Frank J. van Rijnsoever

Utrecht University

I am driven by an intense curiousity about how innovation processes work. Further, I strongly believe that science has a task to share its knowledge with society.

I have been employed at Utrecht University since 2005, in 2010 I received my PhD. The topic was information use by consumers when searching for information about new innovation. In addition, in 2008 and 2009 I was a guest researcher at Monash University, Melbourne. Currently, I work as an assistant professor innovation studies. I am primarily interested in behavioral aspects related to innovation.

My research focusses on two areas:

  1. University-industry interaction (especially start-ups)
  2. Acceptance of innovations by citizens or consumers

Methods I often apply are questionaires, discrete choice experiments, social network analysis and serious games. From 2013 onward, I will work on research supported by an NWO veni-grant. The topic is the emergence of collaboration between scientists and entrepreneurs in the clean-tech sector. I am also involved in the surpervision of several externally funded PhDs and junior researchers:

  • Larrisa Shnayder (NWO): Corporate social responsibility within the food sector (per 1-9-2011)
  • Colin Bos (NWO): Responsible food intake by consumers (per 1-9-2011, works at WUR)
  • Allard van Mossel (Climate KIC): Tipping points in organizational eco-systems (per 1-9-2011)
  • Kevin Broecks (CATO-2): Arguments, communication and the storage of CO2 (per 1-2-2012)
  • Marijn van Weele (Climate KIC): An international comparisson of incubators (per 1-11-2012)
  • Chris Eveleens (Climate KIC): Networks, incubators and start-up performance (per 7-10-2013)

Personally, I conduct research financed by Climate KIC, CATO-2, NWO and NL Agency. Empirical domains I study are CO2-storage, sustainable cars, food, energy-neutral buildings, smart-grids, energy technologies, websites and consumers electronics.

My most important task with regard to teaching is coordinating the master Science and Innovation Management. This research oriented master studies innovation processes from a systemic perspective. Graduates contribute with their knowledge to the build-up of a knowledge economy. Further, I organize a summer school for PhD students.