Technology and Innovation

Technology and innovation is a degree that addresses the relationship between technological change and the social, economic, and organisational processes through which that change is developed and diffused. It sits at the intersection of science and technology studies, management, and innovation policy, asking not just how technologies are created but why some succeed and others fail, how organisations harness technological capability to competitive advantage, what the consequences of technological change are for workers, industries, and societies, and how policy can encourage beneficial innovation while managing its risks.

At University College London, you will study this three-year degree within one of the world's leading research universities, with access to UCL's exceptional resources across engineering, social science, and management. The curriculum covers the economics and management of innovation, the history and sociology of technology, intellectual property and technology transfer, entrepreneurship and venture creation, digital transformation, and the governance of emerging technologies including artificial intelligence and biotechnology. You will engage with case studies and live organisations as well as with the theoretical frameworks that help make sense of technological change at the firm, industry, and societal levels.

Research methods are embedded throughout, developing your capacity to analyse complex questions about technology and innovation with appropriate rigour.

Graduates from technology and innovation programmes enter careers across the innovation ecosystem. Roles in technology companies, corporate R&D functions, venture capital and technology investment, innovation consultancy, and public sector innovation units are direct applications of the knowledge and analytical skills the degree provides. Policy roles in government departments, regulatory bodies, and international organisations concerned with digital economy, industrial policy, and research and innovation funding are further destinations for those who want to shape the environment in which technology develops.

Entrepreneurship is a common path for graduates who want to create new technology ventures. Academic research in innovation studies, science and technology policy, or management of technology is available for those who want to develop their expertise further, and postgraduate study in technology management, public policy, or related fields is a natural next step.