Klaus Nielsen is Professor of Institutional Economics at the Department of Management, Birkbeck, University of London where he is a member of Birkbeck Sport Business Centre. He teaches research methods, innovation, business in the European Union and economics of sport. His current research areas include varieties of capitalism, innovation, social capital, elite sports and the economics of sports.

He has coordinated several research project about Danish elite sports, sports participation and economic aspects of sport. His work has been published in several books and in journals like International Studies of Management and Organization, Journal of Economic Issues and European Sport Management Quarterly.