Kaumera is a material made from wastewater treatment and has shown promising characteristic as a flame retardant. In this research report we aimed to bridge the gap between academia and commerce by analysing the potential of Kaumera using a generalised framework of Sustainable Business Model Innovation and the Lean Startup Methodology. The named models were researched through the method of research through design. Using the SBMI framework of Bocken (2019) a startup was proposed and compared to the Lean Startup Methodology. As defined by the SBMI framework, the symbiotic dependencies were identified to be the producers of Kaumera, the clients of the company, the IP owners, academics involved and potential partners. The neutral dependency is related to legislation and legislative bodies, and the competitive dependency are competitors. Furthermore, it was analysed how the assumptions could be validated by the company for the early-stage, scaling and diversification and internationalisation phases of the company.
The results found that Kaumera is a feasible flame retardant both in a commercial and sustainability perspective. It was found that the SMBI framework focusses too much on the sustainability aspect to be truly a viable Business Model approach for startups and does not allow for flexible and adjustable business strategies. For this reason, a combination with the Lean methodology can be applied to overcome the shortcomings of the SBMI framework. This research report shows that the Lean methodology complements the aspects of SBMI which are not suited for startups. This research report therefore suggests the use of a framework based on Lean incorporating generalised aspects of SBMI as an effective and flexible sustainable business model for startups.

The agricultural sector in South Holland is highly productive and contributes greatly to the economy. However, current industrial agricultural practices generated several severe environmental and socio-economic challenges. Various renowned international institutions have emphasised the necessity for a radical, rather than an incremental, transformation in the agri-food system. There are growing calls to shift the paradigm from industrial agriculture to agroecology. Agroecology is a fundamental alternative vision of the agri-food system, bundling the power of sustainable farming practices that utilise ecological principles and re-establish the connection between farmers and consumers, and by extension nature. This study sets out to introduce the reader to agroecology and to discover strategies for how the province of South Holland can stimulate the transition to agroecology. To achieve this goal, the research methodology comprised a literature review and semi-structured interviews with agroecological farmers, an agroecology expert, and a provincial agricultural policymaker. The results uncovered that the underlying goal of the agri-food system should be transformed from profit and production maximisation of industrial agriculture to sustainability and social justice of agroecology. Achieving this goal shift requires fundamental changes and will be a tremendous challenge because of the complex and embedded nature of the agri-food system. Agroecology simultaneously tries to realise this transformation on three fronts: as a science, a set of agricultural practices, and a movement. Furthermore, the research identified key barriers and enablers in the transition to agroecology in South Holland from the agroecological farmers’ perspective. The province of South Holland could stimulate the transition by providing long-term affordable land, revising regulations to support forward-thinking practices, adopting an integrated approach to agriculture, bridging the gap between civil servants, farmers, and consumers, restructuring subsidy allocation, and lobbying to simplify (organic) certification processes. The research verifies the results of previous studies on several barriers and enablers but distinguishes itself by focusing specifically on the farmers’ perspective and the province of South Holland. Additional research is needed to broaden the scope beyond the viewpoint of agroecological farmers, and how to implement the policy recommendations effectively. Currently, the Dutch agri-food system is not yet ready for a paradigm shift from industrial agriculture to agroecology. However, the system is being pressured from various angles generating windows of opportunity. While being just one actor in the agri-food system, the province of South Holland could stimulate the development of agroecology by incorporating agroecology explicitly in policymaking.

Biofuels offer the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in merchant ships by up to 90% and can be seamlessly integrated into existing engines as drop-in fuel. Utilising residual biomass sources for biofuel production presents financial and environmental advantages. In Spain's Jaén province, approximately 2,05 million tons of olive residue are annually available, offering a resource for biocrude production through Hydrothermal Liquefaction (HTL). Biocrude can be subsequently upgraded to biofuel. Additionally, the HTL process yields biochar as a by-product, which holds potential as a soil amendment to combat erosion in olive groves. This thesis focuses on developing a viable, inclusive business model for maritime biofuel production from olive residues in Jaén, Spain, employing the LINK methodology. Three distinct value chain scenarios were evaluated in the initial phase of a two-tier assessment. The analysis revealed that biocrude production either at Jaén's largest secondary mill, San Miguel Arcángel (scenario 1), or at a newly established centralized biorefinery in Úbeda (scenario 2), is more advantageous than establishing a standalone centralized HTL biorefinery for biofuel production (scenario 3). In the second-tier evaluation, the economic, environmental, and social impacts of three value chain implementation options were assessed and compared. These evaluations were integrated and analysed in economic, environmental, and social Business Model Canvasses (BMCs) for the value chain stakeholders. The analysis indicated that while scenarios 1 and 2 marginally contribute to the annual income of olive farmers, they substantially aid in carbon emissions reduction through biochar sequestration, can be used to mitigate olive grove soil erosion and positively impact regional employment opportunities. Scenario 1, with biocrude production at a secondary mill, exhibits greater social benefits due to enhanced smallholder inclusion and autonomy. However, this is counterbalanced by the superior economic and environmental advantages associated with biocrude production at a larger, centralized HTL biorefinery in scenario 2, attributed to economies of scale and reduced local environmental impacts. Recommendations include further research on enhancing smallholder inclusion, exploring the profitability of biocrude production at smaller secondary mills, and conducting a comprehensive financial assessment to ascertain feasibility, profitability, and potential investment avenues.

