PhD-position 1:
‘Instruments to develop successful system innovations‘
Location within ILVO
Name of Unit: Social Sciences Unit (SSU)
Research Area: Farm and Sector Development
Scientific Director: Ludwig Lauwers
ILVO Promotor and Contact: Koen Mondelaers
Address: Burg. Van Gansberghelaan 115 bus2
9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
e-mail: koen.mondelaers@ilvo.vlaanderen.be
tel: +32 9 272 23 69
Specific objectives
PhD 1 investigates and develops instruments to develop successful system innovations. This PhD thereby
implements the methodological objective of the GENESYS project: to devise instruments that support the
development of successful system innovations. Empirical testing of these instruments is achieved by means of the
three case studies (see PhD 2, 3 and 4) which focus on the thematic objective of the GENESYS project. Extensive
support is provided by ILVO’s Social Sciences Unit and other units.
The following methodological challenges are elaborated in the socio-economic PhD on system innovation
processes:
• A literature study of the different models and concepts for system innovation. Examples are socio-technical
systems, technological innovation systems, triple helix innovation, open innovation, co-evolution, co-creation,
and others.
• Work to combine these models and concepts into a workable concept for by-products. Amongst others, this
means identification of instruments for steering and monitoring as well as the elaboration of a generic road
map based on cases of success and failure from within the GENESYS project and outside it.
• Monitoring of the process of system innovation for the three case studies.
• Design and study of the multistakeholder and participatory processes within the three cases.
• Provision of instruments for the execution of socio-economic analyses within the three cases (methods for ex
ante cost-benefit analyses, for analysis of innovation acceptation and for the design of institutional
arrangements within the stakeholder networks formed).
Our offer
The Social Sciences Unit of ILVO, located at Merelbeke, Belgium, is a young multidisciplinary research group with
over 30 researchers. We execute socially relevant scientific research within the context of sustainable agriculture
and rural development.
You will receive considerable personal responsibility within a dynamic working environment with attractive
working conditions.
PhD-positie 2:
‘Valorisatietraject voor plantaardige nevenstromen‘
Location within ILVO
Name of Unit: Technology & Food Science Unit
Research Area: Product quality & innovation
Scientific Director: Marc De Loose
ILVO Promotor and Contact: Bart Van Droogenbroeck
Address: Burg. Van Gansberghelaan 115, 9820 Merelbeke
E-mail: bart.vandroogenbroeck@ilvo.vlaanderen.be
Phone: +32 9 272 28 39
Specific objectives
The research for PhD 2 will focus on the development of a valorization process for plant-derived by-products and
waste. The objective of this PhD thus fits seamlessly with the thematic focus of the GENESYS project: valorization
of by-products.
Plant-based by-products from vegetable, fruit and potato production have a high moisture content, which makes
them subject to rapid decay. Moreover, these by-products are not available year-round. At the same time, these
by-products contain many valuable components that could lead to a product with a higher added value. Currently,
the known by-products from vegetable, fruit and potato production remain unused and are either reapplied to the
field or are used for animal feed or energy production.
Before higher added value can be extracted from these by-products, some problems need to be resolved. The
practical part of this PhD research will address the following questions:
• Which plant-derived by-products in Flanders are most relevant and have the potential to lead to products with
a higher added value?
• How can a number of selected plant-derived by-products be stabilised without significant loss of quality?
• Which types of processes and products can be developed in an economically cost-effective way, starting from
the (stabilised) plant-derived by-products?
Besides the more technical aspects of stabilisation, process- and product design, many questions remain
unanswered, such as cost efficiency, logistics (e.g. fit within the (farm) enterprise or potential cooperation with
other stakeholders) and institutional hindrances (e.g. regulations on functional food and food supplements). As
such, these social, socio-economic and institutional aspects will also be considered in close cooperation with
experts and PhD 1.
Our offer
ILVO’s Technology & Food Science Unit, located in Merelbeke, Belgium, is a multidisciplinary research unit with a
combination of over 20 junior and senior researchers. We conduct socially relevant scientific research within the
context of sustainable agriculture and food production. At the location in Melle, a well-equipped pilot food
processing plant called the Food Pilot is available for the practical aspects of process and product design. Technical
expertise is also available in-house from the Agricultural Engineering research group.
You will receive considerable personal responsibility within a dynamic working environment with attractive
working conditions.
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