I.Semih Akçomak studied economics at the Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara, Turkey. Previously, he worked as a research assistant in the department of economics at METU where he also obtained his MSc. degree. Semih joined the UNU-MERIT PhD programme in 2003 and currently works as a PhD researcher at the department of economics, Maastricht University and UNU-MERIT. His research interests range from economics of innovation to regional economics in general and empirical implementations of social and human capital, innovation and culture, and institutions in particular.