The Netherlands faces a critical housing shortage, estimated at over 400,000 homes in 2024, while simultaneously pursuing ambitious climate goals. Prefabricated housing offers a promising solution, as it enables faster construction, minimizes material waste, and improves energy efficiency. However, despite its technical and non-technical advantages and alignment with sustainability agendas, its market adoption remains limited and fragmented in the Dutch context. This study examines the key factors influencing the market adoption of prefabricated housing in the Netherlands, with a focus on the underlying misalignments among actors from diverse sectors.

To explore this issue, the study applied a mixed-methods research design. An extensive literature review was conducted to identify factors influencing adoption in the existing literature. Subsequently, three stages of expert interviews were conducted with 12 experts from academia, industry, and government, who represent the Triple Helix model. The Best-Worst Method (BWM) was then applied to rank nine consolidated adoption factors based on expert input systematically. The process was followed by a thematic analysis and triangulation with 25 international studies to explore the reasoning behind stakeholder preferences and variation in prioritization.

The nine key factors assessed were:
1. Financial and Economic Viability
2. Consumer Perception and Market Demand
3. Policy and Regulatory Support
4. Speed and Construction Efficiency
5. Sustainability and Environmental Impact
6. Industry Collaboration and Workforce Development
7. Structural Quality and Durability
8. Technological Advancements and Standardisation
9. Supply Chain and Logistics Efficiency

As seen above, financial and economic viability ranked highest, indicating that cost-effectiveness, profitability, and affordability are decisive for both public and private actors. Consumer perception and market demand followed closely, reflecting the role of public trust and design acceptability. Policy and regulatory support was also ranked highly, which emphasizes the need for efficient permits and consistent policies. Conversely, factors such as technological advancements and supply chain logistics, often emphasised in the literature, were deprioritised by experts, who saw them as either already developed or less influential in current decision-making contexts.

BWM analysis also revealed that prioritizations were not sectorally consistent: experts within the same sector often disagreed. Instead, through thematic analysis and triangulation, it is known that factor rankings were shaped by an individual’s background, institutional mandate, and past project experience. For example, experts with experience in government focused on financial viability and regulatory support, while industry actors emphasized financial viability and sustainability. In the meantime, academic experts often stressed consumer perception, construction speed, and cross-sector collaboration.

This study presents a stakeholder-informed, decision-analytic framework for understanding the adoption of prefabricated housing. It emphasizes that accelerating adoption requires not only technical innovation but also coordinated cross-sectoral strategies, financial incentives, a shared narrative that enhances consumer perception, and policy support. The findings offer practical insights for policymakers, developers, and researchers seeking to mainstream prefabricated housing as a sustainable, scalable, and socially accepted housing solution in the Netherlands.

The building sector is one of the largest consumers of energy and a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Improving the energy efficiency of buildings is therefore critical to reducing environmental impacts and achieving the climate targets set by the European Green Deal. In this context, energy renovations, such as insulation upgrades and heating system improvements, are widely promoted as a key strategy. However, there remains considerable uncertainty around the actual energy savings achieved in practice, partly due to performance gaps and behavioral rebound effects. This thesis aims to quantify the real-world impact of energy-efficient renovations on residential gas consumption in the Netherlands, focusing on older dwellings constructed before 1980.

Utilizing data from the WoON 2018 housing survey, which includes detailed data on dwellings and households, the study employs a multiple linear regression model to isolate the effect of renovations on energy use. By comparing the energy consumption of similar renovated and non-renovated dwellings using statistical methods, this study leverages real-world data to estimate the extent to which renovations reduce energy consumption. The research addresses the influence of occupant behavior and other contextual factors, aiming to provide robust estimates of energy savings attributable to renovations.

The results show that a one-unit improvement in thermal quality, roughly equivalent to upgrading three energy label classes, is associated with a 16.4% average reduction in annual gas consumption. Interestingly, the effect of renovations increases with higher thermal quality levels, contrary to the expectation of diminishing returns. In contrast, differences in gas consumption among homes rated between label G and D are not statistically significant. A national policy scenario, in which all dwellings are upgraded to label D, is estimated to reduce total residential gas consumption by only 0.8–1.3%, and by 1.4–2.3% within the sample. A robustness check incorporating thermostat temperature reveals signs of a rebound effect, suggesting that improved efficiency may lead to increased usage or comfort gains that offset part of the savings.

