Floating wind seems to be on the cusp of achieving large-scale diffusion with the commissioning of floating wind farms of commercial-scale. From a single full-scale prototype off the Norwegian coast in 2009, now to double digit rated capacity floating wind turbines to be commissioned by the end of 2022 and tens of gigawatts of installed capacity expected to be switched-on globally over the next decades. This can lead to fundamental changes in related industries and society, and the floating wind turbine is therefore considered a breakthrough technology. However, several designs of floating wind turbines have been invented, introduced and to some extent diffused in the floating wind market, while a dominant design has yet to emerge. The pattern of development and diffusion by Ortt & Schoormans (2004) is a widely adopted procedure that reveals how such a breakthrough technology may surpass consecutive phases that are characterized by distinct milestones prior to large-sale diffusion. This development and diffusion process may take on a lengthy and chaotic character in which large-scale diffusion of the breakthrough technology is blocked by barriers. Therefore, Ortt & Kamp (2019) developed a theoretical framework of core and influencing factors that serve as a prerequisite for large-scale diffusion of breakthrough technologies. To overcome or circumvent these barriers, the innovating company may adopt a niche strategy during the innovation phase to commercialize the technology, or to reintroduce the technology to the market after changing the physical aspects or the business model in order to better align the technology to the market during the market adaptation phase (Ortt, Langley, & Nico, 2013). Furthermore, niche strategies may be adopted to increase the knowledge and resources within the company, or to influence the broader technological innovation system by changing the behavior, opinion or perception of Suppliers, Customers or Institutions to gradually create or shape the niche market (Schulz, 2019). Thereby, the companies that developed the alternative designs of a floating wind turbine are well-guided in assessing the market and selecting a niche strategy accordingly. IHC IQIP is a supplier of equipment for the installation of reliable foundations and moorings in the offshore wind market and hence offers a unique set of knowledge, skills and competences to developed Complementary Products and Services – one of the core factors for large-scale diffusion - for the emerging floating wind market. Nevertheless, the perspective of a supplier of Complementary Products and Services and its strategic impact on the development and diffusion process has been largely neglected in the management and innovation literature. The theoretical objective of this thesis was therefore to create a better understanding about the mechanisms that drive market formation in a niche market where alternative designs of a breakthrough technology compete to achieve large-scale diffusion from the perspective of a so-called Complementor. In turn, the managerial objective was to develop a theoretical framework that aids managers in selecting a niche strategy to develop and diffuse Complementary Products and Services that are tailored to one or more designs in such a niche market.

The study embarks on a comprehensive investigation into the domain of circular innovation within Dutch high-tech firms, probing the dynamics of drivers, barriers, and the strategic impact of niche strategies. The research methodology builds upon the adaptable foundation of the Technological Innovation System (TIS) framework, adapting it to the unique contours of circular innovation. This framework guides the research objectives, which encompass discerning the propulsive forces driving circular innovation, unraveling the contextual intricacies, and critically evaluating the applicability of the adapted TIS framework. Guided by this framework, the research addresses three pivotal sub-questions that delve into the nuances of drivers, barriers and the strategic potency of niche strategies within the circular innovation landscape. The methodology seamlessly interweaves an expansive literature review with in-depth case studies of four distinct Dutch circular high-tech firms. Through rigorous qualitative analysis, recurrent drivers emerge, including the catalytic influence of emerging regulations, collaborative partnerships, strategic product design and value proposition, and intrinsic motivation. On the flip side, barriers encompass the complexities of production systems, complementary products and services, network formation and coordination, and the intricate maze of customer engagement challenges. Embedded within the empirical insights are four distinct niche strategies, meticulously tailored to specific contexts: the Redesign Niche Strategy, the Decentralization Niche Strategy, the Turnkey Product-Service System (PSS) Niche Strategy, and the Compliance-Driven Stepping-Stone Niche Strategy. These strategies come to light as potent tools in surmounting the entrenched barriers, underscoring the significance of strategic alignment with regulatory shifts, the formation of collaborative networks, and the innovation-driven approach to product design in propelling circular innovation. The strategic adaptation of the TIS framework to circular innovation not only enriches analytical depth but also highlights its pragmatic relevance. Consultations with experts from HollandCircularHotspot - a platform driving the advancement of the circular economy by facilitating collaboration, knowledge sharing, and representing Dutch circular companies on an international stage, serve to validate the framework's utility, affirming its efficacy in dissecting the ever-evolving landscape of circular innovation. Acknowledging its limitations, such as the limited scope of case studies and the geographical focus on Dutch high-tech companies, the study sets the stage for future research endeavors. In summation, this thesis offers a substantial contribution to comprehending the dynamics of circular innovation within Dutch high-tech enterprises. It underscores the pivotal role of specific strategies and reaffirms the pertinence of the adapted TIS framework. With its blend of empirical insights and theoretical foundations, the study illuminates potential pathways for circumventing barriers to circular innovation, paving the way for transformative change within the high-tech circular landscape.

Climate change is a major global problem which is related to the increase in greenhouse gasses (GHG) emissions according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a potential solution to this problem. However, the implementation of CCS seems to be challenging. The port of Rotterdam also intended to reduce its CO2 emission with the implementation of CCS. However, the first two CCS projects were not successful. When making investment decisions on innovative technological projects the TRL scale invented by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) can be useful to compare the maturity of technologies. However, for technologies in sociotechnical systems, such as the implementation of CCS, it might be useful to also consider the maturity of the institutional network. Hence, a NRL scale was proposed by Krijger (2016) and Groenendaal (2018). However, before the NRL scale can be widely used it needs first more validation. Furthermore, it is not known how the information obtained from the NRL/TRL matrix can be used to formulated strategy to stimulate the successful implementation of an infrastructural innovation. To research these two aspects a historical case study on the implementation of CCS in the port of Rotterdam was combined with extensive literature research and expert interviews. Three factors that prevented the increase of the NRL of CCS in the port of Rotterdam were identified: public debate, economic aspects and regulatory processes. In order for the actors of the institutional network to manage these exogenous factors effectively it was suggested to formulate and align nonmarket strategies regarding CCS. Furthermore, the research showed that the NRL/TRL matrix could be improved on completeness and unambiguousness.

