The Chair of Entrepreneurship is pleased to announce the launch of a new doctoral project by Kathrin Weber, funded through the “InnoProm – Innovation and Promotion” initiative of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The project will run from January 2026 to December 2028 and is co-funded by the European Union and the state of Rhineland-Palatinate.

Project Overview

Titled “FRAME-KI: A Framework for the Identification, Modeling, and Evaluation of AI Value Creation in SMEs,” the research project addresses a key challenge faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): how to systematically identify and evaluate the business value of artificial intelligence (AI).

While AI offers substantial opportunities for improving processes, products, and business models, many SMEs lack structured approaches to assess where and how AI can create tangible value. This project aims to close that gap.

Research Objectives

The central objective of the doctoral research is to develop a practical and empirically validated framework that enables companies to:

• identify relevant AI use cases,
• model their contribution to value creation, and
• evaluate their economic and strategic impact.

The project adopts a dynamic capabilities perspective, examining how organizations can build and adapt internal competencies to successfully integrate and leverage AI technologies over time.

Relevance for Practice and Policy

A key strength of the InnoProm initiative lies in its focus on application-oriented research. The project is designed to closely align academic insights with real-world business needs, facilitating the development of solutions for pre-competitive research and development (R&D) challenges.

By bridging the gap between research and practice, the project contributes to strengthening innovation capacity in the SME sector while also supporting evidence-based decision-making in AI adoption.

Contribution to Talent Development

In addition to its innovation impact, the project plays an important role in the qualification of early-career researchers. Initiatives like InnoProm help ensure a strong pipeline of highly skilled professionals who can drive digital transformation and innovation in both academia and industry.

Project Partners

The research is conducted in collaboration with industry partners:

• AUFWERT GmbH
• Crateflow GmbH
• Wolman Wood and Fire Protection GmbH

These partnerships ensure practical relevance and provide valuable insights into real-world applications of AI in different business contexts.

Funding

The project is funded by the InnoProm – Innovation and Promotion program and co-financed by the European Unionand the state of Rhineland-Palatinate.