These findings have important implications for energy and climate policy. First, they underscore the need for ambitious renovation standards, as moderate improvements may yield limited savings. Second, they raise concerns about the effectiveness of using label D as a regulatory or subsidy threshold. Finally, the results support more nuanced cost-benefit evaluations and the targeting of deeper retrofits in older buildings to achieve meaningful reductions in energy use. Overall, this study contributes empirical evidence to inform the design and evaluation of renovation policies aimed at transitioning the residential sector toward near-zero energy buildings by 2050.

The Dutch high-tech manufacturing sector is undergoing a Twin Transition: the simultaneous shift toward digital transformation and improved sustainability. This dual transition is driven by the need to maintain technological leadership while meeting national climate goals and complying with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). Although digital technologies can support sustainability efforts, they also introduce trade-offs that make the relationship between these goals complex.

This research addresses a key gap in both academic literature and industry practice: the lack of a sector-specific decision-support tool that connects digital maturity with sustainability performance. Using a Design Science Research (DSR) approach, the study followed four phases: problem explication, requirements definition, design and development, and demonstration and evaluation.
1. Through expert interviews and literature reviews, ten key challenges were identified, of which four were prioritized for tool development by applying the Stacey Matrix. These include unclear returns on investment, limited visibility into sustainability impacts, the absence of sector-specific roadmaps, and a lack of methods for weighing trade-offs between digital and sustainability goals.
2. To define the tool’s requirements, a second literature review and five user interviews were conducted, resulting in functional, structural, and contextual specifications using the MoSCoW framework.
3. The resulting tool consists of three integrated components: a company-specific ESG and digital maturity survey, a Twin Transition maturity model across People, Process, and Policy dimensions, and a recommendation dashboard. This dashboard maps digital manufacturing technologies based on their sustainability impact and implementation complexity. The tool adapts an existing maturity model by aligning ESG priorities with digital transformation levels, and uses Environmentally Extended Input-Output Analysis (EEIOA) and ESG materiality mapping for impact assessment.
4. Demonstrations with consultants and a manufacturing firm showed that the tool is effective in bridging departmental silos and supporting strategic discussions. It helps companies translate high-level sustainability and digital goals into actionable steps suited to their specific context. Rather than offering prescriptive solutions, the tool serves as a structured guide for informed decision-making.

The research contributes to Twin Transition theory by providing the first integrated framework that explicitly links digital capabilities to ESG outcomes in the high-tech manufacturing sector. Methodologically, it shows how stakeholder input and quantitative analysis can be combined in a practical, industry-ready tool. While the tool offers a valuable starting point, the study also highlights its limitations, particularly in addressing the political and cultural dynamics that shape real-world change. Future research should explore how this approach can be adapted to other sectors and to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Longitudinal studies, deeper lifecycle assessments, and cross-national comparisons will also be needed to understand the broader dynamics of the Twin Transition.

As East African countries seek to address persistent energy poverty while positioning themselves within the global green economy, solar photovoltaics (PV) has emerged as a promising technological and industrial pathway. However, current patterns of adoption in the region remain heavily dependent on imported components, particularly from China, and are largely limited to deployment and distribution stages. This dependency not only undermines long-term energy security but also constrains the region’s ability to capture industrial and employment benefits associated with the clean energy transition.

This thesis investigates the potential for East African countries to collectively establish a regional solar PV manufacturing value chain (RVC), drawing strategic insights from China’s rise as the world’s leading solar PV producer. It addresses the core research question: To what extent can regional cooperation help East African countries build a sustainable solar PV value chain, and how can China’s experience inform this process?

The study adopts a multi-framework analytical approach, integrating the Technological Innovation System (TIS) framework, a regional integration into global value chains (GVCs) perspective informed by Bamber et al.’s competitiveness framework, and the developmental regionalism approach. These frameworks are applied sequentially across three empirical chapters.

