Adoption of Emerging Technologies and Regulatory Impacts on Innovation in Emerging Markets

This doctoral project will investigate the adoption and impact of emerging technologies—specifically blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI)—in emerging markets, focusing on how regulatory environments and institutional pressures shape innovation strategies across sectors like finance, healthcare, and supply chain management.

While blockchain and AI offer transformative potential in enhancing transparency, automating processes, and driving data-informed decisions, organisations in emerging economies often face unique regulatory and infrastructural challenges that influence adoption rates and strategic approaches.

The student will undertake a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative case studies and interviews with quantitative data analysis to capture a comprehensive view of technology adoption trends and the effects of regulatory constraints. Quantitative analysis will involve examining large datasets on technology adoption, regulatory metrics, and economic indicators to identify statistical correlations and causal relationships. The research aims to quantify the impact of regulatory and institutional factors on innovation performance and explore how firms can leverage governmental cooperation to overcome barriers and foster sustainable adoption of these technologies.

This project offers collaboration opportunities with technology firms, regulatory bodies, and policy think tanks, providing the student with access to industry data and regulatory insights. The ideal candidate should possess strong quantitative analysis skills, including experience with statistical software (such as R, Python, or SPSS) and a background in business strategy, innovation management, or a related field, along with a foundational understanding of blockchain and AI. 

How to apply

If you are interested in applying for the above PhD topic please follow the steps below:

  1. Contact the supervisor by email or phone to discuss your interest and find out if you would be suitable. Supervisor details can be found on this topic page. The supervisor will guide you in developing the topic-specific research proposal, which will form part of your application.
  2. Click on the 'Apply here' button on this page and you will be taken to the relevant PhD course page, where you can apply using an online application.
  3. Complete the online application indicating your selected supervisor and include the research proposal for the topic you have selected.

Good luck!

This is a self funded topic

Brunel offers a number of funding options to research students that help cover the cost of their tuition fees, contribute to living expenses or both. See more information here: https://www.brunel.ac.uk/research/Research-degrees/Research-degree-funding. The UK Government is also offering Doctoral Student Loans for eligible students, and there is some funding available through the Research Councils. Many of our international students benefit from funding provided by their governments or employers. Brunel alumni enjoy tuition fee discounts of 15%.

Meet the Supervisor(s)

Rebecca Li - Dr Rebecca Yu Li is a Senior Lecturer in Strategy and Management at Brunel Business School. Her research examines the dark side and responsible governance of innovation, with a particular focus on how firms manage innovation when expected value is uncertain, contested or constrained by regulation. She studies these issues in settings including blockchain adoption, AI-enabled digital transformation, carbon-market and sustainability innovation, social innovation, and cross-border knowledge transfer. Her work has been published in leading international journals including the Journal of Product Innovation Management, Technovation, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Journal of International Marketing and Journal of Business Research. This body of research contributes to strategy, innovation and international business by explaining how firms learn from innovation failure, govern emerging technologies, and build capabilities for responsible and sustainable value creation. Rebecca’s research is closely connected to external engagement and research-led education. Through the Made Smarter London programme, she contributes to executive education for manufacturing SME leaders on digital transformation, linking her research on innovation capability, technology adoption and organisational change with the practical challenges of SME digitalisation. She has also led funded research on regional and national institutional support for sustainable innovation among UK SMEs. Rebecca designs and delivers international executive education through the Brunel × Barclays Omani Strategic Executive Entrepreneurship Programme for senior leaders from Oman’s University of Technology and Applied Sciences. Her teaching translates research on strategic entrepreneurship and innovation capability into practical approaches to institutional innovation and entrepreneurial leadership. Rebecca is a member of the Editorial Board of International Marketing Review, a CABS/AJG 3 and ABDC A-ranked journal. She welcomes invitations for research seminars, doctoral workshops and industry-facing knowledge exchange on responsible innovation governance, emerging technology adoption, carbon-market innovation, innovation failure and capability building. She also serves as an External Examiner at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), contributing independent oversight of academic standards and assessment quality assurance.” At Brunel Business School, Rebecca has held strategic leadership roles including Director of Rankings and is currently the Director of Recruitment and Admissions for the Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Management Department. Before joining Brunel, she was a Lecturer in Marketing at the University of Essex, where she also served as Research Seminar Coordinator.