Industrial Digital Platforms for Digital Product Passports: Legitimacy and Governance

The Faculty of Economics and Business offers an inspiring study and working environment for students and employees. International accreditation enables the Faculty to assess performance against the highest international standards. It also creates an exciting environment of continuous improvement. FEB's programmes, academic staff and research do well on various excellence ranking lists.

FEBRI, the graduate school and research institute of the Faculty of Economics and Business has available 

One PhD position in the field of “Industrial Digital Platforms for Digital Product Passports: Legitimacy and Governance” 

What are you going to do?

In light of the EU’s ambitious twin green and digital transition goals, the implementation of digital product passports (DPPs) has become a regulatory priority. These passports are envisioned to revolutionize the way products are tracked and evaluated, providing detailed information about their materials, manufacturing processes, and lifecycle. With DPPs, parties through the supply chain (including consumers) can access reliable information about a product’s raw materials, the environmental impact of production processes, and the ethical standards adhered to during manufacturing. A key factor in DPPs’ success is legitimacy, that is, the extent to which it is perceived as aligned with a society’s values and beliefs. Without requisite legitimation, the political support and resources needed to deploy DPPs will be challenged. Its technical legitimacy depends on the reliability of the global DPP infrastructure: is the data completely, accurately and securely stored and transmitted? The DPP’s social legitimacy revolves around data reliability and its effectiveness: is its information reflective of reality, does it increase transparency in ways that improves environmental sustainability and can organizations safeguard enough proprietary information to maintain their competitive advantage and motivation to innovate?

The objective of this research is to answer the question: What legitimation strategies (at the organizational, industry and governmental level) are effective in promoting the adoption of digital platforms for Digital Product Passports such that sustainable product lifecycles are accomplished?

From this problem, three key research questions emerge, each of which will inform one of the PhD subprojects:

1. Platform Governance: 

What governance mechanisms and design principles can enhance the legitimacy of DPP platforms? How can data integrity, transparency, and stakeholder inclusion be ensured to build trust and acceptance?

2. Steel User Business models:

How do DPPs afford new value-creating business models in steel using organizations such that a socially legitimate configuration of private/firm and public/environmental interests is accomplished?

3. Legitimation practices:

What practices of legitimation are effective for the DPPs of steel-using firms to be regarded as reliable by regulators and consumers?

The ideal candidate is ambitious, highly motivated and wishes to make a career in (academic or applied) research. He or she has a thorough training in research skills, speaks and writes English fluently and has obtained excellent results in the master phase.

The PhD candidate should have a background (MSc, research master) in Management and Organization, Information Systems, Environmental Public Policy, Industrial Economics, or related field. An interest in sustainability and the combination of theory and practical implementation would be beneficial.

If you have applied for this vacancy in the previous round, we request you not to apply again.

• 232 vacation hours per year, based on a 38-hour workweek (1.0 FTE). You can also work more or fewer hours in exchange for more or fewer free hours. For example, with a 40-hour workweek, you save 96 extra free hours, and with a 36-hour workweek, you lose 96 hours.
• End-of-year bonus of 8.3% and 8% holiday allowance.
• Extensive opportunities for personal and professional development.

At the University of Groningen (UG), researchers from all fields of academia and technology are working on academic challenges and societal questions. Lecturers prepare their students for meaningful careers within or outside the academic world. Interdisciplinary research and teaching, sharing of knowledge, collaboration with businesses, government institutions, and societal organizations are aspects that are of the utmost importance to this European top university. The UG aims to be an open academic community with an inclusive and safe working climate that invites you to add your value.

Shaping a better future together – your career starts at FEB The Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) at the University of Groningen is a vibrant academic community with a clear mission: to develop knowledge that matters. With students and staff from over 100 countries, we foster an international working and learning environment where societal impact, world-class research, and innovation are at the core. At FEB, you’ll join committed colleagues who inspire and challenge one another. Whether you're a researcher, lecturer, or support professional, your skills and ambition will contribute to educating tomorrow’s leaders and thinkers. We encourage personal development and provide plenty of room for initiative and growth. Ready to take the next step in your career? Explore our vacancies and become part of one of the Netherlands’ leading faculties.

The PhD position is embedded in the research programme Innovation & Organization of FEB’s Research Institute. The project will be supervised by Prof. Ulrike Schultze, Prof. David Langley, and a daily supervisor.

Do you have any questions or need more information?

Questions about the content of the job?
David Langley (Full Professor): D.J.Langley@rug.nl

Questions about your application process?
Rina Koning (Policy Officer): A.C.Koning@rug.nl