First, through a TIS analysis of twelve East African countries, the study identifies systemic bottlenecks in the region’s solar PV innovation systems. While downstream deployment is gaining momentum—especially through off-grid solutions—upstream and midstream industrial development remains limited. Functions such as knowledge development, entrepreneurial experimentation, and resource mobilization are weakly fulfilled. Kenya and Ethiopia are the only countries showing nascent manufacturing activities: Kenya through local module assembly (Solinc), and Ethiopia through foreign direct investment in cell production. Most other countries lack the institutional coordination, industrial capabilities, and policy direction needed to support solar PV manufacturing.

Second, the study applies a regional value chain lens grounded in regional integration theory and developmental regionalism to explore the feasibility of task-sharing across countries. No single East African country possesses the full set of capabilities required for a vertically integrated solar PV industry. However, several countries demonstrate complementary strengths: Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda possess critical mineral reserves such as tin and copper; Ethiopia offers abundant low-cost hydropower for energy-intensive processing; Kenya has the most advanced industrial infrastructure and logistics connectivity. This uneven distribution of capabilities provides a strong rationale for a coordinated regional manufacturing strategy based on functional specialization.

To operationalize this vision, the thesis proposes a regional specialization model in which upstream resource processing is concentrated in mineral-rich countries, midstream activities are sited in energy-abundant zones, and downstream module assembly and system integration is anchored in Kenya. Countries like Rwanda may also serve in support roles for certification and trade facilitation. This model not only addresses structural asymmetries but also aligns with the principles of developmental regionalism that emphasize state-led industrial cooperation and regional complementarity.

Third, the study turns to China’s experience in developing a world-leading solar PV industry as a latecomer. Through catch-up theory and policy transfer analysis, the research identifies both the mechanisms behind China’s success—such as sequenced industrial policy, vertical coordination, and innovation investment—and the structural differences that constrain direct replication in East Africa. Instead of wholesale policy borrowing, the thesis identifies a selective set of transferable lessons: gradual policy layering, clustering and SEZ development, quality certification systems, public-private-academic collaboration, and performance-linked incentives.

The study concludes that while East Africa faces formidable constraints—ranging from fragmented markets to underdeveloped industrial ecosystems—strategic regional cooperation presents a viable path forward. By aligning national comparative advantages and adapting selected lessons from China’s experience, East African countries can collectively enter higher-value segments of the global solar PV supply chain. This will require not only targeted investment and institutional innovation, but also robust regional mechanisms to coordinate infrastructure, standards, and industrial policy.

This thesis investigates the feasibility of battery industry development in the DRC-Zambia region by identifying enabling conditions across global cases. Using a PESTLE framework, it synthesises political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental factors that shape battery manufacturing success. A comparative analysis shows Zambia holds significantly stronger enabling conditions than the DRC, though both face key challenges. To address this, the study proposes a regional strategy of functional specialisation across the DRC, Zambia, and South Africa, supported by targeted interventions based on the Regional Innovation Systems (RIS) framework. The findings contribute both a replicable benchmark for assessing battery industry feasibility and a policy-oriented design strategy tailored to the Central-Southern African context.

The global expansion of offshore wind energy is accelerating, driven by growing demand for clean electricity and continuous innovation. As projects scale up and move farther from shore, cost-efficient transmission becomes increasingly important. Transmission infrastructure (such as offshore substations (OSS) and export cables) can account for up to 30% of a wind farm’s total capital expenditure, making transmission system design a critical factor for overall project viability.

Recent advancements have enabled offshore wind turbines to generate electricity at 132 kV. This raises a fundamental design question: if turbines are increasingly becoming capable of generating at 132 kV voltage level, does it remain necessary to add costly offshore substations to further step up the voltage or can 132 kV also be used as the export voltage directly to shore? Traditionally, an OSS collects the power from turbines and steps up the voltage for efficient transmission. This thesis explores whether direct-to-shore configurations using 132 kV can offer a technically and economically viable alternative to conventional step-up systems.
While 132 kV systems are beginning to appear in planned projects, existing literature still treats this voltage primarily as suitable for infield collection, not export. The idea that it could also enable direct-to-shore export is rarely discussed and lacks supporting technical or economic analysis, likely due to the novelty of the technology. As a result, the potential to eliminate the OSS (one of the most expensive and complex components in offshore transmission) has not been critically examined.