Over the past few decades, new technology-based firms (NTBFs) have been considered an important engine of economic development. Consequently, a better understanding of the characteristics and attributes of these firms has become a primary goal for researchers and policy makers. While numerous studies found evidence of the relation between growth performance and strategy, clear methods and strategy formulation tools for NTBF managers are lacking. The main objective of this research is to offer guidance in formulating growth strategies for NTBFs, while considering their specific characteristics and environment. This research designs a solution for a large and complex contemporary socio-technical problem. In this, several contributions to technology entrepreneurship literature are made. Firstly, internal and external variables are identified that influence strategy making for NTBFs. Secondly, strategies and tactics that are applicable for NTBFs in specific situations and environments are defined. Thirdly, a conceptual framework that enables to select growth strategies for NTBFs by using an extensive “matchmaking” process is build and validated. This conceptual framework was built around three strategy management theories: Transaction Cost Economics (TCE), the Resource-Based View (RBV) and Contingency. Accordingly, this research investigates and reveals some theoretical implications for applying these theories to NTBFs specifically. The designed framework suggests that a strategy is subject to the internal and external environment, where the interpretation of this environment and the final decision is made by the management team of a NTBF. Feasible growth strategies for NTBFs are built around four regimes: Vertical Integration, Inter-firm Cooperation, Technology Transfer and System Integration. Two important clusters divide NTBFs and their suitable growth strategies; the ones with a strong financial position and the ones with a suitable situation for collaboration. When having a strong financial position, NTBFs can choose to vertically integrate or become a system integrator. Collaborative strategies can be subdivided in backward and/or forward strategic alliances, exclusivity agreements, equity strategic alliances, joint ventures and an IP-based technology transfer. NTBF founders use similar strategic tactics to deal with shared challenges. This research did not strive for prediction and certainty but strived to reduce the complexity for managers of NTBFs in choosing their growth strategy. Empirical findings and theoretical knowledge were bundled to understand the phenomenon, where this understanding is located on a higher level than the empirics itself. Especially since there will always be exceptions. Accordingly, the complexity of the research problem was reduced by using abstraction instead of generalisation. Generalisation was minimised where it is assumed that generalisation in NTBF growth strategies has significant shortcomings where too many variables interact. The art is within the clustering of variables, where these clusters are matched with a specific, optimal growth strategy on an abstract level. The multi-disciplinary abstraction approach of this research enabled to bridge the gap between research and practical execution. The designed conceptual framework is based on flexible conceptual terms rather than rigid theoretical variables and causal relations and aims to help to understand phenomena rather than to predict them. The input for the conceptual framework was holistic, using interviews and theory. In-depth interviews with founders of NTBFs were used to review the object of study from different, practical perspectives. Moreover, four theoretical viewpoints were used complementary: contingency, strategy, transactions (TCE) and resources (RBV). No attempt was made for theoretical integration or synthesis of theories. Rather, theories were combined in such a way as to enhance the qualities of each other. TCE theory was used for the identification of strategies, where RBV theory was used for the identification (or a lack) of resources, for which specific strategies and tactics can be executed. Contingency theory served as the overarching theme of the framework, where strategy forms the common thread in this research. An in-depth case study could be used to validate the conceptual framework by reflecting on a real-life case. A single case study was used, while context-dependent knowledge was assumed to be more valuable than predictive theories. The framework as designed in this research can be used for NTBFs when selecting their growth strategy. Further research is needed to examine the suitability of the framework for different NTBFs, where this research only validated the framework with a single case study. This can be done by executing several in-depth single case studies that lead to a more complete and usable framework. Data should not only be gathered from NTBFs but should also be gathered from researchers when it comes to the critical assessment of the used theories (RBV and TCE) and possible extensions of the conceptual framework.

How can a project manager adapt the project plan for an innovation project to the context? This question leads to other matters, such as why is it important for a project leader to adapt the project plan to the context? Firstly, suppose a firm in a market and the executives of the company plan to grow the organization through innovation projects. Then, the executives need to select the project leader based on the personality of the project manager candidates because the project manager’s personalities influence the project success (Müller & Turner, 2007). This step indicates the necessity of analyzing the personality of the project manager candidates. Subsequently, the project manager must create a project plan. In drafting the project plan, the project manager needs to make several decisions depending upon the context because nowadays, firms need to adjust their business decisions depending on contextual factors (Ortt & Van der Duin, 2008). Thus, this step indicates the importance of adapting the project plan to the context. Nevertheless, those practical problems are not resolved yet because no literature connects between the decisions in making a project plan, the contextual factors, and the project leader’s personalities. Literature reviews and experiments are conducted in this study. Firstly, the literature reviews summarize the theory explaining the decisions in making a project plan, the contextual factors, and the project leader’s personalities as well as generate some hypotheses. Secondly, the experiment, aiming to test the hypotheses, asks the TPM TU Delft student to fill out the questionnaires. Then, the 162 valid data were analyzed to form three groups of variables: (a) project plan variables, comprising 37 variables; (b) contextual factor variables, encompassing 2 variables; and (c) project leader’s personality variables, entailing 29 variables. Furthermore, the relationships between the project plan variables and the contextual factors are investigated using analysis of variances. Next, the relationships between the project plan variables and the project leader’s personalities are examined using regression. Lastly, the relationships between the project plan variables and the contextual factors controlling for the project manager’s personalities are analyzed using analysis of covariances. The results show that two contextual factors have influences on the decisions in making a project plan. Likewise, two out of three project leader’s personality variables have effects on the decisions in creating a project plan and moderate the connection between the contextual factors and the decisions in making a project plan. This study has both scientific relevance and practical relevance. In scientific relevance, this study provides newly developed scale measuring the decisions in making a project plan. Likewise, this research brings up the application of the contextual factors theory to the project management as well as the application of the people’s personality theories to the project management. On the other hand, in managerial practice, this research can be a guidance for the executives to appoint a project manager based on the personalities of the project manager candidates and for the appointed project manager to create a project plan depending on the contextual factors.

