Roger Masclans

Roger Masclans
  • Assistant Professor of Management

Contact Information

  • office Address:

    2035 SH-DH
    3620 Locust Walk
    Philadelphia, PA 19104

Overview

I am an Assistant Professor of Management at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

My research focuses on innovation, studying how market and organizational conditions shape technological development and firm performance, and how AI affects science and the commercialization of research.

Prior to academia, I founded a startup developing machine learning solutions for enterprise clients and spent several years in M&A, working on technology acquisitions in advanced materials, biologics, energy generation, and water treatment.

Continue Reading

Research

  • Roger Masclans, Cohen, Wesley, Hasan, Sharique (2025), Measuring the Commercial Potential of Science, Strategic Management Journal, 46 (6). Abstract

    We develop an ex-ante measure of commercial potential of science, an otherwise unobservable variable driving the performance of innovation-intensive firms. To do so, we rely on LLMs and neural networks to predict whether scientific articles will influence firms’ use of science. Incorporating time-varying models and the quantification of uncertainty, the measure is validated through both traditional methods and out-of-sample exercises, leveraging a major university’s technology transfer data. To illustrate the methodological contributions of our measure, we apply it to examining the impact of university reputation and university privatization of science, finding that firms’ reliance on reputation may lead to foregone opportunities, and privatization (i.e., patenting) appears to increase firms’ use of the science of one university. We make our measure and method available to researchers.

Teaching

Past Courses

  • MGMT2230 - Business Strategy

    This course introduces concepts and analytical techniques for creating sustainable advantage in challenging competitive environments. Students examine strategic decisions faced by managers responsible for the performance of a firm or business unit, who must diagnose the basis for current results, identify internal and external changes likely to threaten the firm’s position or create opportunities, and formulate and implement strategies to compete successfully. Through readings, case-based discussions, and theory, the course develops students’ ability to analyze competitive environments, evaluate the strengths and limitations of firms, and make strategic choices at both the business and corporate levels. Special emphasis is placed on first-order forces shaping competition, including advances in artificial intelligence, platform-based business models, and rapid innovation in science- and technology-intensive industries. A solid understanding of strategy is essential not only for top managers, but also for external consultants, financial analysts, and capital allocators responsible for valuing and growing firms.

In the News

Knowledge @ Wharton

Activity

Latest Research

Roger Masclans, Cohen, Wesley, Hasan, Sharique (2025), Measuring the Commercial Potential of Science, Strategic Management Journal, 46 (6).
All Research

In the News

Why Consumers Are Still Spending Despite Inflation

Professor Barbara Kahn explains what is driving resilient retail spending.…Read More

Knowledge @ Wharton - 2026/07/21
All News