Dr. Luís Carvalho (PhD, Erasmus University Rotterdam) is Professor (Prof. Auxiliar) at the  Faculty of Economics and Management (FEP) at the University of Porto. He is also Senior Researcher at the Centre of Studies in Geography and Spatial Planning (CEGOT). He is currently Scientific Director of the MSc in Innovation Economics and Management (MEGIN) and Associate Editor of the scientific journal Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions (EIST),

Research profile: Luís Carvalho is interested in the long-term economic development of cities and regions. Within this broad field, his work primarily addresses i) the socio-spatial dynamics of knowledge and innovation, ii) the relations between transnational business networks and regional development and iii) the roles played by urban and regional policies on those processes. Luís has been exploring these issues through the lens of institutional-evolutionary frameworks, using comparative case study methodologies. Besides conducting scientific research and education activities, Luis Carvalho frequently engages with policymakers on local economic development issues and strategic planning affairs

Current research topics focus on:

• Startups, scale-ups and urban innovation;
• The geography of “smart city” innovation and sustainability transitions;
• The creation of new growth paths in peripheral regions;
• The development of innovation districts in cities and regions.