Maritime sectors have been notorious for their slow paced innovation efforts and although it is an efficient sector, it has big impact on the environment just because of the size of the industry (M. Rahim, et al. 2016). There is a lot of activity on the seas, changes in this sector could make a big difference when making our world become more sustainable. However, the sustainable field is a field that is faced with wicked problems. There are always many stakeholders involved and their interests and expectations on these matters can vary wildly. Conversations are important to bring alignment and understanding across stakeholders (Whitemore, 2013). These conversations involve the political and social sciences to investigate. A list of stakeholders was drafted and they were assessed on the grounds of their discourses. A discourse is “a way of shared, structured ways of speaking, thinking, interpreting and representing things in the world.” (Guardado, 2018, p 72) The following RQ was formulated: How can different stakeholders regarding the sustainable transition of the maritime industry be assessed using the discourses of Dryzek?

With a basis of Q-methodology, a list of statements was created that, based on Dryzek’s discourse theory, is then used to judge the respondents on their environmental beliefs. Also the sustainability reports of selected companies where investigated. It was possible to identify the main themes that could count on agreement/disagreement and controversy. Nature and the existence of limits to our activities where rated highly, while the way to solve it remained controversial. People are more imaginative than their company’s current policies indicate. People see the limitations to the systems that surround them. The willingness of the employees is there, or there is a lack between the strategy of the board and the values of the employees. Further action is required to bridge the gap.

It is indeed possible to asses different stakeholders and firms on their discourses and the research shows two methods to do it. The set up of the interview and the statements proved to be able to provide information about the environmentalism of the stakeholder. This information gives an insight into the social context of environmentalism and brought forward interesting observations about the willingness of the employees and the stance of the companies. The reports indicate a gap between what is needed (and wanted) and what is currently being done. The companies should be more radical and imaginative in both their vision and their solutions, instead of focussing on the solutions alone. Vision is often omitted from the reports, an important oversight.

Overarching vision and motivation can be uncovered but the specific points of departure for technological advancement remain hidden. The thesis brings a contribution to investigations on stakeholder alignment in the clean shipping sector and uncovers some important issues. The firms specific operating context remains to be investigated with more detail, as to properly find the barriers that hold back solving wicked problems. However a good effort is made to indicate the grounds for disputes from the actors.

Malaria is both an economically and medically burdensome disease taunting people worldwide. Treatments for the disease – transmitted by malarial Aedes and Anopheles mosquitoes infected with Plasmodium – are either temporary or in developmental stages, while rising insecticidal resistance and mosquitoes’ behavioral changes call for a lasting solution to responsibly fight malaria. The application of gene drive (GD) technology – biasedly propagating genetic material into a population using CRISPR/Cas9 – has been suggested. By introducing a sex ratio bias into malarial mosquito populations, or by targeting the mosquito’s interaction with the Plasmodium-parasite, malaria could be eradicated. The design, testing and implementation phases of GDs must, however, be approached with caution, due to the invasive nature of and controversy around the technology. To prevent harmful consequences, the risk management strategy of Safe-by-Design (SbD) was used to compose a set of guidelines for selected SbD Risk Categories. Academic literature and scientist interviews were used to obtain insights of possible risks and to find balance between medical progress and technological threats. Stakeholder involvement was found to be an important part of the GD design process, with a multidisciplinary team of experts, appointed and enforced by international organizations. The team must be held co-responsible for compliance with the guidelines of all four SbD Risk Categories, covering (i) unintended effects on non-target organisms and ecosystems, (ii) horizontal gene transfer (HGT), (iii) pathogenicity and toxicity, and (iv) run-off risk and reversibility. Key findings include previously proposed models, including an inhibitory rock–paper–scissors and a confining split-drive model for GD regulation. After carefully considering the available knowledge and the guidelines necessary for responsible research, I concluded that further research into mosquitoes’ ecosystems, target-specificity, HGT prevention and the theoretical GD models is required.

