Dr. Finn Ole Semrau is a postdoctoral researcher and Deputy Research Head of the Industrial Policy Lab at the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. His work focuses on industrial policy, especially its green transition, as well as global value chains, foreign direct investment, and green innovation.

His research has been published in leading peer-reviewed journals including the Journal of Development Economics, Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Journal of International Business Policy, Industry & Innovation, and Technological Forecasting & Social Change. In 2024, he received the Kiel Institute’s Best Paper Award together with Dr. Frauke Steglich.

He combines academic research with strong policy engagement. His work has informed studies and advisory contributions for institutions such as the European Parliament, UNIDO, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, and the International Coffee Organization. During a research stay at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC Seville), he further strengthened his focus on the interface between research, industrial policy, and economic transformation.

Alongside his academic career, he has worked as an independent consultant in monitoring and evaluation in development cooperation since 2016 and has gained research and project experience in countries including Ireland, Brazil, Italy, Spain, Mozambique, and Kenya.