This dissertation explores how Universities of Applied Sciences (UASs) can enhance the knowledge absorption capacity of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the context of rapidly evolving technological environments. SMEs, particularly smaller ones, often struggle to adapt to emerging technologies …

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming workflows across various industries, including life sciences. When deployed securely, generative AI tools can automate structured programming tasks. In clinical research, a significant challenge is converting raw trial data into the formats required for regulatory …

Food loss and waste (FLW) remains a critical global challenge, particularly in the food and beverage (F&B) sector, where small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operate under tight margins and fragmented supply chains. This study investigates how F&B SMEs in the Netherlands address sustainability (including …

The skillsets of production workers are crucial for the effective adoption of smart technologies which are largely shaped by work design. However, current literature lacks comprehensive insights into the skills and work designs of production workers, hindering the adoption of Industry 5.0. Grounded in …

The transition to a circular economy presents significant challenges for high-tech manufacturing, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which often face resource constraints. Digital Product Passports (DPPs) have emerged as pivotal tools for enhancing transparency, traceability, …

Collaborative robot arms (cobots) are gaining a strong foothold in contemporary manufacturing workplaces. While more information about the cobot’s impact becomes available, crucial design, work perception, performance, and strategic implications are systematically overlooked. Following a modern sociotechnical systems …

SMEs often operate with limited technical expertise and constrained budgets, making it difficult to implement comprehensive cybersecurity measures. Yet, these businesses play a critical role in the Dutch economy, employing over 70% of the working population and contributing €309 billion annually. Ensuring …

True Price (TP) transparency offers a structured approach to integrate sustainability into SME investment decisions by quantifying hidden social and environmental costs. This study explores how SMEs respond to TP insights, identifying key enablers and barriers to adoption. The Theory of Planned Behavior …

An important prerequisite for innovation is continuous employee learning. Organizations can set out to increase employee learning by creating positive conditions within the organization that facilitate employee learning and development. However, the dimensions of such a learning culture and the potential …

In the Netherlands, almost everyone has an image of 1930s neighborhoods, post-war neighborhoods, and Vinex locations. That is very different for the neighborhoods with social housing apartments from the 1970s and 1980s. They are forgotten, hardly known, even professionally. And that is a problem because …