This thesis addresses that gap by evaluating four transmission configurations - two with offshore substations and two direct-to-shore - within the context of Vattenfall’s 1.2 GW Kattegat Syd project in Sweden. The assessment considered seven key criteria: Capital Expenditure (CAPEX), Operational Expenditure (OPEX), Revenue, Risk, Ease of Implementation, Environmental & Permitting Impact, and Innovation & Scalability.

The 132 kV direct-to-shore configuration outperforms OSS-based systems on CAPEX, Revenue, Risk, and Innovation & Scalability, primarily due to reduced infrastructure and simplified supply chains. In contrast, it performs worse on Ease of Implementation and Environmental & Permitting Impact, due to the immaturity of the concept and the higher number of export cables required, which complicate permitting procedures. This reveals that the main trade-off lies between economic and future-readiness benefits on the one hand, and implementation and permitting challenges on the other.

To incorporate stakeholder preferences into the evaluation, Vattenfall’s Technical Project Manager (TPM) and Project Director (PD) for the Kattegat Syd project were interviewed. Using the Best-Worst Tradeoff (BWT) method, they assigned relative importance to each criterion based on their expertise and project experience. Combining these weightings with the performance scores of each alternative, the 132 kV direct-to-shore option emerged as the top-ranked configuration for both decision-makers.

This thesis contributes scientifically by addressing a clear knowledge gap: although 132 kV turbines are emerging, their use for direct-to-shore transmission has not yet been technically or economically evaluated in academic literature. In addition, the study introduces a previously undocumented system configuration (a 132 kV direct-to-shore setup with an onshore substation near landfall) and demonstrates the practical value of the BWT method as a decision-support tool for complex infrastructure design. The study provides a structured framework for decision-making in offshore transmission planning and sparks the discussion on considering 132 kV direct-to-shore configurations as a viable alternative in future projects.

Climate change presents a significant global challenge, prompting governments to adopt a range of
mitigation strategies, most notably, carbon pricing schemes. However, such policies are often met
with concern over carbon leakage, where emissions reductions in one country are offset by increases
elsewhere, potentially undermining the environmental effectiveness of national efforts.
This thesis investigates the relationship between carbon pricing policies and national carbon leakage
rates over the period 1995–2018. Drawing on data from the TECO2 dataset and the International and
Sectoral Variation in Industrial Energy Prices 1995–2015, and applying the electricity price elasticity
methodology introduced by Misch and Wingender (2024), this study calculates annual carbon
leakage rates for each country. In doing so, it extends previous research, such as the Misch and
Wingender and Sato et al (2019).
A key contribution of this thesis is its novel application of the Carbon Pricing Dashboard, a dataset
that remains underutilized in empirical research. This study aims to demonstrate its potential for
carbon leakage analysis. Another important contribution is the attempt to extend the methodology
developed by Misch and Wingender by applying it not only to CO₂ emissions, as in the original study,
but also to broader greenhouse gas emissions. This provides insight into the scope and limitations of
their approach when adapted to different types of emissions data. Finally, this thesis contributes to
the ongoing policy discussion on carbon pricing by linking yearly carbon leakage rates to country-
specific pricing policy variables, such as carbon price levels and policy coverage. In doing so, it
investigates whether systematic relationships exist between national carbon pricing strategies and
the extent of carbon leakage.
The results indicate that carbon pricing policies explain a meaningful share of the variation in leakage
rates across countries, though country-specific fixed effects account for an even larger portion,
suggesting that structural or institutional factors may play a more dominant role. Notably, the
analysis reveals a negative relationship between carbon pricing and leakage rates, implying that more
ambitious pricing policies may actually help reduce leakage. This finding challenges the prevailing
narrative in the literature, which often assumes that stricter carbon pricing increases leakage and
harms competitiveness. It suggests that policymakers might be able to adopt stronger carbon pricing
measures without significant economic drawbacks. Additionally, the study finds no strong evidence
that coordinated international carbon pricing efforts lead to greater leakage reductions compared to
unilateral national policies, raising questions about the added value of formal international
alignment in this context. However, these results should be interpreted with caution. The method
used to estimate leakage rates may introduce bias, and further validation is necessary.
That said, the research has some limitations. Most notably, the fixed effects model could not
incorporate time fixed effects due to data constraints, raising the risk that some time-related
variation may have been wrongly attributed to policy variables. This limitation may partly explain the
unexpected direction of some results.
By extending and refining the methodology developed by Misch and Wingender (2024), this thesis
offers new empirical insights into the drivers of carbon leakage and contributes to the policy debate
on the design and efficacy of national carbon pricing frameworks. In doing so, it also provides a more
detailed methodological reflection on the assumptions and limitations inherent in price elasticity-
based leakage estimation.

