On May 2nd 2019 Beyond Meat, a firm specialized in plant-based hamburgers, had the strongest market debut at the American stock market this year. The shares went up 163% during the first day of trade. This signifies the tremendous public interest in plant-based alternatives for meat and dairy. This is great news since the environmental impact of meat and dairy products is high. We need to replace part of the proteins delivered by meat and dairy by plant-based protein products. We call this change process the protein shift or the transition to plant-based proteins. While the market for plant-based dairy and meat alternatives is growing fast, the total market share is still very small. In this research program we aim to contribute to the acceleration of plant-based proteins by focusing on four topics: First, we study the motives of consumers to make a dietary shift and implications for reframing strategies. Second, we recognize that replacing meat and dairy by plant-based alternatives may not be easy since meat and dairy are so deeply rooted in consumption practices. We use categorization theory to shed light on how meat and dairy alternatives are perceived by consumers and what the consequences are for adoption. Third, we zoom out and study the complete innovation system and analyze what elements of the system are driving and hampering the protein shift to take place. Fourth, we use a design perspective to examine the effects of various frames on strategies and system interventions employed to accelerate the transition.

The healthcare sector is one of the most carbon-intensive sectors. In response, the Dutch government has called for more environmentally sustainable healthcare. The project ESCH-R addresses this challenge with its mission to accelerate the adoption of circular interventions in hospitals and thereby lower the ecological footprint of the healthcare sector. Our research question is: How can hospitals move away from single use medical consumables and make the transition towards circularity? Together with societal partners, our interdisciplinary team will develop circular, safe and scalable strategies for circularity. In the long-run, the ESCH-R project contributes to a sustainable and resilient health system.

A sustainable future hinges on innovative ideas, new methods and techniques. Physical experimentation environments such as Living Labs, enable involved actors to test and showcase their sustainable innovations, not only on campus but also in local neighborhoods. In this project, four universities, two applied science universities, and a multiregional vocational education institute are working together with partners to discern why certain innovations and lessons succeed while others fail. Utilizing these insights, they collaboratively develop new methods, techniques, and training programs for the next generation of change-makers.

Parasitic diseases are a significant source of morbidity and mortality in rural Africa. Early treatment reduces the risk of severe sequelae, but this requires access to accurate diagnosis. The current WHO-recommended diagnostic tools for detection have critical shortfalls. With this proposal we aim to improve the diagnosis of three major poverty-related diseases (malaria, schistosomiasis and hookworm infection) and therefore reduce their grave impact in endemic countries. Our research has demonstrated that optical analysis of biological samples using automated smart algorithms integrated into a potentially low-cost multispectral optical imaging platform is a highly promising alternative diagnostic approach. This technique will be developed into instruments for blood, urine and stool analysis that cover the whole diagnostic pathway from integration of sample preparation procedures to optical reading steps (WP1). By critically engaging and connecting different stakeholders using Social Network Analysis and Co-creation tools, we will craft inclusive product specifications that promote uptake by local healthcare systems in endemic countries (WP2). New smart optical diagnostic devices will be thoroughly tested within a laboratory-setting, including samples from the LUMC’s Controlled Human Infection trials as well as field-tested in endemic settings in Gabon and Nigeria (WP3). The outcomes of the three work packages will be integrated into action towards implementation (WP4). The INSPiRED project brings together a multidisciplinary team composed of biomedical scientists, engineers, public health specialists and product designers - with the required expertise to perform the entire development chain, from R&D, to field trials in Nigeria and Gabon.