Research Hub

"Towards X Futures: Transformation through Technology"

I study the intersection of digital transformation and socio-ecological transformation, focusing on Ecosystems, Data Organizing, and Digital Entrepreneurship.

Career & Education

2023

Chair & Full Professor (W3)

University of Duisburg-Essen

Chair for Sustainability and Innovation in Digital Ecosystems.

2021-2023

Associate Professor

ICN Business School

Dept. Supply Chain Management & Information Systems.

2017-2021

Assistant Professor

Freie Universität Berlin

Educational Service Engineering & IT-Entrepreneurship.

2012-2017

Research Associate

Freie Universität Berlin

Department of Information Systems.

2015

PhD (Dr. rer. pol.)

Freie Universität Berlin

Summa cum laude.

2012

MSc. Management

Ruhr-Universität Bochum

Selected Publications

2026Conference

Entrepreneurial Digital Resilience in War: Lessons from Ukrainian SMEs

A. Komysheva, L. Wessel, H. Rothe

Proceedings of the 59th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS)

2025Journal

Designing as trading-off: a practice-based view on smart service systems

L. Wessel, J. Sundermeier, S. Hanke, A. Baiyere, F. Rappert, M. Gersch, H. Rothe

European Journal of Information Systems (EJIS)

DOI

2025Conference

Grounding vs. Compositionality: On the Non-Complementarity of Reasoning in Neuro-Symbolic Systems

M. Shahid, H. Rothe

AAAI Make

2025Conference

Platform Signaling: Exploring Conflicting and Aligning Effects of Signals on Ecosystem Members

V. C. M. Sobota, H. Rothe

Academy of Management Proceedings (AOM)

2025Book Chapter

Innovationsökosysteme für KMU im Gesundheitswesen

M. Gersch, H. Rothe, et al.

Digitale Gesundheit in Deutschland

2024Journal

Entrepreneurial framing: How category dynamics shape the effectiveness of linguistic frame

K. Täuscher, H. Rothe

Strategic Management Journal (SMJ)

DOI

2024Conference

Uncovering inverse generativity: An exploratory prompt analysis in LLM platforms

J. Zebhauser, M. Shahid, H. Rothe

International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS)

2024Journal

Designing for Digital Platform Generativity: A Design Theory for Platform-Based Ecosystems

D. Fürstenau, H. Rothe, et al.

Information Systems Research (ISR)

2024Conference

The Role of Platform Signaling in Ecosystem Evolution

V. C. M. Sobota, H. Rothe, L. Wessel

International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS)

2023Journal

Extended generativity theory on digital platforms

D. Fürstenau, A. Baiyere, K. Schewina, M. Schulte-Althoff, H. Rothe

Information Systems Research (ISR)

DOI

2023Journal

Digital entrepreneurship from cellular data: How omics afford the emergence of a new wave of digital ventures in health

K. Lauer, K. Cooper, C. Conde, D. Conde, H. Rothe

Electronic Markets

2023Conference

Scaling AI Ventures: How to Navigate Tensions between Automation and Augmentation

J. Zebhauser, J. Sundermeier, H. Rothe

Proceedings of the 56th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS)

2021Journal

Optimal Distinctiveness in Platform Markets: the Moderating Role of High-Status Complementors

K. Täuscher, H. Rothe

Strategic Management Journal (SMJ)

DOI

2021Journal

Demonstrating public value to funders and other stakeholders—the journey of ELIXIR

C. S. Martin, S. Repo, H. Rothe, et al.

Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics

2021Journal

Leaving the Shadow: A Configurational Approach to Explain Post-identification Outcomes of Shadow IT Systems

D. Fürstenau, H. Rothe, M. Sandner

Business & Information Systems Engineering (BISE)

2021Report

Bio- & HealthTech Startups in Berlin: Deep Tech Futures Report

A. Scheel, S. M. Krause, C. Blotenberg, D. Conde, A. A. Penninger, H. Rothe

Digital Entrepreneurship Hub

2020Journal

Accumulating Design Knowledge: A Mechanisms-based Approach

H. Rothe, L. Wessel, A. Barquet

Journal of the Association for Information Systems (JAIS)

2020Journal

The Future of Digital Entrepreneurship Research: Current Issues and Suggestions for Future Directions

Von Briel, F., Recker, J., Selander, L., Hukal, P., Jarvenpaa, S., Yoo, Y., Lehmann, J., Chan, Y., Rothe, H., Alpar, P., Fürstenau, D., Wurm, B., Qian, Z.

Communications of the Association for Information Systems (CAIS)

2020Journal

Configuration in smart service systems: A practice-based inquiry

L. Wessel, E. Davidson, A. Barquet, H. Rothe, O. Peters, H. Megges

Information Systems Journal (ISJ)

2019Journal

Influential factors for technology-enhanced learning: professionals’ views

Schweighofer, P., Weitlaner, D., Ebner, M., Rothe, H.