This thesis investigates the socio-economic and ecological challenges faced by the Galapagos Islands, focusing on their increasing reliance on mainland Ecuador for food and the social tensions stemming from top-down conservation policies. These challenges are compounded by the islands’ growing ecological footprint and tourism pressures. The study explores the potential of Circular Communities, regenerativity, and convivial conservation as frameworks to address ongoing issues in the food sector and to provide recommendations for structural solutions.

Using a mixed methods approach and participatory action research, the study holistically analyses the productive food systems of Santa Cruz and San Cristobal, the primary inhabited islands. By conducting active participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and a co-creation workshop, the researcher uncovered findings that indicate how adopting a regenerative food system can reduce the islands’ dependency on external resources, decrease ecological pressures, enhance social cohesion, and align conservation efforts with local entrepreneurial needs.

The water and subsurface sector faces numerous urgent challenges related to climate adaptation and sustainable infrastructure. It is the responsibility of Rijkswaterstaat (RWS) to establish objectives and collaborate with partners in the sector to address these challenges. Innovations are crucial for effectively addressing these issues, and therefore, RWS has developed an innovation strategy focused on the tactical level, which provides essential information for its employees and partners. This study examines RWS’s current innovation strategy and its development, evaluates the strategy’s influence on innovation processes within the water and subsurface sector, and offers recommendations for enhancing the strategy. Specifically, the study investigates the influence of RWS’s innovation strategy on resource allocation, the development and diffusion of innovations, and both internal and external collaboration. The findings indicate that the influence of RWS’s innovation strategy is most evident in resource allocation, where its focal points serve as guiding principles for innovation and as accountability mechanisms. Furthermore, the influence of the strategy on the development and diffusion of innovations, as well as on both internal and external collaboration, is becoming increasingly apparent in practice; however, it requires additional time for further visibility. Positive developments include the adoption of specific tools designed to stimulate the innovation process and the implementation of innovative collaborative approaches, such as learning spaces. To enhance RWS’s innovation strategy and its influence in the water and subsurface sector, this study recommends maintaining continuity, improving visibility and clarity, and stimulating sector-wide collaboration and alignment.

The increasing demand for Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) and the subsequent rise in e-waste has become a pressing environmental concern. Traditional linear economic models in the EEE manufacturing sector, which emphasize a "take-make-dispose" approach, are not sustainable and contribute to significant environmental degradation. This thesis explores the integration of circular economy (CE) principles with digital twin technology to address the environmental challenges posed by the EEE sector. Through an extensive literature review and expert interviews, this research develops and validates a framework for integrating digital twins into CBMs, aiming to enhance resource efficiency and reduce waste across the product lifecycle. While promising, challenges related to data governance and organizational alignment remain. The Digital Twin Nexus Circular Business Models framework offers strategies to improve sustainability in the EEE sector, aiding manufacturers in transitioning from linear to circular business practices.

