Seminar: AI, Disruptive Technologies and Finance (F)

The purpose of the seminar is for students to identify and study disruptive technologies such as digitalization and AI and associated impacts on strategic decision making, ownership and governance, and financing in firms. Technology and life science startups, often funded by venture capital may disrupt long standing business models, products, and services through new technologies and business models, while existing firms may have to respond by rethinking past practices to better benefit from incumbent advantages such as scale economics and familiarity. Existing firms may also employ tools and methodologies used in private equity such a strategic urgency, capital rationing, and speed and accountability in execution. This might be either in current private or stock exchange listed ownership/governance models, or through acquisitions by private equity firms and/or alternatively industrial foundations. Industrial foundations employ an ownership and governance model often seen in Denmark, combining stock exchange listings with ownership control retained by a foundation. Firm ownership and governance models ultimately focus on firm value creation, although often with different time horizons, while for some, other considerations such as philanthropy may come into play. Students have extensive freedom to choose their topics from those that have already been introduced in the courses listed above or similar from other accredited institutions. Consult the syllabi of those courses for inspiration. The teacher will assist the students in determining and defining an appropriate seminar topic