If we are to avert Climate Change, the world must reduce its net carbon footprint to zero in the coming decades. This will require an unprecedented shift in the technologies relied on in almost every part of the economy. Venture Capital can play a pivotal role in hastening the adoption of new technologies, but for investors to pursue a technology, certain conditions must be met. This research uses the Technological Innovation Systems (TIS) framework to qualitatively explore the nature of these conditions. It does this through a double case study of two technologies at the forefront of the “Climate Tech” investor movement: Electric Cars and Plant-Based Meat Alternatives. Combining literature research with interviews of both investors and people closely involved with these technologies, the research identifies several key building blocks as likely to affect investor interest. These building blocks include Product Quality (the product needs to be competitive on grounds other than its sustainability), Product Price (the product must be able to be sold at an initially significant premium), Production System (product components or materials as well as production capacity should be commoditized), and Customers (the product must be interesting to the mass-market). In both case studies, the ultimately successful companies showed that the existing niche fundamentally misunderstood the market. Through the lens of the TIS, this could be considered an Accident or Event, where a visionary founder challenges existing Knowledge of Application and Market. There is a significant level of overlap between the case studies, suggesting that this might be a key strategy to developing sustainable B2C innovations.

PURPOSE Addressing the issue of gender inequality in Dutch energy organisations has become increasingly important, but understanding the complex interplay of personal factors and various aspects of gender inequality that contribute to the perception of this wicked problem remains a challenge. This study aims to explore the refracted reflections of gender inequality among employees in Dutch energy organisations by examining the metaphorical prisms formed by societal, organisational, and individualistic aspects. This multi-dimensional analysis seeks to identify aspects contributing to gender inequality, to show the interdependencies of the issue, and to highlight potential intervention points for implementing change while considering the dynamic interaction between the prisms and personal factors. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH A qualitative transdisciplinary case study approach was used to explore perceptions of gender inequality within Dutch energy organisations. Data collection methods included in-depth interviews with gender experts and employees, an employee survey, conversations with researchers, and observations at relevant events. The research design incorporated theoretical frameworks such as problem framing and process-based decision making to guide the study. Content analysis was used to identify patterns, relationships and trends in the data collected, providing a comprehensive understanding of the societal, organisational, and individualistic aspects that contribute to gender inequality. FINDINGS The study resulted in the development of a novel, comprehensive framework that presents the interplay of wicked problem perceptions through the metaphorical prisms formed by societal, organisational, and individualistic aspects. The framework suggests that mental representations of experienced problem situations, informed by the personal factors of environment, knowledge, and intersectionality, influence cognitive processes such as assumptions and awareness. These mental representations shape the perceptions of the issue, which then determines prioritisation of certain aspects. The framework acknowledges the existence of causal loops between assumptions, awareness, and prioritisation, as well as the dynamic interaction with personal factors. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS The comprehensive framework derived from this study provides valuable insights for Dutch energy organisations and other industries seeking to address gender inequality by understanding and addressing the underlying aspects and personal factors that shape employees’ perceptions. This knowledge can be used to design targeted interventions, organisational policies and practices that promote a more inclusive and equitable work environment. ORIGINALITY/VALUE This thesis presents an original approach to understanding gender inequality in Dutch energy organisations, a representative case for other male-dominated technical sectors. It offers a novel, comprehensive framework that captures the interplay of societal, organisational, and individualistic aspects with personal factors to show how perceptions of gender inequality emerge. The value of this research lies in its transdisciplinary approach and its applicability in facilitating real-world interventions and strategies to mitigate gender inequality

Sustainability transitions is a complex multi-dimensional research field. In this field, different frameworks exist that have grown as separate strands while they actually contain many similarities and in some cases can even complement each other. In general, these frameworks try to present and clarify the processes related to transitions of socio-technical systems and the emergence, diffusion and utilization of technological innovations. To do so, researchers carry out historical event analyses for specific cases. This means that they gather, process and analyse data about events that have happened in the past to build a narrative of how an innovation has developed or a transition took place over time. Although there are guidelines in literature on how this should be done for each framework, the case results as presented in academic papers are often varied and the clarification behind the results and the used data can be unclear. In this research an attempt has been made to reduce this variance and unclarity by building a tool in which the data gathering, categorizing and processing of sustainability transitions research cases is done structurally and the data itself is systemically presented through visualisations. This tool is a software based digital platform, referred to as the Sustainability Transitions Platform (STP). In the first draft of the platform functionalities have been limited and the sustainability transitions theory has been focused on the Multi-Level Perspective and Technological Innovation Systems. These are two of the most frequently used frameworks in the field and a combination of both is already being experimented with taking advantage of their commonalities and complementarities. The combined framework contains three elements that are deemed important to build the system of the case. These are i) the environment in which the technological innovation system resides; ii) the actors, networks and institutions of the system; iii) the functions analysis tool to determine how the parts of the system are functioning. These elements have been translated to the platform as three separate visualization tools, which are: 1. Technology environment, which presents the technology being analysed within a graph together with other technologies relevant for the analysis as comparison and landscape factors that influence the system. 2. Structural components, which presents all the actors, in a structured way through predefined groups, and their networks in the same graph and also present the relevant institutions in an adjacent table. 3. TIS functions analysis, which presents how the system is functioning in a radar chart based on a set of functions and their corresponding indicators. These visualization tools are intended to present the case data in a structured way in order to help users of the platform better understand the system development process and make it comparable between cases. The platform template has been tested through a case for offshore wind energy technology in Brazil. From this case we have seen that i) the data does indeed need to be implemented structurally; ii) the visualization tools in the platform present the system through the three required elements of the framework; and iii) the platform user is able to determine possible bottlenecks for further development of the system. Another advantage gained by carrying out the case in a platform instead of how they currently are in journals, is that the digital aspects of the platform allow users to interact with the visualization tools and the underlying data which can help clarify the reasoning behind the conclusions of analysis. From the case we have also learned that in the current version of the platform i) inputting the data can be very time consuming and should in the future be automated; and ii) some essential aspects of the case are still not presented in the visualization tools, for example, the power or influence specific actors have in a system, which should be taken into account in future versions. The STP appears to have a positive effect on sustainability transitions case implementation and would be recommended to be further developed. Given its dynamic nature it should also be used as an experimentational tool to merge the strengths of other frameworks in sustainability transitions research to eventually generate a single more complete framework and act as a bridge between theory and practice.