Every year, the world generates 7-10 billion tonnes of waste. Rapid population growth, urbanisation, and increased consumption is projected to increase this number by 70% in 2050. Asia generates the most waste globally and also imports a significant amount of waste from other regions. Waste valorisation transforms waste into higher value products and can be a crucial solution for sustainable waste management in Asia. This research builds on the Technological Innovation System (TIS) Framework and adapts it to the contexts of Asia and the waste valorisation industry with new drivers and barriers. The adapted framework was applied to four case studies of Asian waste- valorising companies: EnviroTech in the Philippines, Ricron Panels in India, Kinava in South Korea, and Less & Co in Singapore. The TIS framework analysis identified barriers that can be grouped into 3 categories: 1) lack of customer demand, 2) incomplete or inefficient operations, and 3) lack of institutional support and resulted in a total of 41 niche strategies that can serve as a resource for companies facing similar barriers.

Cargo airlines are increasingly pressured to enhance sustainability across all aspects of their operations, including the ground handling services managed by global partners. These operations are integral to reducing the overall environmental impact of the aviation industry, necessitating effective Partner Relationship Management (PRM) that incorporates sustainability objectives.

Managing sustainability across a diverse and global network of partners presents significant challenges, as these partners vary widely in their willingness and capability to implement sustainable practices. The complexity of this task is compounded by the lack of a structured approach to evaluate and guide these partners toward achieving sustainability goals. The central question addressed in this research is: ”How can a Decision Support System (DSS) be developed to guide Partner Relationship Management (PRM) for the operations of existing partners of cargo airlines to achieve sustainability goals?”

To tackle this issue, a DSS was developed, utilising Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) with the Best-Worst Method (BWM). The DSS was applied to KLM Cargo’s operations, focusing on segmenting partners based on their capabilities and willingness to meet sustainability goals, specifically zero emissions and zero waste. This segmentation enabled the creation of tailored strategies for each partner segment.

The DSS effectively categorised partners and identified key trends, such as the performance of GHAs operating multiple outstations and the area in which the outstations are operating. This categorisation facilitated the development of a step-by-step strategy, including specified components of strategies for each segment and the introduction of a checklist to assess the current sustainability practices of each partner. These tools proved essential for guiding PRM toward the achievement of sustainability goals.

This research offers a robust framework for sustainability management that can be generalised across the cargo airline industry and potentially other sectors. Future research should focus on validating the DSS in different contexts, refining the segmentation techniques, and further developing the checklist to ensure comprehensive sustainability assessments and strategy development across diverse operational environments.

This research addresses the growing issue of electronic waste (e-waste) and the environmental impact of the IT industry, which contributes up to 2.8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The study focuses on developing a Decision Support System (DSS) to help European businesses manage IT hardware sustainably, in line with regulations like the European Green Deal. The DSS offers strategies for sustainable procurement, energy optimization, extending hardware lifespan, and responsible disposal, aiding businesses in reducing their environmental impact. The research also highlights the DSS's potential to promote circular economy principles and recommends further development for broader applicability.

Hydrogen is key to decarbonising hard-to-abate industries where electrification has a limited role to play. With a cleaner carbon footprint and versatility with existing industrial processes, hydrogen can be used as a fuel in these energy-intensive industries. As the hydrogen industry is still in its initial phases many researchers have estimated its economic impacts. Most of the current research is focused on the employment market. This study evaluates the economic impact of the emerging green hydrogen industry in India both in terms of employment creation and contribution to GDP growth. The study also
quantifies the savings in imports caused by switching from fossil fuel to green hydrogen in different industries. The main objective of this study is to verify the projections of the National Green Hydrogen Mission(NGHM) of India which aims to produce 5 million metric tons (MMT) of hydrogen per annum by 2030. Leontief’s input-output model is used to evaluate the economic impacts.

The study revealed that there would be an employment creation of 410570 FTE jobs and 4838 M USD contribution to GDP for every gigawatt(GW) scale hydrogen plant installed. Additionally, there would also be import savings of around 1 B USD per annum for a GW-scale plant. It is found that the amount of imports of machinery and equipment significantly affects the impact indicators. If half of the machinery and equipment is imported the contribution to GDP is reduced by 50% whereas the employment creation and GHG emissions are reduced by 30% when compared to the all the machinery is domestically manufactured scenario. The projections of India’s NGHM are evaluated and found comparable with those of the government projections. Overall, the establishment of the green hydrogen industry in India is found to have a positive impact on the economy by significantly boosting the national GDP and employment creation.

