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Innovation ecosystem developer and researcher for a sustainable data centre project

Are you passionate about creating impactful change at the intersection of sustainability and technology development? Do you thrive on connecting people and ideas to build innovative solutions? If so, the University of Twente invites you to join the exciting, Modular and Integrated Sustainable Datacenter (MISD) project!

Apply now
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Key takeaways

  • Hours
    38 - 40 hr.
  • Salary indication
    Salary gross/monthly
    based on full-time
    € 3,378 - € 5,331
  • Deadline
    10 Aug 2025

The MISD project

The MISD project aims to address the increasing climate impact of digitalization, enable energy flexibility, and the need for data sovereignty. In this project, the University of Twente and six private partners collaborate to design and develop a sustainable and secure-by-design edge datacenter in places close to end users. The innovative solutions developed in the project are tested in a fieldlab and scaled up into a viable innovation ecosystem promoting sustainable digitalization in Europe.

Your role

As our innovation ecosystem developer, you will support the creation and realization of innovation ecosystems around sustainable, modular datacenters in the MISD project. This entails facilitating collaboration and coordination across diverse stakeholders, such as private companies, universities and research institutions, government institutions, NGOs, and financial institutions, to co-design and develop innovative solutions and technologies that create value for specific end users and contribute to society. Within the MISD project, some ecosystem partners already participate in the MISD consortium, whereas other stakeholders still have to be identified, engaged, and enrolled in ecosystem development.

Your primary focus is to support the ecosystem partners in designing, developing, and realizing viable innovation ecosystems for sustainable digitalization. You facilitate interconnection and networking between ecosystem partners and stakeholders to support knowledge and resource exchange. In addition, you support the realization of innovation ecosystems that can create sustainability-oriented value by co-creating viable business models with ecosystem partners, within and outside the MISD consortium.

What you will be doing:

Your profile

You have a strong interest in sustainability and collaborative innovation in ecosystems. You bring experience in working with diverse stakeholders across sectors – including industry, academia, government, and society – with a proven ability to build networks, facilitate collaboration, and navigate complex, multi-stakeholder environments. In addition, you:

  • Have a Master’s degree (or PhD) in innovation management, innovation studies, social design, public administration, or a related field;
  • Have an interest in challenges related to sustainability transitions, specifically on supporting actors in these complex, multi-stakeholder processes;
  • Demonstrable experience with ecosystem development, multi-stakeholder collaborations, and/or stakeholder engagement;
  • Are experienced in co-creation and co-design methods;
  • Are familiar with business model development; ideally with a focus on sustainability-oriented approaches;
  • Strong interpersonal, facilitation, and communication skills;
  • Have excellent organization and project management skills;
  • Are fluent in English and able to understand and communicate in Dutch;
  • Are willing and have proven ability to work independently, but are also an excellent team-player and are excited about working with scientists and practitioners from different backgrounds.

You will become part of the research team working on designing transformations. You will closely collaborate with a post-doc researcher, a PhD-student, three senior researchers, the partners from the project, and the project manager.

Our offer

  • A minimum 3-year junior researcher (or post-doc) position (1 fte);
  • The gross salary is in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU) € 3.378,- to € 5.331,- per month for a fulltime position, depending on experience;
  • On top of this, you receive a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus;
  • We offer excellent auxiliary terms of employment, such as professional and personal development programs; a secondary remuneration package; a dynamic environment with enthusiastic colleagues; an organization focusing on internationalization and a high degree of responsibility and independence.

Information and application

Are you interested in this position? Please send your application via the ‘Apply now’ button below before 10-08-2025 and include:

For more information regarding this position, you are welcome to contact prof.dr. Maaike Endedijk (m.d.endedijk@utwente.nl).

More information about the department of Professional Learning & Technology can be found on the following website.

