"Postdoctoral researcher Open innovation in the Healthcare domain"

Are you interested in studying how to improve the interaction between research and industry to advance medical innovation? Do you want to explore next-generation technology transfer? Then this opportunity at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development is for you.

The postdoctoral research is part of a large NWO-funded project that aims to accelerate the realization of the next generation of image-guided interventions and to make them more compatible with and introduced into everyday hospital practice. In the project, the open innovation lab IMAGINE will be launched at UMC Utrecht, where companies, research, and educational institutions come together close to the daily clinical practice.

The creation of such an open innovation lab involves questions such as how to enhance knowledge exchange, arrange intellectual property rights, and govern access to the lab. Addressing the governance of IMAGINE is urgent, as it represents a new form of collaboration between universities and industry in the healthcare domain.

A postdoctoral researcher will map and explore best practices from existing models, assist the IMAGINE management team with creating boundary conditions and defining ground rules, focusing on organizing innovation processes in such an open facility. This provides an opportunity to interact with world-class researchers and companies, while contributing to academic debates on next-generation technology transfer.

Specific aims include: using theories from innovation and management studies to conceptualize university-industry interactions; gathering and analyzing data from comparable cases; contributing to academic debates; publishing in high-standing outlets; and providing recommendations for the governance of the open innovation lab.

Research methods will include literature review, interviews, co-creation workshops, and ethnographic work. There is also an opportunity to contribute to teaching programs.

Requirements: You are a motivated researcher with a PhD in innovation studies, economic geography, Science and Technology Studies, or related discipline; affinity with in-depth social research and innovative methodologies; experience with public engagement; ability to work in an interdisciplinary team; interest in collaborating with societal partners; excellent English skills; Dutch proficiency is a plus.

Conditions of employment: Temporary position (0.8 - 1.0 FTE) for two years; working week of 32-40 hours; gross monthly salary between €3,546 and €5,538 (scale 10 under CAO NU); 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus; pension scheme; partially paid parental leave; flexible terms.