Knowing that we can’t go on using our increasingly spare raw materials and natural sources, lots of organisations and companies are trying to become more sustainable. But change doesn’t always come naturally, due to competition between public issues and private interests. Making agreements with competing actors isn’t easy and requires navigation and coordination. Who are the actors in this process? How do you develop a shared aim? How do you get them to collaborate to make the necessary societal transition possible? Top-down governmental intervention by, for example, subsidies or legislation change isn’t always an option and tends to take time. Bottom-up movements can play an important role, as sectorial or regional developments are vital for upscaling societal transitions. But how to create the synergy between the organizational change of the actors involved to contribute to the necessary societal transition?
Client
The client for this project is the Institute for Sustainable Process Technology. This independent non-profit organisation initiates projects and matches organisations in the process industry to make their complex processes innovative and more sustainable. By putting the right people together around the table ISPT aims to achieve sustainable transitions in the energy, raw materials and agro-food business. All to create a transition towards a CO2-neutral circular economy in 2050. In light of the current national and European policy aiming to ensure resource independence, the ISPT is exploring the different roles it can play with its network of big players in the process industry.
Assignment
The goal of this project is to jump on this rolling train of exploration by understanding ISPT, its current role, network and societal transition goals, to start discussions with the different actors to develop advice and/or implement interventions enhancing the role of ISPT as a societal transition navigator. We’ll try to combine as many disciplinary perspectives as possible because this complex challenge is not only met by answering more technical issues but also has, for instance, important political, business administrational, communicational and legal aspects. In other words, it’s a project that’ll only make impact if we think, work and act in a truly interdisciplinary way.
Kick-off weekend
The kick-off weekend of this think tank will be on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 October 2024. The kick-off weekend is a mandatory part of the think tank.
Weekly meetings
The weekly meetings start after the kick-off weekend and will take place on Monday evenings from 18:30-20:30 unless the group decides otherwise in consultation with the supervisors. The supervisors attend the meetings once every three weeks.
Study trip
A study trip of three or four days is also part of this think tank. The dates and location will be determined in consultation with the group.
Supervisor
Sjors Witjes, assistant professor Strategy at the Institute for Management Research at Radboud University