The Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen would like to contribute to a healthy and sustainable society. By conducting applied research together with small and medium-sized businesses as well as larger companies, we are developing new biobased products, processes and activities that meet market requirements and demand. The Biobased Economy Research Centre is where all of the available knowledge and experience on the biobased economy comes together.

The Biobased Economy Research Centre currently has three professorships: Biobased Ingredients & Materials, Biobased Refinery and Biobased Society. One of the research themes of the Biobased Society professorship is Biobased Business Valorisation. This research theme adds value to the entire Biobased Economy chain by helping to bridge the gap between consumers and technology. There is currently a vacancy for a Professor of Biobased Business Valorisation.

What we expect from the professor

Using a marketing approach, we expect you to contribute to biobased technology valorisation and to conduct related relevant applied research. The intention is to build a project and applied research portfolio aimed at optimising product development in the entire value chain.

You are responsible for safeguarding the objective of the Biobased Business Valorisation research theme, as well as for the programme content in consultation with other professors. Another responsibility is coordinating and harmonising research with the other professorships. Your teaching and research activities are supported by lecturer-researchers active in various fields, while you retain overall responsibility for the progress being made in the entire range of projects.

You publish the knowledge gained, and translate this into practical business applications. As such, you form the bridge between education and practice.

Your ambition is to further develop this research theme and to encourage collaboration at Hanze University of Applied Sciences (Hanze UAS), notably among the schools, among the centres of applied research and among the professorships of the various faculties. And this also goes for stimulating the further cooperation among the fields of Economics, Healthy Ageing and Technology & Arts. These crossovers are embedded in the teaching activities and linked to the business world, one or more living labs, and integrated in minors of various degree programmes. The educational mandate is to have the mission embraced by the degree programmes, with R&D students of technology degree programmes developing sufficient understanding of the influence that marketing has on product development throughout the entire chain.

Who are you?

You are an experienced marketeer and researcher with a focus on practice and action, who is able to translate research to the professional field. You are adept at being in charge of novice and experienced researchers, as well as in acquiring external funding. You create connections between teaching, research and the business world, and are able to inspire professionals and use research to spark innovation. You are sensitive to organisational values, goals and features, and well-versed in weighing the various interests. You are entrepreneurial and innovative in spirit, resulting in high visibility in the professional field and a keen awareness of relevant new developments. Thanks to entrepreneurial spirit you easily recognise business opportunities and are able to influence these. At a personal level, you are able to maintain a healthy balance between sensitivity and professionalism, while also communicating in a pleasant and straightforward fashion.

Essence of the Biobased Business Valorisation research theme

The essence of this professorship is to create a link between biobased technology and consumers and society. As yet, it is hardly the case that a strategic marketing philosophy is being applied anywhere to integrate consumer desires in the biobased chain. As a result, new biobased solutions are not being effectively and efficiently marketed. In addition, consumers are too often seldom involved in product innovation. The key to the Biobased Business Valorisation research theme is optimising product development throughout the entire value chain. The aim is to optimise the valorisation of innovations to a sustainable society.

To clarify the direction this movement is taking, we distinguish three transition lines, with the emphasis of this professorship:

1. External value chain transition line: businesses throughout the value chain work together to achieve mutual valorisation.

The other transition lines are:

2. Internal business transition line: the internal multidisciplinary collaboration between R&D, Marketing and Sales content, as well as other relevant disciplines focused on improving valorisation.

3. Social transition line: citizens/consumers make a transition to a biobased value and are prepared to pay for this.

With this approach, Hanze UAS intends to distinguish itself in order to bring together the business world, research and education.

Job requirements

• Demonstrable academic knowledge (PhD);
• demonstrable experience in the professional field, in order to provide a future-oriented contribution to valorising biobased technology using a marketing approach, and conducting related relevant applied research;
• a clear vision on and wide-ranging interest in the aforementioned transition lines;
• demonstrable affinity with applied research and Hanze education;
• skilled in leading teaching and research professionals in project and programme management based on subject knowledge;
• experience in writing grant proposals and implementing applied research projects is appreciated;
• relevant industry networks and experience in acquiring funding;
• good command of English and Dutch.

What we can offer

You will be given the opportunity to update the field, to contribute to new businesses and the performance of existing ones, and to help organisations to prepare for a changing environment. We offer an ambitious multidisciplinary research environment where you will be collaborating with professors, lecturer-researchers and students from various disciplines.

Working with students may indeed lead to surprising ideas and questions. You will be sparring with experts from inside the professional field and outside it, while seeking inspiration from other fields. Hanze UAS provides all of the above.

This is an appointment in the Professor A (Lector A) category of 0.6 FTE (full-time equivalent, i.e. 60% of a full-time appointment). The appointment is temporary, for the duration of the professorship. The position is job grade 15 on the CAO-HBO salary scale. The salary is a minimum of €5,096 and a maximum of €7,114 gross per month based on full-time employment. In addition, you will be entitled to holiday pay and a year-end bonus.

The selection procedure may involve an assessment.