Prof Gerry George

Prof Gerry George is awarded Economic and Social Science Research Council Professorial Fellowship in recognition of his outstanding academic achievements.

Gerry joins the elite

Prof Gerry George has been appointed to a Professorial Fellowship of the Economics and Social Science Research Council (ESRC) - cementing his position as one of the top UK academics.

The award states: "The scheme is designed to support leading social scientists working in the UK, by providing them with the freedom to pursue their own innovative and creative research agendas. Fellows have an outstanding track record of research and are acknowledged scholarly leaders in their field at the international level."

Gerry's work on innovation for inclusive growth proved key to his new appointment. He explained: "My focus is on constrained resources innovation. Organisational theories of innovation draw heavily from the disciplines of sociology and economics to broadly describe how structures, processes, markets and incentives affect innovation.

"But few explain innovation under conditions of extreme resource-constraints although there is ample literature on its impact, showing how lives have been transformed due to microfinance or mobile communications.

"I am interested in developing a framework and causal theory. I aim to explore beyond the description of its consequence to understand why it happens, or fails to happen. The prevailing theories of organisational innovation were developed in and for the experience of rich countries. My contribution will be to help adapt them to the experience of poorer communities at the bottom of the pyramid."

Business School Principal David Begg said: "This is brilliant news. With this award Gerry quite rightly joins an elite group of the UK's most influential and internationally important academics."

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About Imperial

Consistently rated amongst the world's best universities, Imperial College London is a science-based institution with a reputation for excellence in teaching and research that attracts 14,000 students and 6,000 staff of the highest international quality.Innovative research at the College explores the interface between science, medicine, engineering and business, delivering practical solutions that improve quality of life and the environment - underpinned by a dynamic enterprise culture. www.imperial.ac.uk

For further information or to arrange an interview with Prof George contact Mark Howard on 0207 594 9154 or 07725 159796 email mark.howard@imperial.ac.uk