The rapid advancements in synthetic biology have allowed for the development of revolutionary technologies such as bacteriophage-mediated gene and microbiome therapies. These technologies create the need for management of the upcoming risks and uncertainties. Safe-by-Design is a strategy to build in safety measures in an effort to mitigate and anticipate risks in synthetic biology applications. This study aims to portray a nuanced review of the opportunities and challenges posed by Safe-by-Design through a case study on this year’s iGEM project, the application of gene and microbiome therapy principles to mitigate the issue of Desert Locust swarms. To gather an all-round perspective on the current state of synthetic biology, bacteriophage-based therapies, and Safe-by-Design, these aspects are assessed in terms of governance. Synthetic biology regulations have long ensured safe research practices, but the lack of adequate regulations for novel phage-based technologies hampers the development of this field of research. In further detail is discussed how the use of the precautionary principle guarantees biosafety but also limits the discovery of risks and uncertainties. Downstream Safe-by-Design is proposed as a method to facilitate policy-making and to tackle concerning issues such as transnational regulations and public perception of biosafety. In this report, the risks associated with the application of bacteriophages for non-therapeutic purposes are determined and multiple Safe-by-Design approaches are analyzed to mitigate these risks and uncertainties. This resulted in the collection of quorum sensing, kill switches, encapsulation, anti-CRISPRs, and auxotrophy as suitable Safe-by-Design measures for this project. Furthermore, the challenges and limitations regarding the application of Safe-by-Design are reviewed. This analysis concludes that uncertainty and a lack of knowledge of the intricate synthetic biology systems are the main constrains on Safe-by-Design for synthetic biology. Lastly, it is concluded that Safe-by-Design is a promising strategy to ensure biosafety because of its dynamic and proactive character, and recommendations are made to stimulate future progress in this area of research.

Vibrotactile wearable devices are a non-intrusive and inexpensive means to provide haptic feedback directly on the user’s skin. These devices utilize one or multiple vibrotactile actuators to generate vibrations across the skin and into the tissue. Combining these vibrations in amplitude can create the illusion of a funneled sensation on the skin at another location than at the actual sites of stimulation. This allows for the placement of virtual actuators on the skin, such that fewer actuators need to be deployed. However, the illusion does not take into account that the waves originating from the actuator attenuate and disperse due to the viscoelastic properties of the skin. We hypothesize that this diffusion of the elastic energy in the skin is affecting the perception of this illusion. Therefore, if we correct for the wave propagation speed, and temporally focus the stimulation, we hypothesized that the specificity of the stimulation on the skin could be drastically improved. In this paper, a novel technique, which is named the inverse filter technique, was introduced that enables to focus the amplitude, frequency and phase of vibrations to one location while cancelling them at the remaining nearby positions. We developed a wearable device for the volar surface of the forearm on which we could independently control arbitrary waveforms at any position between a set of four physical actuators. A human-subject study found that the performance in terms of localization confidence was improved significantly, whereas the precision and accuracy of the task did not improve compared to when we did not correct for the wave attenuation and dispersion. These results show that focusing waves towards a target location has a direct influence on our confidence of localizing vibrotactile stimuli on the arm. Therefore, we anticipate that our findings can benefit industries int Biorefineries are considered an integral part in the transition to sustainable bio-based economies as they can convert renewable biological resources into various bio-based products, while co-products are recycled and energy is produced out of the residuals. In this thesis, it is suggested to apply this biorefinery concept to revive the sugar industry of Jamaica, where currently only raw sugar is produced. For this, the development of a conceptual process design itself and the feasibility of the implementation is studied as the entire chain of utilizing biomass is influenced by both technical, environmental, social and economic aspects. With the Technological Innovation System (TIS) framework, the information obtained during the fieldwork about how (new) technologies function in the Jamaican agricultural industry are translated into context-specific design constraints. Those design constraints are used in the development of the context-specific conceptual process design for the Jamaican sugar industry. Three scenarios of the proposed design including the material balances and financial viability are discussed. The "status-quo" scenario predicts the bankruptcy of some of the sugar factories due to the reduced possibility to sell raw sugar, which will also leave the farmers without income. The "engineering-view" scenario was found to fail due to the unrealistic assumptions that all the products can be sold, that the farming yields can be improved, and that the Jamaican sugar sector can be seen as one. In the "most-realistic" scenario, it is considered that the energy generation from bagasse covers the energy demand for the processes and that the amount of plantation white sugar, anhydrous bio-ethanol and bio-pellets annually produced from 30,000 hectares of sugarcane land are considered to be 100,000 tonnes, 51 million liters, and 80,600 tonnes, respectively. It is suggested that this "most-realistic" scenario is able to revive the Jamaican sugar industry and to support the establishment of the sustainable bio-based economy, however the financial viability of the project and the inclusiveness of the various actors have to be taken into account.erested in including localized vibrotactile feedback on the human body surface.