Several high-tech companies that develop creative new technological products fail to enter the market. For entering the market, some companies aim to use a transition from a customer engineering project to a so-called product platform. A product platform is a technological design that meets the needs of a core group of customers and can be modified by the addition and substitution of features. Scaling to a product platform enables a company to receive a higher profit margin on sold products then possible when performing projects. However, companies that seek to transition from a project to a product platform experience challenges in their decision-making of the functionalities of the product platform. So far, there is no literature on how companies should approach a transition from project to product platform. Furthermore, this research tries to answer a scientific follow-up question of a literature review on technology-push (TP) and demand-pull (DP) mechanisms (Di Stefano et al., 2012, p. 1291): "How can firms capitalize both technology and demand in the process of innovation development and commercialization?" Successfully capturing both demand and state-of-the-art technology in the product platform could enable the company to let the technology diffuse into the market. This research aims to help high-tech companies and contribute to scientific research. Therefore, this explorative research executes a single case study and delivers a framework to communicate the captured knowledge. The formal research objective is: "Design a framework to support companies decide on the minimum functionalities for a product platform when the company wants to transition from project to product platform." This study delivers a framework that helps companies decide on the minimum functionalities for the product platform. The framework structures the process and ensures that all employees can find a balance between knowledge of technology and knowledge of customers. The result can be a product platform that contains unique selling points and meets the shared actual needs of the customers of a so-called unique selling market (USM). In this way, a company can find a balance between TP and DP mechanisms, which enables the company to diffuse its technology into the market. This research was conducted through multi-method research. A single case study at a high-tech company developing an unmanned surface vessel (USV) enabled the research to discover and define the empirical problem. The literature study on TP and DP mechanisms discovered the applicability of the factors ’technology adaption and diffusion’ and ’organizational competences’. Both provided input for a first framework design. Interviews validated the framework 1.0 and a set of functionalities were developed for the product platform of the USV, which enabled the development of framework 2.0. Finally, a workshop delivered the results of the interviews to the employees and validated framework 2.0. The framework provides valuable knowledge to high-tech companies that want to transition from project to product platform. Implementing the decision-making process can enable the company to select the minimum functionalities that capture both technology and demand in the product platform. Framework 2.0 contributes to the scientific literature by elaborating on the discussion how companies can balance both TP and DP mechanisms (Di Stefano et al., 2012; Lubik et al., 2013) by the use of existing literature (Ortt and Schoormans, 2004; Ortt et al., 2013;Moore, 2014; Lubik et al., 2013; Gawer, 2014).

Solar Electric Vehicles recently emerged in the market to solve dilemmas that have been hindering the EVs mass uptake: limited driving range, long charging time, and limited charging infrastructures. The SEV utilization is especially interesting for those who live in areas with many sun hours annually but have limited EV charging infrastructures. Interestingly, Indonesia is located along the equator, lacks EV charging facilities, and has a big market size for SEV. Even more, Indonesia has the urge to boost its decarbonization to meet its climate goals, especially in its transport sector. The combination of these facts leads to the overarching question if SEV could be easily mass adopted in Indonesia. However, the TIS perspective argues that, as part of a complex system of systems, SEV would need not only good technological features but also other “actors, factors and functions” to help it to reach its mass adoption (Ortt et al., 2013). Therefore, it leads to the main research question: “From the technical innovation system perspective, how could solar electric vehicles reach mass adoption in Indonesia?” This research is conducted in collaboration with Lightyear – a SEV producer. As Lightyear is aiming to mass produce its SEV, therefore, this research is conducted to explore and evaluate the Indonesian market, so that the best strategy recommendation could be provided to Lightyear so it could commercialize its SEV in a large scale in Indonesia. The qualitative research approach is implemented in this research by reviewing diverse online literature, including both scientific and grey literature. The TIS Framework (Ortt & Kamp, 2022) and the Ten Niche Strategies framework (Ortt et al., 2013) are used as the starting point of the research. TIS is defined as innovation systems around a specific technology that consists of four main elements: the technology, a network of actors, the institutions, and the demand. Ortt & Kamp’s TIS framework is a tool to examine the TIS of an innovation that is in its adaptation phase to judge whether the innovation is ready for its mass uptake or whether a small-scale niche introduction strategy is needed prior to the large-scale diffusion. The framework consists of three major elements: TIS building blocks (most important aspects needed for large-scale diffusion), influencing factors, and strategies. When certain influencing factors negatively affect the completeness of the TIS building blocks, they pose as barriers to the mass adoption of the innovation. Certain strategies could be implemented to circumvent these barriers, such as the generic Ten Niche Strategies proposed by Ortt et al. The research is conducted in four major steps. First, basic information about SEV technology is explored. Second, a new framework called “the Best Strategy Framework” is developed to extend and complete the original TIS Framework and Ten Niche Strategies Framework so that the users/readers could select the best strategy based on the combination of barriers that hinder mass adoption of the innovations. Third, the newly developed framework is used to evaluate the Indonesian market and to identify the barriers that might hamper Lightyear’s SEV mass adoption in Indonesia. Finally, by using the newly developed framework, the best strategy that could circumvent the identified barriers is selected and proposed to Lightyear.

