Dr Rudy Fernandez-Escobedo
Dr Rudy Fernandez-Escobedo
Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellow
University of Galway
rudy.fernandezescobedo@universityofgalway.ie
Profile
Dr. Rudy Fernandez-Escobedo earned his PhD in Economics, cum laude, from the University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU), Spain, where he was also awarded the Extraordinary Doctorate Award 2025 for outstanding research. He also holds an MBA in Finance from EGADE Business School (Mexico), in collaboration with ESSEC Business School (France).
His career bridges academia, consulting, and public policy. As founder of RF&A Consulting, he has advised governments and private organizations across Latin America on competitiveness, corporate finance, and evaluation of public policy. Alongside his research, he has served as a graduate-level professor of business, finance, and economics. His academic work has focused on Europe and Latin America, with publications in Investigaciones Regionales – Journal of Regional Research, Journal of Competitiveness, International Journal of Information Technology & Decision Making, and Competitiveness Review.
His research and training have been supported by the Mexican government, the Government of Spain, and the European Commission, reflecting the international recognition of his academic trajectory.
Dr. Fernández Escobedo brings extensive international experience and a commitment to connecting global research with local policy impact, contributing particularly to Sustainable Development Goals 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure).
Contact Information
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rudyfernandezescobedo/
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rudy-Fernandez-Escobedo
ORCID ID: 0000-0001-5121-1877
ROSETTA Project
Industrial Agglomerations and Digital Transformation: Unveiling Synergies for Innovation and Economic Development in the European Union
Across Europe, industrial agglomeration and regional ecosystems are central to competitiveness, productivity, and innovation. As industries face rapid technological change and global relocations, understanding how digital transformation interacts with industrial agglomerations and innovation has become critical for shaping effective policy and sustaining regional growth.
This project examines the synergies between agglomeration, digital transformation, and innovation, focusing on their role in driving economic development and competitiveness across the European Union. Using a longitudinal and multi-method approach, including cluster mapping, PLS-SEM, and OLS regression, the study will track how industrial agglomerations evolve over time, how digital technologies enable open innovation, and how these dynamics translate into outcomes such as GDP growth, productivity, and earnings per worker. A qualitative component will capture the changes in innovation and competitiveness before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, adding temporal depth to the analysis.
The research will provide a comprehensive map of industrial agglomerations and innovation networks in Europe, filling a critical gap in current knowledge. A six-month secondment will support the translation of findings into regional development strategies, ensuring direct policy relevance.
The project will deliver evidence-based recommendations for the EU’s Smart Specialization Strategy (S3) and contribute to broader debates on industrial and innovation policy, supporting Sustainable Development Goals 8 and 9.
ROSETTA Supervisor and Host Institution
Supervisor: Prof Lorraine Morgan
Host: University of Galway