Thomas Brekke (LinkedIn) is Associate professor, PhD. at the USN School of Business, and Research Leader for the Strategic Initiative USN Regional Value Creation
His work sits at the intersection of innovation, entrepreneurship, and regional development, with a strong emphasis on how knowledge flows between universities, industries, and society.
Thomas Brekke, The Short Version
- Profile: Thomas Brekke - USN
- LinkedIn: Thomas Brekke
- Role: Associate professor, PhD., Research Leader Strategic Initiative USN Regional Value Creation
- Institution: USN School of Business, Campus Vestfold
- Location: Vestfold, Norway
Thomas Brekke is an associate professor and research leader at the University of South-Eastern Norway, focusing on regional economic development, innovation systems, and university-industry collaboration.
His work explores how new business models, digital transformation, and ecosystem innovation can reshape industries such as shipping, energy, and manufacturing.
He combines research, teaching, and real-world engagement through board roles and applied projects, helping bridge academia and practice.
He is particularly interested in how collaboration and knowledge sharing can drive sustainable growth and transformation across regions.
Connecting Innovation, Industry, and Regions
Thomas Brekke’s research focuses on how regions evolve economically, and how innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration shape that evolution. His work explores industrial transformation, digitalization processes, and the development of new business models within complex ecosystems.
A central theme in his work is understanding how universities can act as active agents in regional transformation, not just as educators but as catalysts for innovation and value creation.
“Regional growth is not just about technology, but about how people, institutions, and industries learn to work and innovate together.”
Research with Real-World Impact
Brekke is deeply involved in applied research projects that address contemporary challenges across industries. His ongoing work includes initiatives in shipping, smart energy systems, photovoltaic business models, and AI-driven circular economy innovation.
These projects reflect his broader interest in ecosystem-based innovation, where multiple actors collaborate to create new forms of value.
He has also contributed extensively to research on innovation systems, service innovation, and the evolving role of higher education institutions in regional economies.
Teaching and Mentorship
In addition to his research leadership, Thomas teaches across both bachelor and master levels, covering topics such as entrepreneurial management, innovation management, and student enterprise development.
He actively supervises master and PhD students, supporting emerging researchers in developing their ideas and connecting them to real-world contexts.
His teaching philosophy emphasizes learning through practice, collaboration, and engagement with external partners.
Bridging Academia and Practice
Beyond academia, Brekke is actively engaged in industry and regional development initiatives through board memberships and advisory roles, including Horten Næringsforum and Gründerhuset Drammen.
These roles allow him to bring practical insights into his research and teaching, while also ensuring that academic knowledge contributes directly to societal and economic development.
Core Competencies and Expertise
His expertise spans a broad range of interconnected fields, including regional economic development, organizational change, entrepreneurship, and knowledge management.
He is particularly interested in how industrial ecosystems evolve over time, and how innovation processes can be designed and managed to support sustainable transformation.
Curiosity and Collaboration
Thomas is driven by a strong curiosity about how different sectors and disciplines intersect. He is especially interested in collaborations that connect research with industry, policy, and entrepreneurship.
For participants and collaborators, he offers a valuable perspective grounded in both theory and practice, and a deep understanding of how ideas can be translated into real-world impact.
“The most exciting innovations happen where disciplines, industries, and people meet.”
Looking Ahead
Through his role as Research Leader for USN’s Strategic Initiative on Regional Value Creation, Brekke continues to explore how universities can play a transformative role in shaping future industries and sustainable regional development.
His work invites others to think bigger about collaboration, and to see innovation not just as a technical challenge, but as a collective, evolving process.