Daniel Yar

Background

About Daniel Yar

As a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action (MSCA) Research Fellow, I am deeply committed to advancing governance and innovation within European SMEs. From 2017 to 2020, I led the EU Commission’s Horizon 2020-funded GoSMEs project, which examined governance in SMEs through a service-dominant logic, aimed at fostering resilient and forward-thinking enterprises. Currently, I lead a Knowledge Foundation-funded research and education initiative focused on identifying and overcoming innovation barriers in SMEs. A core aspect of this project is to explore lifelong learning and the role of universities in promoting it as part of their mission in higher education. My ongoing research prioritizes innovation and organizational renewal, particularly through service innovations and the integration of data-driven and digital transformation solutions. Alongside my research, I bring over twenty years of practical experience in governance training, specializing in the development of board directors and chairpersons. My professional roles have spanned chairperson, board director, CEO, business owner, and advisor across diverse organizations, allowing me a multifaceted perspective on governance. Previously, I served as Chair of the Swedish Institute of Directors (IoD) in West Sweden and remain active in governance advocacy across various businesses. Driven by a strong belief in impactful, research-led governance, I am dedicated to shaping the future of corporate boards and empowering SMEs to innovate sustainably through digital transformation.