Elena Mas Tur is an assistant professor at the Technology, Innovation & Society group of the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). Her main research lines include mathematical models of innovation, simulation models of diffusion, complex networks and patentometrics.

The main subjects/topics covered by Elena’s research:

• Simulation models in complex networks: of knowledge creation through collaboration, of knowledge diffusion through word-of-mouth with social reinforcement, of motivations for prosocial behavior (altruism/reciprocity), etc.
• Patent citations as indicators of technological relevance of inventions, and in particular the problems they present when used for this purpose

A number of Elena’s key findings:

• The more you hear something from different people, the more likely you are to believe it
• Patent citations do not always work to identify technological relevance
• Sometimes it may appear as if collaboration helps to create knowledge, but it is actually reverse causality: the high performers attract collaborators.

Elena Mas Tur obtained her PhD in Innovation Studies from Utrecht University, in 2016. She also holds degrees in Mathematics and Statistics as well as an MSc in Industrial Economics. She is a member of the International Network for Social Network Analysis and a member of the International Schumpeter Society.

Elena is also a Broman Scholar at the School of Business, Economics and Law of the University of Gothenburg. Here she carries out a research project entitled ‘Academic Sleeping Beauties: Academic breakthrough innovations with delayed recognition.’ This examines the causes and consequences of delayed recognition for breakthrough inventions, such as important patents that do not receive attention in the early stages of their lifetime. Elena has also received several awards: Best Student of Statistics, Best Student of Industrial Economics and the EU-SPRI Forum PhD Circulation Award.