation Management - MGIM - is a joint programme from two international institutions: Jenkins Graduate School of Management (United States) and IAE Aix Graduate School of Management (France).

"Cultural shocks stimulate creativity"
Lindsey Owen-Jones

The MGIM : a dual degree

This one-year programme awards two master degrees:

  • Master of Science in Business Administration with a major in Innovation
    awarded by the IAE Aix Graduate School of Management - Université Paul Cezanne, France.
  • Master of Science in Innovation Management
    awarded by Jenkins Graduate School of Management - North Carolina State University (NCSU), Raleigh, NC, United-States.

This Dual Degree has obtained a grant from the FACE Fondation.

Objective

This programme taught in English is designed to give engineering, science and other technology-oriented students a strong exposure to core business management skills while providing in-depth exposure to a host of global innovation management issues. It exposes the students to varied cultural and economic environments, in an international context.
On completion of this programme, students will have acquired:

  • specific insight into the stakes and organizational aspects of corporate innovation.
  • mastery of the latest concepts and approaches in innovation: innovation networks, developments in technology, protection and transfer to markets, innovation marketing…

The Master of Global Innovation Management responds to a growing need identified by European, U.S. and international companies, who report that they are seeking “technically trained graduates who have a global perspective, who can think outside the box, and who can make an immediate, positive impact at our company.”

Admission Requirements

This programme is intended for students in initial training, with degrees from an engineering school or a Master's 1 or 2, or the equivalent in a scientific domain (foreign diploma).
Applicants must have solid technical expertise, a great interest in innovation and be very open-minded.
Admission is based on the application file (Management Aptitude Tests: TAGEMAGE or GMAT, English level tests: TOEFL or TOEIC, professional project, previous studies, internships or other professional experience) and an interview with the admissions board.

Innovation Management Faculty

Students will be taught by international professors who are leaders in their fields. Interactions with global firms will occur both in the classroom and via internships.

The specialists in innovation who are teaching this programme are:

  • Innovation Marketing: Anne-Marie Guérin (Associate Professor at the IAE Aix)
  • Management of Technology and Innovation: Mitzi Montoya-Weiss and Lynda Aiman-Smith (Professor and Associate Professor at NCSU)
  • Project Management: John McCreery (Associate Professor at NCSU)
  • Interpersonal Communication: David Henard (Associate Professor at NCSU)
  • Technology Transfer to Markets: Luis Filipe Lages (Professor at Nova de Lisboa University)
  • Innovation Networks, Strategies and Financing: Pierre Casanova (Founder & Partner of DDH-Partner)

Organisation of Studies

The Master of Global Innovation Management is awarded after one year. This programme is composed of three periods:

  • The first four months (end of August to end of December) take place at the IAE of Aix-en-Provence where participants are exposed to European innovation practices (courses, conferences, workshops, visits to firms, projects).
  • The next four months (beginning of January to the end of April) participants complete their training in the practices of innovation in a different cultural environment at NCSU (Raleigh, North Carolina, USA).
  • Students finish the programme with a work internship from May to September in France or in the USA.

Structure and Content of the Programme

First semester:

  • Financial accountin
  • Financial analysis
  • Marketing
  • Strategy
  • Relational development
  • Interpersonal communication
  • Innovation networks
  • Technology transfer to markets

Project innovation:

This part of the programme consists in performing a group project on an innovation issue. The issue can, for example, focus on the identification and evaluation of potential commercial applications for a new technology.
Workshops and conferences reinforce this course with more specific innovation themes (innovation financing, intellectual property, innovation and sustainable development…).

Second semester:

  • Management of Technology and Innovation
  • Innovation Marketing
  • Project Management
  • Option:
    • Innovation in services
    • Technology, competition and law (Intellectual property)
    • Entrepreneurship

Internship (USA or France)

Positions Open to Future Graduates

Given the great diversity of academic backgrounds, job opportunities are extremely varied both in terms of level and activity sector.
For example, graduates can occupy posts in R&D departments and participate in the conception and development of technical solutions for new products or research commercial applications for new technologies or technologies that have already been implemented in the firm. They can also work on new missions such as old technology, development of innovations, protection of the intellectual property of the firm, etc.