Sabrina Luthfa, PhD

Sabrina Luthfa is an experienced academic and researcher specializing in Innovation Sciences and work-integrated learning–oriented teaching practice, developed through her long-standing engagement with Swedish higher education. Prior to joining ULAB, she served as a Senior Lecturer / Assistant Professor at a Swedish university and was actively involved in the STARS EU alliance, a collaboration among nine European universities.

Her academic expertise spans a broad range of multidisciplinary areas, including International Business, Innovation Management, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Leadership, Sustainability, and the Circular Economy. She combines research-driven teaching with a strong focus on applied and experiential learning. She is also experienced in developing testbeds for Startups to promote circular practices, enable innovation and growth in Small Swedish communities.

Sabrina aims to further advance her career in an organization where she can effectively leverage her research capability, analytical skills, teaching experience, and project development expertise to address complex challenges, design impactful strategies, and foster meaningful learning environments. Her long-term professional objective is to contribute to entrepreneurship development and sustainable business practices that improve socio-economic outcomes in developing countries, in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

PhD in Innovation Sciences (Business Administration), Halmstad University, Sweden.

Philosophy Licentiate in International Business, Gothenburg University, Sweden.

MSc in International Business, Graduate Business School, Gothenburg University, Sweden.

BSc in Business Administration, University of Skövde, Sweden.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Circular economy, Sustainability.

• Awarded Torsten and Ragnar Söderberg scholarship for research 2009-2011
• University West internal award for developing a pedagogical game 2019
• Best student award, Rokeya Hall, Dhaka University, 1998

Other Academic Activities

• Expert pool member for International Trade and Entrepreneur Development, Hortex, Bangladesh (2023 – to present)
• Responsible for establishing Testbed for Marine waste for sustainability at Sotenäs Municipality, Sweden (2020-2021)
• Responsible for starting up the Entrepreneurship Academy for University West, Sweden (2019)

Pedagogical Training and Development

• Post Graduate Supervisory training course (5HP) Gothenburg University (2022)
• Norm critical pedagogy (7.5 HP), University West, Sweden (2022)
• Work Integrated Learning (AIL600) (7.5 HP), University West, Sweden (2019)
• BRANDGLOVATION -Strategic Marketing Game, Developed as teaching material for the second year Marketing students at University West, Sweden (2019)
• Teaching in higher education (7.5 HP) Halmstad University, Sweden (2013)

1. University of Skövde, Sweden (2023)- Knowledge and Innovation management.
2. Saïd Business School, University of Oxford (2019)– Executive MBA programme with Prof. Marc Ventresca (18J S&I, Module 1 - Strategy and Innovation).
3. Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Bangladesh (2018)–Sustainable Agriculture, Importance of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
4. Daffodil International University and Innovation Hub, Bangladesh (2017) - Innovation System, Uncertainty in the Innovation Process.
5. Worcester University, United Kingdom (2014) Entrepreneurship culture in the developing country.

• Creativity and Innovation Management Journal, Wiley Online Library
• Journal of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Taylor and Francis, Routledge
• International Journal of Innovation Management, Online Journal

1. Luthfa, S. (2021) – The roll of testbed in the healthcare innovation. In A. Svensson, and C. Gjellebaek (2021) Organisering, implementering och användning av välfärdsteknologi (38–42). University West. ISBN: 978-91-88847-99-7.
2. Luthfa, S. (2019) “A study of how uncertainty emerges in the uncertainty-embedded innovation process”. Journal of Innovation Management, www.open-jim.org, 7(1), 46-79.
3. Luthfa, S. (2017) “The Uncertainty-Embedded Innovation Process- A study of how uncertainty emerges in the innovation process and of how firms address that to create novelty”, Halmstad University, Sweden. (Published) http://hh.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A1095806&dswid=-6019
4. Luthfa, S. and Hanjun, H. (2015) “State Parenting Entrepreneurship – A case of A Chinese entrepreneur” In: Cross, S. and Galbraith, B. (Ed.): Innovation Intermediaries for Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Case study perspectives. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267334848_State-parenting_Entrepreneurship_-_A_case_study_of_a_Chinese_entrepreneur_seizing_opportunity
5. Luthfa, S. (2011) Tying Bonds - The facilitating and the constraining role of dyadic relationships on business development. Published in the University of Gothenburg. http://gup.ub.gu.se/gup/record/index.xsql?pubid=136823

1. Luthfa, S. (2026) Building an Inclusive Circular Agricultural Innovation Platform for Sustainable Entrepreneurship in developing countries. Submitted in Natural Resources Forum Journal. In review process.
2. Luthfa, S. (2023) “Innovation inertia - unfolding of the activity void in the innovation process”. Submitted to Creativity and Innovation Journal (in review)
3. Luthfa, S. (2021) “Transforming surface learners into deep learners – Experimental “Lego building

1. Luthfa, S., Newaz, F. T., & Svensson, S. (2025, November 7–8). A qualitative study of the factors leading to failure in innovation adoption in the Swedish healthcare sector. Paper accepted for presentation and publication in the conference proceedings at the International Conference on Applied Business & Economic Research (ICABER’2025), İstanbul, Türkiye.
2. Luthfa, S. (2017) “Managing resource uncertainties in an innovation process” – SIBR conference 2017, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
3. Luthfa, S. (2016) “Reverse Innovation- Evidences from the Emerging Economy” –AIB UKI conference, London, UK.
4. Luthfa, S. and Hanjun, H. (2015) “State Parenting Entrepreneurship – A case of A Chinese entrepreneur” - ECIE 2013 8th European Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Brussels, Belgium.
5. Luthfa, S. and Nguyen L. (2008) Market knowledge creation process prior to market entry. Presented in the AIB Conference 2008. Milan, Italy.
6. Abraha, D. and Luthfa, S. (2004) Network Realities in the Age of Information and Communication Technology (ICC). Published in International Management Development Research Yearbook (IMDA), Vol. XIII 2004. ISBN: 1-888624-03-5.

1. June, 2017: How to handle the winding path of an innovation https://www.hh.se/english/information-english/news/research-news-archive/2017-06-28-how-to-handle-the-winding-path-of-an-innovation.html
2. Kompromisser ger harmoni i innovationsprocessen, entré, 3/2017 https://esbri.se/kompromisser-ger-harmoni-i-innovationsprocessen/ (In Swedish)

1. Feb 11, The Daily Star: Circular agricultural platform can benefit farmers and consumers.  Link
2. Feb 15, 2025, The Daily Prothom Alo: বৃত্তাকার কৃষি উদ্ভাবনী প্ল্যাটফর্ম হতে পারে একটি সমাধান Link