Climate change is triggering among others a larger demand for offshore wind energy. This leads to new developments of which larger next-generation Wind Turbine Generators is the most relevant. These next-generation WTGs create problems for the carrying capacity of current-day installation jack-up vessels that work according to the conventional installation method (shuttling). These installation vessels can carry less or even nil of these WTGs per trip compared to the current-day WTGs. Fewer turbines per trip would allow the larger current-day installation vessels to maintain their work. However, they have more sailing time since more trips are required. This could also be more inefficient since the Offshore Wind Farms are moving further offshore. The other option within the conventional method is to build larger installation vessels that would carry more WTGs per trip. Another installation method in the literature called feedering is a potential substitute for the conventional method. Very limited research has been done for feedering as well the practical implementation whereas the conventional method has extensive research and is mostly used in practice. The models in the literature compared two different feeder methods, called, the base port feeder and feeder-ship method, to the conventional method. The models are generic and lack different strategies to find the best feeder solution. The feeder-ship method has the most potential to solve the aforementioned problems and is therefore further investigated to find the best installation strategy, being either the conventional or feeder method. First of all, the feeder-ship method is evaluated based on practical knowledge and adapted so a base port is used to temporarily store all components that come from the production port. The feeder sails back and forth between the base port and the installation site to supply the installation vessel with WTG components. The installation vessel will stay at the installation site to be as efficient as possible (the least amount of sailing time). This research only looks at the feeder and installation side and leaves the port elements out of the problem. Feeder strategies (within this method) differ in the number of feeder vessels/types and transfer options using either barges or Platform Support Vessels and being indirect (transfer components onto the installation vessel) or direct (install components from the feeder). The installation vessel for feedering is also looked into as being either a current-day or a special feeder purpose installation vessel. Different carrying capacities of the installation vessels are used to create different strategies for the conventional method. A stochastic Discrete Event Simulation model is created and used in this research to evaluate the strategies. The output of the DES simulation is the project duration per sailing distance and strategy. The costs for this duration is calculated in a costs model from the perspective of the contractor as well as the developer. Besides duration and costs (based on the European market), the strategies are also evaluated on emissions (fuel consumption) since this is an increasingly important element in the industry. A sensitivity analysis has been performed to get a better understanding of which critical parameters the feeder strategies are most sensitive to. The analysis is also used to find the best next-generation WTG installation strategy in Europe which is the main focus of this thesis.

This thesis explored the contrast between the overarching category of entrepreneurship (from here on, “mainstream entrepreneurship” or ME) and the subset of technology entrepreneurship (TE) through a comparison of The Netherlands (low TE/high ME) and Japan (high TE/low ME), addressing the problem that currently no dedicated frameworks for TE exist. Five influencing variables were explored at the country level of analysis, namely economic development, technological development, institutions, education, and culture. In contrast to ME, TE benefits from better technological development and education. These influencing variables showed high values, whereas for ME they showed low values. With analysis of 44 additional countries, these results were confirmed, and economic development was also deemed important to TE. A culture high on long-term orientation and individualism (Hofstede dimensions) appeared to benefit TE. Institutions showed little difference between ME and TE. The additional analysis firmly showed that ME and TE are different and unrelated. which was confirmed by a low correlation coefficient and corresponding p-value. This thesis shows that TE and ME are different, should be treated as such, and has identified several influencing variables that affect TE differently than ME. Thus, TE and ME can be independently stimulated by increasing the levels of the influencing variables. For governments seeking to increase their levels of TE through relevant policies, despite a traditionally non-entrepreneurial environment, it means that all is not lost, and that the levels of TE can be raised by focusing on increasing levels of education, economic environment, and technological environment. Managerial recommendations include the geographical placement of technology start-ups and the diversification of the team to improve success.

