Final Thesis

Students working on their final thesis for graduation should show and improve their ability to work on a recent, scientific, or practice-oriented research topic.

For Bachelor Theses we highly recommend the successful participation in Empirical Research Methods and Technology and Innovation Management: Introduction.

For Master Theses we highly recommend the successful participation in Empirical Research Methods in Management and Economics and one of our Advanced Seminars.

There are two ways to write your final thesis at our chair:

Research Proposal

In case you intend to write a thesis on a self-selected topic at our chair, we further require you to submit a proposal. This proposal should be about 1-2 pages (single-spaced), and clearly specify (1) your research question, (2) how this research question ties into an ongoing academic debate, (3) how, for this debate, your question is at least to some degree novel, interesting, and relevant, and (4) how you plan to answer your research question. Accordingly, we expect to see engagement with academic literature already in the proposal.

You will find further instructions on how to write a proposal in this document (Link).

Please do not contact us for preliminary requests without sending your complete application. The final decision regarding theses at out chair are made only based on complete applications. 

Applications for a final thesis at the Chair of Technology and Innovation Management can be submitted at any time. Every two months we will review the applications and assign supervisors to successful applicants. The application deadlines are therefore as follows:

In case you have questions concerning open topics, please contact the potential advisor named in the topic description directly. In case you have questions concerning the application process please contact Juliane Wissel.

We accept both empirical and conceptual theses, but please note that the amount of work will be approximately the same for both. Even if you want to focus on a topic particularly relevant for practitioners your thesis needs to have a sound theoretical basis and must fulfill the requirements of a scientific thesis. Please note accordingly that you cannot submit a practice-only topic, e.g., a business plan, as your thesis.

Topic Areas for self-selected topics

User Innovation, Open Innovation Processes
Commercial Open Source Software
Venture Capital, Technology Transfer
Markets for Technologies, Technology Acquisitions
Management of Intellectual Property, Patents and Brands, Patent Infringements

If you suggest an own topic, please provide a research proposal. 

Open Topics

Please find a list of open topics below. Follow the link for detailed information. If you are interested in one of the topics, please directly contact the respective supervisor.

• Bachelor thesis: 3 months
• Master thesis: 6 months

Hand-in of the final thesis

The following documents are required, please comply with our style guidelines:

• 3 hard copies of the final thesis (including a signed declaration of authorship / "ehrenwörtliche Erklärung") 
• Electronic versions of the final thesis (Word and PDF), electronic version of the final presentation (for Diploma thesis), Stata/R files (data, syntax), Endnote/Citavi literature files
• Hand in your thesis at the Service Point of the TUM School of Management (room 1554).
  • Mon - Fri from 9:00-12:30 / 13:30-16:00
  • after 4 pm it is possible to hand in the thesis in a closed envelope, addressed to TUM School of Management, Administration (Room 1566), Arcisstraße 21, at the main entrance at Arcisstraße 21
  • On no account should you hand your thesis in to your supervisor, office management or the Examination Office.
  • The Grades and Examinations Office will pass on copies to your supervisor. 

• Information sheet
• Registration form
• Style guidelines of the chair (English only)
• Sample cover page
• Declaration of authorship ("Ehrenwörtliche Erklärung")

If you are looking for additional forms or German versions of these forms, please refer to the faculty website.