The research aimed to validate the methodology used for the previously conducted work on the Dutch PV startup sector by applying it to Indian PV startups and providing insights into how external factors influence their Business Model Dynamics (BMD). It revealed some similarities and differences between the Dutch and Indian technology-based PV startups, offering valuable information for investors, industry players, entrepreneurs and policymakers to formulate effective policies and support sustainable PV industry growth. The comparative analysis identified different external triggers and their consequences across various periods and growth stages in developing technology-based PV startups in the two regions. The results concluded with a focus on political and economic factors being the most impacting external agents for the growth of a startup.

The 21st century has seen a significant rise in clean technologies driven by urgent environmental challenges alongside transformative digital innovations shaping global interactions. Despite these significant events, cleantech startups face substantial challenges and missed opportunities in effectively integrating digital technologies into their sustainable business strategies. To fully harness the potential of digital innovations, addressing the trade-offs and synergies cleantech startups encountered between digital and sustainable strategic practices is crucial, as is understanding the underlying causes of their strategic choices. Despite the rising interest of academia in sustainable and digital entrepreneurship, academic research fails to identify these trade-offs and synergies within cleantech startups.
As a result, the main objective of this research is to explore and identify trade-offs and synergies that arise when entrepreneurs follow a sustainable and digital strategy simultaneously within cleantech startups and how they are influenced by their stakeholders, resources, and external environment. By examining the influences of resources, stakeholders, and external pressures, the research seeks to understand entrepreneurs' strategic decision-making process and the implementation of digital technologies within a complex environment. The main research question is defined as follows:

“How do Dutch cleantech startups navigate the synergies and trade-offs between digital and sustainable practices, and what are the underlying dynamics shaping these interactions?”

A systematic literature review mapped the existing academic perspectives on the strategic practices of Dutch cleantech startups, revealing the research gaps. The study employs the resource-based view theory and is complemented by the institutional theory as the foundation of the research. The research uses the concepts of digital and sustainability strategic orientation to explain how their practices are influenced and define the resources and external incentives as moderators. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine Dutch cleantech startups in various industries, such as agriculture, shipping and renewable energies. A qualitative content analysis was conducted to explore the trade-offs and ynergies, resources and incentives, followed by a stakeholders analysis, interview comparison and relational analysis to research the underlying dynamics. The findings show that the startups navigate complex trade-offs between sustainable and digital practices, balancing investment in digital tools for profitability and scalability with commitments to sustainable R&D.
Pressures from financial investors prioritise digital scaling and profitability over sustainable impact. Startups prioritise external sustainability impacts over internal sustainable practices and technical talent acquisition over workforce equality. Synergies emerge from leveraging technologies like AI, machine learning, dashboards, and blockchain to enhance product quality, validation, credibility, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance, supported by collaborations with universities and incubators. Stricter sustainable regulations secure funding and stimulate market demand, facilitating the integration of digital and sustainable strategies. Moderating dynamics are financial resources, influencing the balance between profit-driven practices and sustainable investments. Technical team knowledge enhances digital capabilities, and social networks with incubators and R&D institutions foster collaboration synergies despite challenges in data exchange due to limited digital infrastructure. Normative pressures from customers' expectations and coercive pressures from investors and regulators further shape strategic priorities, emphasising compliance with technical standards. Further research is recommended to evaluate the impact of various digital technologies in enhancing synergies and trade-offs. Furthermore, the direct relationship between resources and external incentives warrants further exploration to understand their influence on strategic practices. Additionally, addressing investor influence, including distinctions between impact investors and traditional venture capitalists, could be helpful. Broader studies with diverse samples from different regions and countries and longitudinal studies are recommended to explore the long-term effects of digital and sustainable orientations and practices.