Since the introduction of the shipping container as early as 1968, the shipping industry experienced great increase in trade and efficiency. The shipping container revolutionised the way goods are handled within the ports and enabled the growth of international supply chains. However, as this growth of trade continued into the late 1900s and early 2000s, both customs and the organisations within this chain experienced an increased administrative burden. This administrative burden was experienced within the different information streams to get the goods smoothly from the selling actor to the buying actor. Additionally, many actors within the supply chain perceive opportunities to greatly increase trade efficiency. Improving their business model through the addition of information based new services, expanding business through integrating other actors, and lowering costs through the development of cost-effective in-house capabilities. Early digitisation efforts have only produced limited results, as these mainly focused on automating internal business processes. These internal processes were often not able to automate communication with other actors. Processes still relied on a significant amount of paper communication. The introduction of digital platforms has greatly affected different industries, for example enabling direct booking within the air travel business. Replacing paper documentation with an electronic equivalent can enable an increase in efficiency, through reduced administration costs and improved planning and operational capabilities. Efforts in introducing a digital platform within the shipping industry have been taking place using different governmental research efforts. However, as a possible additional effect, the digital platform may put reconfiguration of the network in motion. This reconfiguration enables certain actors to partake a bigger role, whereas other actors might lose control of the supply chain process. The TradeLens platform launched in 2018, is such a digital platform. This platform allows sharing both documentation (e.g. the commercial invoice, packing list, bill-of-lading) and supply chain events (e.g. lodging ENS, the actual time of arrival) with the other actors. The platform uses a blockchain infrastructure. This structure is used to increase the trustworthiness of the data. Firstly, the auditability hinders documentation fraud as the actors within the network can trace the exact moment and actor that placed uploaded a document. The immutability of the blockchain infrastructure allows the automation of information processes. When the information is uploaded it cannot be changed. It was developed by a co-operation between a shipping carrier and a technology developer. The platform was tasked with alleviating the pressure on the administrative systems of the different actors within the supply chain. This research investigated possible scenarios due to the introduction of a digital platform using the TradeLens platform as the main research case. Research Question and Objectives This research aims to address the different possible future configurations of the network and roles within the container supply chain. To address this, the following main research question was developed: What is the possible supply chain configurations that come with a digital information infrastructure?. In addressing this research question a number of research steps and clarifications have to be answered. Firstly, the research has to determine what is considered an actor within the supply chain ecosystem and what are the key activities performed in that ecosystem. Secondly, the research aims to perform an analysis of each actor and thus explain the different roles to be able to perform this analysis a theoretical model has to be developed. Thirdly, the research will evaluate the ecosystem using this model. Fourthly, the different scenarios will be developed using the developed model. Research Method The research employed three main methods of data collection. Firstly, a literature review is performed to identify the important information and innovation concepts to be used throughout the research. Secondly, through analysing many different public sources, the research gains company insights and information for constructing different roles, activities, and resources. Thirdly, through interviews with experts on the TradeLens platform where careful attention is given to the shifting activities, resources and control within the configuration of the network. The used approach can be defined in four steps. First, the researchers developed an initial meta-framework using the findings from the literature review. Secondly, the different concepts within the meta-framework were combined into constructing a model for the assessment of the ecosystem. Thirdly, a generic container shipping case is construed from the information gained from the different public and academic sources. Lastly, a comparison is performed between the construed case and a test case of a Dutch tyre importer. The main findings within these steps will be discussed in the following paragraph. Main Findings The research identified five key theories to be of importance within the model. These are 1. Ecosystem theory, 2. Stakeholder theory, 3. Diffusion theory, 4. Control Point theory and lastly, 5. Barriers and Stimulating Factors. Firstly, the concept of the business ecosystem. An ecosystem describes how different actors within a business domain influence and interact with the other actors outside and within the direct business network. This research investigates the effect of digital platforms on ecosystem reconfiguration. The chosen system of analysis for this ecosystem reconfiguration is the blockchain-enabled platform, TradeLens. This platform enables information sharing between the different actors using a trusted blockchain structure. The TradeLens ecosystem can be considered a service ecosystem, as the main value creation is intangible and the many different actors within the ecosystem co-produce the final value within the system. Secondly, stakeholder theory describes when someone can be considered a stakeholder and how to evaluate motivations and incentives. Thirdly, diffusion theory described how an innovation such as TradeLens goes through different phases before mass-market adoption. Fourth, the control points theory explain how different actors within a business process are able to exercise control on that process. Control points were used to describe how different actors are able to perform certain roles within the ecosystem. Lastly, barriers and stimulating factors describe how certain factors can enable or disable a certain development to progress further. In the case of TradeLens this was used to investigate further growth barriers and stimulating factors. This meta-framework was converted into a six-point assessment model. This model uses a comparison between different states of an ecosystem, to evaluate possible scenarios. The first case is that of the generic constructed benchmark. This benchmark has been developed from cross-referencing a selection of public and academic sources. The main task of the constructed case was to show a generic and common supply chain structure. To assess the enhanced version of the supply chain, a case study of a Dutch tyre importer was selected. This case was selected due to the extensive documentation around this case. Additionally, this case has ships of non-hazardous and non-perishable goods that do not require additional certificates and documentation that might be applicable for other goods. The constructed benchmark case and the tyre importer case were both evaluated using the six-point assessment. With regards to key activities, the main difference found was that the tyre importer self-organises its land transport as the organisation owns its own transportation vehicles. Secondly, the tyre importer case performed the import declaration itself. This in contrast with the benchmark case, where this task was delegated to a freight forwarder who organises both the land transport and the lodging of the import declaration. This main difference becomes more visible when assessing the second point, the key actors. Here it was observed that the freight forwarder was missing on the importing side within the tyre case. This was possible as the buyer/tyre importer performed the activities of the freight forwarder. Within the value exchanges and the key information, it was observed that the buyer was able to directly lodge the required data for the import declaration. This automated the customs lodging process and increased cost-effectiveness. Secondly, within the TI case, the buyer had its own land transport capabilities and did not rely on an intermodal operator to collect the goods from the port. This allowed the buyer to redevelop its strategy with regard to the supply chain. The effects of the digital platform allowed the process of lodging the customs declaration to be more efficient as the commercial invoice and HS codes could be directly gathered from this platform. This was made possible due to the API and blockchain data pipeline architecture of the digital platform. The API-structure allowed the data to be automatically collected, whereas the blockchain structure enhanced the trustworthiness of the submitted data. Regarding, intermodal transport. The digital platform allowed the buyer to have an accurate and actual time of release and arrival of the container. This allowed the buyer to improve the planning of the collection of the container. When observing the control points it was identified that the main control points of the freight forwarder are two-fold. First, it has the expertise and capabilities to be able to perform the customs lodging. Secondly, it has the capability of gathering and forwarding logistics data within the network. Within the tyre case, both of these control points were absorbed by the buyer. Using the control point evaluation a set of four different scenarios were identified. These developed scenarios are not comprehensive, but a combination of these scenarios are likely to be observed in the near future. For every scenario, it is evaluated how the actor could use its current control points and the digital infrastructure to increase its control on the process and thus enable reconfiguration. Firstly, the status-quo scenario. In this scenario, there is not a clear actor who absorbs the activities of other actors. The main benefits of the digital infrastructure are experienced throughout the chain as the different actors increase their efficiency using automation and digitisation of the communication processes. In this case, no reconfiguration is thus observed. The second scenario is the development of capabilities to perform more logistical tasks within the supply chain by either the buyer, the seller or both. As observed within the tyre case, the buyer is able to more efficiently perform the customs lodging and the arrangement of land transport due to having access to the commercial invoice and the actual time of arrival and release of the container. An identified stimulating factor within the capability development of the buyer/seller is the standardisation of the data and the development of a market solution to booking and tracking logistical transport. The third scenario is where the carrier becomes a one-stop shop for logistics. Using their central position within the supply chain, they are able to redevelop their value offering. This offering is expanded with the logistical support of lodging customs data and providing intermodal transport. The fourth scenario is that of the freight forwarder expanding its value offering. Here the freight forwarder expands into managing the customer’s warehouse and perform a larger set of logistic services towards the customers.

