BTECH research seminar

Bio:
Kyeyoung's broad research interests sit at the intersection of strategy, entrepreneurship and innovation. He is supervised by Professor Pinar Ozcan and Professor Alan Morrison and is supported by the Oxford University Centre for Corporate Reputation.

His doctoral research focuses on how innovation ecosystems are created and orchestrated to tackle societal grand challenges. He is particularly interested in how interoperability in financial ecosystems can promote financial inclusion in African countries.

Aside from ecosystem orchestration, his research topics of interest include data-driven innovation and stakeholder engagement. His research contributes to the Oxford Future of Finance and Technology Initiative.

Prior to joining Oxford Saïd, Kyeyoung worked at the World Bank’s Finance, Competitiveness and Innovation Global Practice and Development Economics Vice Presidency, focusing on innovation policy and private sector development. His analytical work on innovation, technology and entrepreneurial ecosystems contributed to the publication of the World Bank’s flagship knowledge products and advisory engagements with emerging economies.

Kyeyoung received a Master of Arts in International Policy Studies from Stanford University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Politics from New York University.

Abstract:
Kyeyoung’s research focuses on how organizations can leverage innovation ecosystems to collectively address societal challenges. Kyeyoung has two main research streams. The first explores how organizations can utilize technological innovations to tackle grand societal challenges. In this context, he has studied the efforts of a non-profit organization that developed a digital public good in the financial services sector. He specifically examined the strategies employed to promote widespread adoption of this innovation and combat financial exclusion in Africa. The second focuses on the evolution of money in response to technological advancements, particularly the emergence of digital alternatives to physical cash, such as central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and stablecoins. While central banks have long held exclusive control over the issuance of money, private sector alternatives are now challenging their dominance. From an ecosystem perspective, Kyeyoung seeks to understand the roles played by key actors—such as central banks and technology providers—and how these stakeholders utilize strategic approaches to shape and lead the emerging ecosystem, as well as respond to new technological innovations within this highly regulated sector. Kyeyoung’s research is based on in-depth qualitative methods, and he will be presenting emerging findings from his data collected across diverse regions, including Rwanda, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, Hong Kong, Korea, and others.