One of the greatest challenges for global sustainability is the nature of development in rapidly-growing Asian countries. It is recognised, not least in these countries themselves, that a ‘greener’ model of growth is needed, taking account of rising scarcity and prices of key inputs like energy, as well as limits imposed by regional and global environmental systems, including climate.
New more sustainable technologies will be fundamental to new models of growth. But the key question is: where do these technologies emerge and how do they come to be widely adopted? Much literature on technology and development argues that through a process of ‘catch up’ technological capabilities and innovation systems are built-up, enabling the absorption and innovation of new technologies. This suggests that the innovation of sustainable technologies will also occur primarily in advanced countries, and subsequently adopted in less developed economies.
This research programme takes a different perspective. The urgent demand for sustainable solutions, the increasing globalisation of knowledge and technology, and the need to respond to complex social and market conditions, means that innovation of sustainable technologies can and does take place in less-developed contexts. This research aims to provide the first systematic attempt to inventory and understand the contribution of ‘sustainability experiments’ (defined as highly-novel, practice-oriented projects aiming to develop sustainable technologies). The programme aims to build upon and contribute to recent system innovation theories such as the Multi-Level-Perspective and Strategic Niche Management. Empirically the focus will be on electricity and mobility experiments in India and Thailand.
The programme exists of five sub-projects. We are currently seeking applications for 2 projects on electricity experiments in India and mobility experiments in Thailand. As a PhD student you will be collaborating in the programme with 2 PhD students in India and Thailand, and with a post-doctoral researcher in The Netherlands. The projects will include considerable fieldwork in the respective countries.
Requirements
We welcome applications from candidates with a Master degree and an excellent academic record in innovation studies and management, science, technology and society (STS) studies, development studies, history of technology, or other relevant MSc programs.
We offer:
* a challenging job in a dynamic and ambitious University;
* a PhD appointment for a period of 4 years;
* gross salary is in the range of €28.500 – €36.500 per annum (on a full-time basis), this includes 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end of year allowance.
* a broad package of fringe benefits (including an excellent technical infrastructure, child care, moving expenses, savings schemes, coverage of costs of publishing the dissertation and excellent sports facilities);
* the university covers the costs of publishing your dissertation.
As part of an equal opportunity scheme, women are explicitly requested to apply. Attaining a PhD at Eindhoven University of Technology provides you with excellent career opportunities.
Application Deadline 31-08-2010.
