MAIN (Management & Innovation) is one of the three research areas within the Institute of Management at Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna. Research in this area aims to describe, understand, explain, and facilitate the management of innovation developed at all levels within private companies, public administrations, and cities/regions.
Innovation is known to be a crucial element for the competitiveness and growth of companies and, more generally, for organizations and territories. Particularly, companies must continuously adapt to new demand and supply situations and, if possible, proactively influence them. This also applies to public administrations and cities/regions.

The research conducted by MAIN researchers aims to describe, understand, explain, and facilitate innovation management in private companies, public administrations, and cities/regions. Innovation processes are interpreted here from a technological, managerial, cultural, and institutional perspective.
MAIN’s activities are based on a long tradition of management studies in Pisa under the guidance of Prof. Riccardo Varaldo. It developed starting with significant projects like the National Link Project (1998-2001), which led to the creation of a new Science and Technology Hub in Pontedera. Within MAIN, professors, researchers, and PhD students combine their skills to enhance cross-fertilization opportunities. Most have managerial backgrounds, and their individual specializations cover a wide range of topics, from technology management to finance, accounting, and international relations. Research at MAIN is characterized by a multidisciplinary approach, a strong empirical orientation, and a commitment to theory building.

Some relevant elements of MAIN’s research include:

• Intensive interaction with various international research centers, such as the Centre for Open Innovation at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Institute for Manufacturing at the University of Cambridge;
• Continuous interaction with small and large enterprises participating in Master’s and PhD courses, providing ideas and funding for research activities;
• A fruitful collaboration with other institutes of Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, particularly those in the technology field, such as engineering and natural sciences;
• Active participation of MAIN faculty and researchers in networks and organizations where scientific research and theory meet practice and policy, such as the initiatives of the Tuscany Regional Administration and national and international organizations like MIUR, Netval, etc.