AI Diffusion, Superstar Firms and Technology Sovereignty

Professor Cher Li

Professor Chris Jones

Dr Anwar Adem

In an era defined by rapid digital transformation, a small cohort of global technology giants is accumulating unprecedented control over foundational AI innovations. This concentration of power creates structural dependencies and raises urgent questions about technology sovereignty for mid-sized economies like the UK.

This PhD project offers a unique opportunity to investigate how geopolitical competition and the dominance of "superstar" firms shape the future of UK innovation and the industry ecosystem. Positioned at the cutting edge of economics, business strategy and industrial policy, this research addresses a fundamental question: Who truly holds the power in the AI-driven global economy? The project will examine how Artificial Intelligence is reshaping our world while evaluating the effectiveness of national policy efforts in protecting strategic assets and fostering technological resilience.

By utilising advanced data analytics to bridge signals from labour market stats, patent and IP statistics and business financial data, the candidate will track the pace of AI diffusion across the economy. This research is not just academic; it is topical and vital for informing the UK’s industrial strategy and ensuring long-term competitiveness in a fragmented global landscape.

This project is a flagship initiative within two leading research centres at Aston Business School: the Centre for Business Prosperity (CBP) and Advanced Services Group (ASG). This partnership ensures the research is grounded in real-world business models.

In addition to academic research, the successful candidate will benefit from:

• Active Placement Opportunities: Multiple opportunities to work with project stakeholders, merging academic rigour with practical industry and policy applications.

• High-Impact Knowledge Exchange: Involvement in policy advisory, dynamic stakeholder engagement and capacity building.

• Institutional Support: Direct links to the supervisory team’s high-level networks including international organisations (e.g., OECD, IMF, World Bank) and national government agencies, providing a clear, accelerated pathway for research to inform global AI governance.

International applicants are welcome to apply for this position.

This project covers all tuition fees and includes an annual stipend.

Please note that the successful candidate will be responsible for any costs relating to moving to Birmingham and/or visiting the Aston campus. International students must meet the financial requirements for the visa, flights, and NHS Surcharge. Applicants should be confident that they can meet these costs before applying.

Further information can be found by viewing our Financial Requirements page.

The successful applicant should hold, or expect to achieve:

A First or Upper Second Class Honours undergraduate degree, and a Masters degree with Merit or Distinction, both in relevant subjects.

Qualifications from overseas institutions will be considered, but performance must be equivalent to that described above, and the University reserves the right to ascertain this equivalence according to its own criteria.

Required characteristics

We are seeking highly motivated candidates with:

• A strong MSc-level background in quantitative methods or related fields, including Economics, Business and Management studies, Social Statistics, Data Sciences, Technology and Innovation or Applied Mathematics.
• A passion for bridging critical knowledge gaps at the intersection of business strategy and industrial policy.
• The analytical mindset required to generate impactful research that addresses complex global economic challenges.

Desirable characteristics

The following skills and experiences are considered highly desirable:

• Technical Proficiency: Ability to use programming languages such as Stata, R or Python.
• Data Management: Experience in the construction and management of large-scale datasets.
• Web Scraping: Familiarity with web scraping techniques for data acquisition.
• Methodological Interest: A desire to apply techniques such as policy evaluation, causal inference and advanced econometric analysis.

Note: While prior familiarity with these specific tools is an advantage, comprehensive research training will be provided to ensure the candidate is fully equipped for the project's technical demands.

We can only consider applications that are complete and have all supporting documents. Applications that do not provide all the relevant documents will be automatically rejected. Your application must include:

1. English language copies of the transcripts and certificates for all your higher education degrees, including any Bachelor degrees.
2. A Research Statement detailing your understanding of the research area, how you would approach the project, and a brief review of relevant literature. Be sure to use the title of the research project you are applying for. There is no set format or word count.
3. A personal statement which outlines any further information which you think is relevant to your application, such as your personal suitability for research, career aspirations, possible future research interests, and further description of relevant employment experience.
4. A Curriculum Vitae (Resume) which details your education and work history.
5. Two academic referees who can discuss your suitability for independent research. References must be on headed paper, signed and dated no more than 2 years old. At least one reference should be from your most recent University. You can submit your references at a later date if necessary.
6. Evidence that you meet the English Language requirements. If you do not currently meet the language requirements, you can submit this at a later stage.
7. A copy of your passport. Where relevant, include evidence of settled or pre-settled status.

Please contact Professor Cher Li, for more information or for an informal discussion

This position will be based on the Aston Campus in Birmingham, UK. The successful candidate will need to be located within a reasonable distance of the campus, and will be expected to visit in person regularly.

Interviews will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams. If you are shortlisted, you will be contacted directly with details of the interview.

Apply for this position

Alternatively, apply here

If you require further information about the application process, please contact the Postgraduate Admissions team.