Dr Ali Aslan Gümüsay, Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society

Dr Ali Aslan Gümüsay is Head of the Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Society Research Group at the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG). Here he coordinates projects that deal with the topics of digital innovation and digital entrepreneurship.

Brain City Ambassador Dr Ali Aslan Gümüsay’s area of research is extremely exciting. As Head of the Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Society Research Group at the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG) in Berlin, he deals with two future-oriented topics: digital innovation and digital entrepreneurship. “My work is strongly driven by empirical evidence. I observe interesting organisations and leaders whose actions lead me to reflect. I then wonder about the significance of what I’m observing. And what consequences it might have.” 

Ali Aslan Gümüsay is particularly fascinated by how technological and social changes shape organisations. And also how they deal with it. “How do organizations create unity in diversity? How can smaller organizations make big things happen and how does artificial intelligence affect leadership principles and practices? If these are not delightful questions …”, he explains and asks with a smile.

His research group comprises more than 20 members and cooperates on a project-specific basis with quite a wide range of organisations in Berlin. “We collaborate with policymakers such as the Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales (Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs) and the Bundesministerium der Finanzen (Federal Ministry of Finance). But we also work with scientific institutions such as the Einstein Center Digital Future and the Weizenbaum Institute. Other Berlin organisations from business and civil society are also among our partners”, he added.

Ali Aslan Gümüsay has been researching at HIIG since the beginning of the year. He came to Berlin via Hamburg and Vienna as part of a DAAD PRIME Fellowship, which provides support for international post-doctoral researcher through positions at German universities. He had previously completed his studies and doctorate at the Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford. He then taught at Oxford’s Magdalen College. Ali Aslan Gümüsay previously gained valuable practical experience at an international management consultancy in Berlin. 

The Brain City Berlin has a very special attraction for Ali Aslan Gümüsay: “Thanks to several quite recently founded institutions, Berlin is a global hub for research into the digitalisation of the economy and society. And HIIG is a strong institution that excels at combining research and knowledge transfer. Plus, it has the right spirit to help shape society”, adds the scientist who has now settled in the city. He is above all grateful for the freedom to reflect and pause consciously: “It is this freedom that drew me into science and keeps me here.” 

The young scientist gives the following tip to young researchers who want to come to Berlin: “Get to know the many different Berlin institutions. Innovative scientific breakthroughs are possible by recombining the interesting facets that already exist in the facilities here!” 
 

In May 2021, Brain City Ambassador Dr. Ali Aslan Gümüsay was among the ten young scientists to be honored by Zeit online GmbH/academics GmbH with the Junior Scientist Award.