On June 17, 2022, Matheus Leusin defended his dissertation entitled "Technological Change and Absorptive Capacity: An Evolutionary Perspective of Artificial Intelligence" and was awarded his doctorate. In his cumulative dissertation, he deals in three empirical studies with the worldwide emergence and diffusion of technologies linked to Artificial Intelligence (AI). The thesis provides a comprehensive overview of the technological development of AI, how this development was reflected in countries’ exploration of this technology, and how the most recent wave of AI development affects the innovative activities of firms that introduce AI innovations.

Matheus is the first member of the doctoral students from the Diginomics Research Group to conclude the doctorate. He has published a chapter of his thesis in the journal "World Patent Information", and one in the IERP discussion papers series. During his doctoral studies, he presented his work at conferences such as DRUID, Applied Evolutionary Economics (EMAEE), International Schumpeter Society Conference (ISS), and others. One of his working papers was awarded the EAEPE prize for the best paper on Evolutionary Political Economy written by a young scholar. Matheus also assisted in teaching and supervising as part of the working group led by Prof. Dr. Jutta Günther.

As of August 2022, Matheus Leusin will continue his scientific career as a postdoctoral researcher in the Evolutionary Economics working group at the University of Bremen. Under the supervision of Christian Cordes he will also pursue an habilitation.