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About the department

Researchers in our section study formal and informal learning of (future) employees, including the use of technology to measure and support professional learning. More broadly, we also study professional learning in relation to the collaboration and innovation processes of professionals, particularly so in multidisciplinary settings and new forms of organizing (such as learning communities or living labs). Our studies often take place in the high-tech, health, and educational sectors with the intention to understand, evaluate, and optimize (inter)professional and (inter)organizational learning, collaboration, and innovation in these various contexts. Increasingly, the settings we study revolve around grand challenges and wicked problems, such as the transitions to green energy and circularity or matters of digital transformation. To contribute to these challenges, we also design and evaluate (technology-based) interventions to optimize professional learning, innovation, and collaboration. In our research group, we combine expertise from a range of disciplines (e.g., educational sciences, psychology, business administration, organization studies, communication science).

About the organisation

At the Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences (BMS), we unite the worlds of people and technology to address today’s complex societal challenges. We are passionate about understanding human behaviour, fostering responsible innovation, and designing solutions that create societal value. Our educational programmes span disciplines such as Psychology, Business Administration, Public Administration, Communication Sciences, Philosophy, Educational Sciences, and Health Sciences. Through our bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Professional Learning & Development programmes, and interdisciplinary research themes – including Emerging Technologies & Societal Transformations, Resilience, Smart Industry, Learning, and Health – we empower students and researchers to make a positive societal impact.

At BMS, we combine critical thinking with practical action. From advancing sustainable mobility with innovations like the world’s most efficient hydrogen car to shaping policies that promote digital inclusion, our work contributes to a healthier, fairer, and more sustainable future. Whether it’s exploring how technology influences human behaviour or leveraging data and innovation to transform industries and communities, we ensure that technology serves people – and not the other way around.

As an employer, BMS offers a vibrant, inclusive, and entrepreneurial environment where you can thrive personally and professionally. Join us and become part of a forward-thinking community that equips you to shape the future – for yourself and society. With us, you will become part of a leading technical university with increasing, positive social impact.

Want to know more?

Endedijk, M.D. (Maaike)

Endedijk, M.D. (Maaike)
Full Professor

Endedijk, M.D. (Maaike)
Full Professor

Do you have questions about this vacancy? Then you can contact Maaike for all substantive questions about this position and the application procedure. For general questions about working for the UT, please refer to the chatbot.

How to apply

Step 1

Apply.
When you see a vacancy that appeals to you, you can apply online. We ask you to upload a CV and motivation letter and/or list of publications. You will receive a confirmation of receipt by e-mail.

Apply now

Step 2

Selection.
The selection committee will review your application and you will receive a response within 2 weeks after the vacancy has been closed.

Step 3

1st interview.
The 1st (online or in person) meeting serves as an introduction where we introduce ourselves to you and you to us. You may be asked to give a short presentation. This will be further explained in the invitation.

Step 4

2nd interview.
In the second interview, we will further discuss the job content, your skills and your talents.

Step 5

The offer.
If the conversations are positive, you will be made a suitable offer. If applicable, we will sign you up for screening.

Your Colleagues

About the BMS faculty

Curious about what The Faculty of Behavioral, Management and Social sciences (BMS) stands for? Check out the BMS website for more information.

A job that matters

Create new opportunities for yourself, your colleagues and our society. Scientist or teacher, administrator or facilitator, thinker or doer, energetic leader or silent support – your work at the University of Twente matters. And you too!

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    Human Touch

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  • Our mission
    We are a university of technology

    Our university is a public institution that serves society. We are accountable to society for the ways in which we use our academic freedom. We are responsible for ensuring that the power of science and technology is harnessed to achieve the best possible impact in a changing world. We cherish our rich tradition of combining technical and social sciences in our five profiling themes: Improving healthcare by personalized technologies; Creating intelligent manufacturing systems; Shaping our world with smart materials; Engineering our digital society; and Engineering for a resilient world.

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    We help to strengthen society

    We help society meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. But we are also transparent about what science and technology can and cannot do in finding sustainable solutions. And help translate these solutions into everyday life.

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    We are sustainable

    We want our communities to flourish and show resilience, so we seize opportunities for innovation. We are knowledgeable and have an eye for what society needs. Our students and staff receive all the guidance they need in their quest for ecological, social and economic sustainability.
    “The University of Twente is all about people. Our sustainable technologies help to strengthen society.”

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