Marc Gruber

Nationality: Swiss & German (Bavarian)

EPFL CDM MTEI ENTC
ODY 3 04 (Odyssea)
Station 5
CH-1015 Lausanne

Expertise

- Entrepreneurship - Technology Commercialization - Innovation - Strategic Management - Public Policy
Administrative & Editorial Positions
2017-2021 Vice President for Innovation at EPFL
2013-2025 Editor in Chief (2023-2025). Deputy Editor (2016-2018) and Associate Editor (2013-2015) of Academy of Management Journal (AMJ), #1 empirical management research journal in the world
2009-2016 Director of the MTE Master Program at EPFL
2000-2005 Manager of the LMU Entrepreneurship Center

Academic Positions
10/2005 - present Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
- Assistant Professor (2005-2008),
- Associate Professor (2008-2010)
- Full Professor (since 2011) 

9/2004-12/2004 Visiting Scholar: Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
9/2000 - 9/2005 University of Munich (LMU), Munich School of Management, Habilitand and Vice-Director of the Institute for Innovation Research, Technology Management and Entrepreneurship, Manager of the ODEON Center for Entrepreneurship
1/1999 -12/1999 Visiting Scholar: Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
10/1995-12/1998 University of St. Gallen, Research Assistant, Ph.D. candidate

Degrees and Nominations 
4/2005 University of Munich (LMU), Munich School of Management Venia Legendi for Management (Habilitation) 10/2000 University of St. Gallen, Ph.D. in Management 
10/1995 University of St. Gallen, Master in Business Administration (lic. oec. HSG)

Exemplary Publications

Please see most recent CV on entc.epfl.ch

Books include "Where to Play - 3 Steps to your most promising market opportunities" (with Tal) introducing the Market Opportunity Navigator, adopted as the 4th tool of the lean startup toolset and used by 50K+ companies around the world

Research studies include "Darwinians, Communitarians and Missionaries: The Role of Founder Identity in Entrepreneurship (with Fauchart, E.)" in Academy of Management Journal, 2011, 54(4): 935-957 , winner of multiple awards incl. the “Foundational Paper Award” of of the Entrepreneurship Division at the Academy of Management in 2024 and the “Thought Leader Award” of the Entrepreneurship Division at the Academy of Management in 2012 

Awards

Visiting Scholar

Wharton School 1999 &

2004

TUM Research Excellence Award

EURAM

2012

Foundational Paper Award

Academy of Management

2024

ICSB 2024 Entrepreneurial Educator Excellence Award

International Council for Small Business (ICSB)

2024

Academy of Management Mentor Award

2019

Gerald E. Hills Best Paper Award

American Marketing Association

2014

Jürgen Hauschildt Best Paper Award in Innovation Management, German Academic Association for Business Research (VHB)

2012

Thought Leader Award, Academy of Management, Entrepreneurship Division

2012

Stephan Schrader Best Paper Award in Entrepreneurship Research

2012

Thought Leader Award, Academy of Management, Entrepreneurship Division

2010

Best Paper Award in Innovation Management, European Business School

2009

Irene M. McCarthy Award for the Best Paper on the Topic of High Technology

Babson College Entrepreneurship Research Conference

2009

Thought Leader Award

Academy of Management, Entrepreneurship Division

2009

Main publications

Teaching & PhD

PhD Students

Carolyn Marie Crichton, Angelina Frolova

Past EPFL PhD Students

Jana Thiel, James David Thompson, Melvin Haas, Peter Vogel, Nettra Danette Pan, Shirah Eden Foy, Enrico Bergamini

Past EPFL PhD Students as codirector

Jiayun Shen

Courses

Entrepreneurship & new venture strategy

MGT-413

A foundational course on the science and practice of launching new ventures. The purpose is to study and experience the first stages of the entrepreneurial process: from the identification of promising opportunities to the development of a viable and innovative business concept.

From lab to market: key steps

MGT-645

In this course, participants will learn how to identify and evaluate market opportunities stemming from new technologies. It is targeted to everyone who seeks to create a startup or wants to understand critical steps in the innovation process.

Publishing in Management, Technology and Innovation

MGT-623

The seminar aims to improve doctoral students' competencies in management, technology, and innovation to publish their work in leading academic journals.