The case of the development of rural renewable energy projects is the subject of much debate due to the complexity of these markets and the difficulty of establishing businesses using a coherent business logic. This is helped by the use of frameworks such as the Business Model, but doesn’t account for the changes in these markets as well as the changes in the firms themselves. This work looks at developing the research into these changes, so called Business Model dynamics, and look specifically at the case of Indonesia. In doing so, it looks at covering two main gaps in the current research: Firstly, the gap in the literature on Business Model dynamics specifically for the case of rural renewable energy; and secondly, the gap in the literature on how renewable energy companies adapt to the rural market in Indonesia. To do so, a literature study provides the backbone of the research in terms of the Business Model’s history, its components, and the dynamics associated with it. It then goes further into defining what these dynamics consist of for the case of renewable energy in particular. This is followed by the development of a conceptual model, representing changes to the Business Model over time in a graphical representation. A case study is then performed on Indonesian companies, whereby the literature study is used as a basis for the interview questions and the conceptual model is then used on the results of this case study. Finally, the conceptual model is improved based on its application in the case studies to arrive at a final framework. The conclusions that can be drawn from this work is that there are various levels of Business Model dynamics and that these can be determined for various different types of markets. In this instance the levels of dynamics that were determined for the case of Indonesia include the list of internal and external components of the Business Model for rural renewable energy projects, their influencing factors that cause them to change, the interrelationships between the Business Model components and finally the overall change to the Business Model over time.

Radically new technologies, of which ‘the functionality was new to the market or the price-performance ratio was much better than contemporary products’ (Ortt, 2012), can be both risky and rewarding to develop. The innovation phase is the period from invention of a radically new technology until the first market introduction. This research into the first phase develops a model that provides guidance during the innovation phase. The main research question is: How can important factors that help or hinder the development of radically new technologies during the innovation phase be modelled? A literature review, to understand the role of the innovation phase in innovation models, uses papers from several fields of research: S-curve, pattern of development and diffusion, conditions for large-scale diffusion, Strategic Niche Management, Minnesota Innovation Research Program, Fuzzy Front End, and Sectoral Systems of Innovation. A second literature review, to understand characteristics of the innovation phase, is performed, using the same fields of research as in the first literature review, but complemented with more applied research that provides even more empirical data through case studies. All topics of interest from both the innovation models in the first literature review and all claims in the second literature review, come together in the search of factors for the innovation phase. Two case studies are performed: 3D printing and Augmented Reality. Both case studies provide new insights and improvements to the list of factors. The centre of the model is formed by a group of five factors. Those five factors go from Expectations to Strategy to Resource to Knowledge to Product. The Innovator is the self-appointed process owner who wants to create the product. The Innovator tries to manage those five central factors to maximally improve the technology’s chances. There is a special role for Resources, because insufficient focus on this factor results in a complete stop of all development efforts. The four other factors all have influence on the five central factors. It is up to the Innovators to increase help to the five central factors and to decrease any problems. Examples are to use demonstrations to increase expectations or to secure funding, or to deal with a complete lack of demand for the technology, or with laws that prohibit the product from commercialization. An important limitation to the research is the hindsight bias in which the definition of a technology is based on what the technology eventually became. It is also hard to prove a model that is based on factors: the best option is to make it as plausible as possible. The most important recommendations are to add a measurement of the number of Innovators to the innovation phase of the pattern of development and diffusion, to explore the transition from the innovation phase to the market adaptation phase, and to formulate strategies for the innovation phase, based on this model and its factors.

