Dr. Hauke Lütkehaus has been a postdoc in the Management Research Group at the University of Oldenburg since June 2024. His research focuses on the intersection of strategic management, innovation, and sustainability transitions. His research addresses two key questions: (1) How does the institutional environment of firms (especially policies to promote technological change towards more sustainable alternatives) influence strategic decisions and the adaptation of established firms? (2) What role does the heterogeneity of firms play in the effectiveness of policy instruments to promote sustainability transitions? Empirically, Dr. Lütkehaus' research focuses on the automotive sector and uses quantitative and qualitative methods. 

Dr. Lütkehaus was a visiting researcher at the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) at the University of Sussex. He earned his Ph.D. as an external doctoral candidate in the Management Research Group and as a fellow of the German Federal Environmental Foundation, graduating summa cum laude. During this time, he was a visiting researcher in the “Sustainability and Technology” research group at ETH Zurich. Prior to his doctorate, he earned a master’s degree in Sustainability Economics and Management from the University of Oldenburg and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Düsseldorf. In addition, he gained research experience at the DLR Institute for Networked Energy Systems in Oldenburg and at the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment, and Energy.

Selected Publications

Luetkehaus, H., Hoppmann, J. (2026): "Dead end ahead? How phase-out policies affect incumbent adaptation to technological change in the automotive industry”, Research Policy 55 (6), 105490. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2026.105490 

Hoppmann, J., Luetkehaus, H., Freund, S. (2026): "Firms and energy innovation". In Laura Diaz Anadon, Abhishek Malhotra, Ambuj D. Sagar, Elena Verdolini (Eds.): Handbook of Energy Innovation: Edward Elgar Publishing, pp. 103–119.

Luetkehaus, H. (2025): "Looking Under the Hood - How Incumbent Characteristics Reduce the Innovation Impact of Trajectory-Changing Demand-Pull Policy Mixes for Battery Electric Vehicles”, Research Policy 54 (5), 105212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2025.105212 

Luetkehaus, H., Pade, C., Oswald, M., Brand, U., Naegler, T., Vogt, T. (2022): "Measuring Raw-Material Criticality of Product Systems through an Economic Product Importance Indicator: A Case Study of Battery-Electric Vehicles”, International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 27 (1), 122-137. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-021-02002-z