Mark is a Professor of Digital Innovation at Royal Holloway, and he is both Vice Dean for Research and Innovation in the School of Business and Management and Head of Business Futures for the CoSTAR National Lab. In the broadest sense, his research explores the value that emerging technologies offer and how they (in combination) can best be harnessed to improve the ways in which we live, play and work together. His work is increasingly centred around the ‘Spatial Web’, exploring emerging technologies (e.g., Artificial Intelligence, Augmented/Mixed/Virtual Reality, the Internet of Things, Blockchain) as a means of seamlessly blending virtual and physical environments in the context of futures that further free us from the confines of physical time and space, enhance our capabilities and enrich our lives. Having worked across many domains, Mark’s current research work is centred in the creative industries, considering also how innovations there may spillover to other domains. He has published his work in several leading journals and conferences and is engaged in ongoing research with several organisations. Prior to returning to education, he worked in industry, primarily in project management and consulting.

If you are interested in studying for a PhD, I am currently looking for students to work on digital innovation topics related to ongoing work in the CoSTAR National Lab. Topics of interest include: (1) Digital Humans; (2) the Spatial Web/Metaverse (from a future business perspective); and (3) mechanisms of control (e.g., Self-Sovereign Identity), consent (e.g., as related to asset/content ownership) and compensation (e.g., ways of rewarding contribution).