Visiting Assistant Professor You-Na Lee (PhD, School of Public Policy, 2015) received the 2016 ISPIM Innovation Management Dissertation Award during the XXVII ISPIM Innovation Conference in Porto, Portugal. The ISPIM Innovation Management Dissertation Award acknowledges PhD researchers who are developing the insights, theories and tools to shape the future of innovation management thinking and action.

This year, ISPIM received more than 110 submissions from 40 different countries for this dissertation award and the top three dissertations were nominated for the award and invited to the conference for the award ceremony. At the award ceremony, You-Na Lee was announced as the overall winner, receiving a plaque and the 2500 euro prize.

Her dissertation "Expanding understanding of the innovation process: R&D and non-R&D innovation" explores a critical underexplored area of innovation outside of R&D, and bridges economic, sociological and organizational learning perspectives in innovation research. The dissertation highlights the implications of the findings for the organization of innovation, management of technology and national innovation policy.

ISPIM (International Society for Professional Innovation Management) is a network of researchers, industrialists, consultants and public bodies who share an interest in innovation management. ISPIM produces scientific and educational material and events to help people understand and share thinking and experiences on how individuals, organizations and society can be better organized to create and distribute new products, services and processes to make the world a better place. Founded in 1983, it is the oldest, largest and most active innovation association in Europe.