Journal of Research in Innovative Teaching & Learning

2018Journal

Shadow IT and Business-Managed IT: A Conceptual Framework and Empirical Illustration

Kopper, A., Fürstenau, D., Zimmermann, S., Klotz, S., Rentrop, C., Strahringer, S., Westner, M., Rothe, H.

International Journal of IT/Business Alignment and Governance

2017Journal

Knowledge accumulation in design-oriented research developing and communicating knowledge contributions

A. Barquet, L. Wessel, H. Rothe

Lectures Notes of Computer Science

2017Journal

Shadow Systems, Risk, and Shifting Power Relations in Organizations

D. Fürstenau, H. Rothe, M. Sandner

Communications of the Association for Information Systems (CAIS)

2016Journal

Social Networking Services in E-Learning

P. Weber, H. Rothe

International Journal on E-Learning

2014Journal

Analyzing Interactivity in Asynchronous Video Discussions

J. Sundermeier, M. Gersch, H. Rothe

Lecture Notes in Computer Science

Funded Research Projects

2026-2029

Ongoing

KI4KMU in Niederrhein

AI for small and medium-sized enterprises in Niederrhein.

Funded by: MWIKE / EFRE

2026-2028

Ongoing

AI4Circular Economy

AI-driven circular economy models.

Funded by: LIG Group

2025-2028

Ongoing

SMART GUIDE

Building a platform for AI startups.

Funded by: MWIKE / EFRE

2025-2027

Ongoing

BRYCK Startup Alliance

Startup Factory initiative. PI for UDE.

Funded by: BMWE

2024-2027

Ongoing

EHDS4ALL

Consortium lead for 9 partners focusing on the European Health Data Space for life sciences.

Funded by: BMBF

2024-2027

Ongoing

Building Bridges

Creating a platform that empowers girls of color through digital storytelling.

Funded by: BMBF

2024-2027

Ongoing

Innopreneurship in EU

AURORA Project.

Funded by: EU

2023-2025

Completed

GUIDE+

Excellence Startup Center Project at the University of Duisburg-Essen.

Funded by: MWIKE

2021-2025

Completed

K.I.E.Z. – KI Entrepreneurship Zentrum

Leading AI-based startup hub in Berlin, supporting science-based ventures.

Funded by: BMWK / EXIST

2019-2020

Completed

Exploring Data Literacy (LEON)

Joint lead focusing on building an online course on Data Literacy for higher education.

Funded by: BMBF

2018-2023

Completed

Postdocs-to-Innovators (P2I)

International network (Cambridge, Paris, Innsbruck, Liverpool, Duisburg-Essen) supporting entrepreneurial mindsets in early-career researchers.

Funded by: German Excellence Strategy

2018-2022

Completed

Digital Entrepreneurship on Bio Data

Building a Startup Ecosystem for Life Science Ventures in Berlin.

Funded by: ELIXIR

2013-2014

Completed

BWL@VetMed

Interdisciplinary course concept for veterinary medicine.

Funded by: Volkswagenstiftung

Editorial Roles

Associate Editor (AE)

European Journal of Information Systems (EJIS) [A]

Since 2025

Editorial Review Board

Information Systems Journal (ISJ) [A]

Since 2025

Guest Senior Editor (SE)

EJIS Special Issue on Future of Value in Digital Health Ecosystems

2026

Minitrack Chair

HICSS: Managing Platforms and Ecosystems

Since 2020

Doctoral Supervision

Dr. Anna Pröpper

2026Completed

Dr. Anna Penninger

2021Completed

Jonathan Zebhauser

Ongoing

A. Bloch

Ongoing

M. Shahid

Ongoing

J. Campmann

Ongoing

D. Courtney

Ongoing

K. Lauer, PhD

Ongoing

E. Jelinek

Ongoing

A. Komysheva

Ongoing

M. Mathis

Ongoing

L. Warikoru

Ongoing

A. Haider

Ongoing

A. C. Conrady

Ongoing

Research Stays

University of Cambridge

Visiting Researcher — UK

2018

TU Graz / KFU Graz

Visiting Researcher — Austria

2015

Academic & Administrative Duties

Head of Place Beyond Bytes

Startup Excellence Center Program

GUIDE Board Member

Center for Entrepreneurship and Transfer at UDE

AURORA Network Co-Lead

Work Package 2.1: Sustainability and Climate Change

Program Lead & Head of Examining Board

Sustainable Innopreneurship M.Sc.

Department Head

Sustainability and Innovation in Digital Ecosystems

Professional Memberships

Association for Information Systems (AIS)
SIG DITE & SIG PRAG
VHB - Wiss. Kommission Wirtschaftsinformatik (WKWI)
Wiss. Kommission Dienstleistungsmanagement (WK DLM)
Gesellschaft für Informatik (GI)

Ad-hoc Reviewer Roles

MIS QuarterlyInformation Systems ResearchJournal of Management Information SystemsEuropean Journal of Information SystemsInformation Systems JournalJournal of Strategic Information SystemsInformation & OrganizationBusiness & Information Systems Engineering (BISE)Electronic MarketsEntrepreneurship & Regional DevelopmentCommunications of the AISDFG (German Research Foundation)DAAD