New Product Development (NPD) of applications incorporating breakthrough technologies can be beneficial for companies, but can also come with serious drawbacks. Therefore, the NPD process must be approached with great care. Rather than adopting the chaotic trajectory of the NPD process, where applications are introduced, withdrawn, and reintroduced naturally over time, business prosperity could be enhanced if companies can up-front formulate a set of possible future applications for a breakthrough technology. The most promising alternative can hereafter be chosen to be further developed in the NPD process, possibly reducing the chance of having to switch to the development of other applications (and thus circumventing the Collingridge dilemma). In this thesis, I start with defining the terms (breakthrough) technology and application. Then, I suggest a ten-step framework that is suited for formulating applications for a breakthrough technology, based on the comparison and symbiosis of five existent frameworks that are helpful in reaching the aforementioned goal. Factors that are of importance in that process are also investigated. None were discovered in scientific literature, but some suggestions are made based on the current work. The framework is applicable to breakthrough technologies of which it is non-obvious, and even unsure, what the technology can do, how it can be implemented into applications, and whom it might serve. Next to this, the breakthrough technology must still be in the innovation phase. The process itself must make use of qualitative and quantitative approaches in a balanced way, must continuously involve known sets of experts, must look into the future, and must formulate concrete applications for the emerging technology. The framework is then partially applied to the breakthrough technology of quantum dots (QDs). The technology profile and the application profile were gathered, first, based on scientific records. Then, the most frequently used keywords and the most increasingly used keywords were retrieved for both profiles. The most frequently used keywords showed that carbon dots are the most dominant area of research that is being conducted on QDs and that optics and imaging are the two major fields where QDs are being incorporated. The most increasingly used keywords confirmed the observation that QDs are in the adaptation phase, where QDs are still surrounded by substantial uncertainty. Finally, with the aid of text mining software of VantagePoint and programming software of R, two dendrograms were formed. The remaining steps of the framework were not carried out in the current thesis project. It was concluded that the ten-step framework is most likely better suited for breakthrough technologies that are more in their infancy than QDs (so, breakthrough technologies still in the innovation phase). The framework should, next to this notion of novelty, be applicable to any breakthrough technology, regardless of the field that the breakthrough technology is situated in. As long as it is non-obvious, and even unsure, what the breakthrough technology can do, how it can be incorporated into applications, and whom it might be useful for.

The introduction of electric vehicles (EVs) can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, fossil fuel depletion and urban air pollution. The exponential growth of the EV market requires a significant expansion of the public charging infrastructure. This causes challenges especially in cities in terms of parking pressure, grid reinforcements and investment costs. There are two charging technologies for electric vehicles: normal charging and fast charging. Fast charging technology is developing rapidly, with charging speeds that allow a full charge in fifteen minutes in 2020. Local governments however, currently mainly support and subsidise normal charging.   Currently, there is no scientific study that combines the technical, economical, social and political perspectives to evaluate the feasibility of fast charging. This research determines the current and future feasibility of fast charging in Dutch cities. An exploratory case study of the major Dutch cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht is performed. The political economy theory on transport innovations by Feitelson and Salomon is used as the theoretical perspective. From the research it is concluded that fast charging is increasingly feasible as a charging solution in Dutch cities. Currently, there is a focus on normal charging in cities caused by the current EVs and charging technology. The developments sparked by larger batteries and faster charging however increase the feasibility of fast charging. As EV adoption accelerates, a more hybrid mix of normal and fast charging solutions is needed in crowded cities to accommodate the charging needs. The increasing industry interest, consumer attitude and high charging capacity make fast charging an important factor in the future public charging infrastructure.

The goal of India being a solar PV hub implies that the country needs to evolve as the center of activity for the development and deployment of solar PV technology. This includes activities like R&D, product design, testing, engineering, manufacturing, and assembly. But in addition to the developed technology, there needs to be enough opportunities for deploying it in a commercial market. Considering the need for capacity building, sustainable energy sources and possessing huge solar potential, massive manufacturing and human resources, India has an important role to play in the solar industry in the coming decade. In addition to this, the recent COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the trade relationship with China which is an important exporter of solar PV components. These factors provide a great opportunity for India to evolve as a global competitor for development and deployment of solar energy. For India to emerge as such a solar PV technology hub, it needs to engage in several activities ranging from technology development, market formation, policy development and others. Scientists and researchers have established that such technological developments or transitions cannot be studied as an isolated concept, but it is part of a larger ‘Innovation system’. The Technological Innovation System (TIS) approach provides a holistic framework focusing on technical, economic, policy, and socio-cultural aspects to nurture a new innovation. However, the current TIS framework is focused on the early stages of the technology life cycle and on how to make them successful in the niche and bridge markets. Whereas in the current case, solar PV is a well-matured technology and India being a hub or a market leader need accelerating large scale diffusion and needs to face competition from global players. For a country to emerge as a market leader in such a technology, it needs to engage in activities that are focused on building competence on par with global market leaders and take steps for large scale diffusion. The current thesis addresses this scientific knowledge gap by developing a new conceptual framework focused on the matured phase of TIS and on activities that will allow a region/country to emerge as a global competitor through formation of technology hubs. The author conceptualized the new framework called 'Factors of TIS acceleration' catering to the processes that a matured TIS needs to engage to compete with global players and diffuse in large scale. These processes include, 'Building competitive advantage', 'Integrating complementary innovations’, ‘Expanding market reach and ‘Overturning incumbents’ that are essential in advancing a particular TIS. This new framework is then applied to the case of solar PV in India to evaluate if the country can emerge as a solar PV technology hub in the next decade.

Recent findings by the OECD highlight that a significant proportion of refugees in Europe possess high levels of education, often being overqualified for their roles. However, literature seldom addresses the unique challenges these highly educated refugees face when integrating into the labor market. This research examines the role of entrepreneurship in integrating highly skilled Syrian refugees into the labor markets of Germany and the Netherlands. Using a qualitative research design, including literature review, desk-based research, and semi-structured interviews, the study reveals that both countries currently lack specialized support for such refugees during their asylum and integration processes. They face numerous challenges, including legislative, administrative, financial, socio-cultural, and market-related barriers. Moreover, collaboration between local government actors and business incubators is sparse. In light of these findings, the research advocates for improved policies and specialized business incubator models tailored for these refugees, aiming to leverage their skills and education for the benefit of host countries. The insights provided by this research underscore the untapped potential of educated refugees, emphasizing the necessity for more inclusive policies and support structures. Future directions for research include exploring bespoke business incubator models in Germany and the Netherlands and broadening the study's scope to other nations and demographics. This study contributes scientifically by delving into the niche domain of highly skilled refugee entrepreneurship and societally by emphasizing the invaluable economic and innovative potential of this group. Practical implications suggest refined integration strategies and infrastructures to better harness their capabilities.