IE&IS contributes to State of Circular Entrepreneurship
IE&IS researchers contribute to the 鈥楽taat van Circulair Ondernemen鈥� (State of Circular Entrepreneurship) 2026 report, based on PhD research by Arjen Wierikx and presented to Queen M谩xima in Utrecht.
On Thursday March 19, the 2026 State of Circular Entrepreneurship report [Staat van Circulair Ondernemen 2026] was presented to Queen M谩xima during the Circular Entrepreneurship Conference in Utrecht. The publication explores how Dutch companies engage with circular practices and shows how circularity is increasingly driven by economic considerations. Eindhoven University of Technology is a partner in the report, with several contributions from the Department of Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences.
Research roots
The intellectual foundation of the report lies in the doctoral research of external PhD candidate Arjen Wierikx. His research focuses on how organizations develop the capability to operate in a circular way. Using a design science approach, he developed a maturity model that connects strategic intentions with everyday organizational routines and management decisions. The report builds on this work and makes it accessible to entrepreneurs and policy makers.
Academic guidance
Wierikx鈥檚 doctoral project is supervised by N茅omie Raassens, together with Alex Alblas and Pascal Ravesteijn from HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht. From the IE&IS perspective, the supervision draws on expertise in organization design, operations management, and innovation in business systems. This is reflected in the report鈥檚 focus on circularity as a change process that affects how organizations structure their operations and collaborate across value chains.
Practical barriers
A key contribution from IE&IS lies in analyzing why circular ambitions within companies do not always translate into implementation. The report highlights challenges such as investment uncertainty, limited organizational knowledge, and unclear regulatory frameworks. These issues are examined through the lens of decision making, governance, and coordination between organizations, all central themes within IE&IS research.
Ecosystem view
The report is embedded in the project Transitioning to a Circular Business Ecosystem LINCIT. Within this project, researchers, companies, and policy partners jointly explore how circular transitions take shape within networks rather than individual firms. 黑料福利网鈥檚 involvement underscores the role of IE&IS in linking analytical research to concrete questions from practice and policy.
Looking ahead
For Arjen Wierikx, the publication marks an important step toward the defense of his dissertation on May 26. More broadly, the report opens up opportunities for continued dialogue with companies and governments. It illustrates how research at IE&IS contributes to understanding circular entrepreneurship as an organizational and economic challenge.