The Executive Board of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam has appointed innovation scientist Linda van de Burgwal as University Chair in Societal Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Health and Life Sciences.
With this appointment, VU Amsterdam recognizes Linda van de Burgwal’s pioneering work in the fields of knowledge commercialization, innovation, and social entrepreneurship, and is investing in research aimed at contributing to solutions for complex societal challenges.
Turning Knowledge into Social Value
Van de Burgwal investigates how scientific knowledge can be transformed into social value more quickly and effectively. In doing so, she focuses not only on technological innovations, but above all on the ways in which researchers, businesses, governments, civil society organizations, and citizens collaborate to achieve impact. Her research lies at the intersection of science, entrepreneurship, and social change.
“Many of today’s major challenges - from health and food security to sustainability and biodiversity - call for new forms of collaboration,” says Van de Burgwal. “Scientific knowledge plays a crucial role in this, but knowledge alone is not enough. We need to better understand how innovations actually find their way into society and how different stakeholders can work together to create societal value.”
Through her chair, she will investigate how innovation ecosystems can contribute to sustainable solutions for societal issues. A central focus will be on how entrepreneurial scientists, companies, and other stakeholders can jointly develop new forms of value creation that no single organization can achieve on its own. She will also study how collaboration and competition influence each other, how institutional barriers can be broken down, and how innovation processes can be structured to be more inclusive and equitable.
Microbiome Research
This appointment aligns closely with VU’s mission to use science to drive social impact. Van de Burgwal - affiliated with the Athena Institute of the Faculty of Science - has established herself in recent years as an internationally recognized expert in the field of knowledge commercialization and impact. Among other things, she played a key role in the establishment of the Holomicrobiome Institute, a national partnership in which universities, companies, and societal partners collaborate on innovative applications of microbiome research for health, agriculture, and sustainability.
Her work exemplifies a new generation of scientists who combine academic excellence with social engagement. Through her research and expertise, she contributes to a better understanding of how science can help address the major transitions of our time.
With the University Chair in Societal Entrepreneurship and Innovation, VU Amsterdam aims to give a boost to research on the role of entrepreneurship and innovation in societal change. The chair also provides a platform to connect researchers from various disciplines and further strengthen collaboration between science and society.
In the coming years, Van de Burgwal will work alongside researchers, students, and societal partners to gain new insights into how scientific knowledge can contribute to a healthier, more sustainable, and more resilient society.