PhD Position Decarbonization Dynamics of SME in the Netherlands

Contribute to the decarbonization of the Dutch economy, engage with SME entrepreneurs, and develop model-based policy recommendations to support SME to become climate-positive.

Job description

This PhD position focuses on understanding what shapes the decarbonization dynamics of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in the Netherlands at both company and system level. From the pharmaceutical company, the logistics entrepreneur to the milk powder producer, SME play an important role in the economy – and for the climate. SME represent the backbone of the Dutch economy and account for a major share of greenhouse gas emissions, with a contribution of 63% of greenhouse gas emissions measured at the EU level.

Yet data and information on SME carbon emissions, decision processes, and long-term transition dynamics remain limited, due to the absence of corporate social responsibility disclosure standards for SME and the high heterogeneity of SME. The project aims to build an in-depth understanding of the decision context for SME decarbonization and the wider transition toward net-zero.

The leading research question is: what shapes the decarbonization dynamics of SME in the Netherlands at the company and system level?

The research progresses from characterising the heterogeneity of SME and decarbonization measures, to analysing decision-making processes within SME, to modelling long-term decarbonization dynamics in the Netherlands.

As the selected PhD candidate, you will:

• conduct data analysis for an emission-weighted segmentation of SME and their decarbonization levers.
• investigate what determines SME executives’ decarbonization decisions.
• develop a System Dynamics model to simulate the long-term decarbonization dynamics of SME in the Netherlands.

The project is highly interdisciplinary, connecting sustainability accounting, organizational behaviour, and socio-technical transition dynamics. Methods include data analysis, literature review, in-person interviews, and System Dynamics modelling. The research is expected to result in policy recommendations for SME, financial institutions, and governance actors on how to support the transition to net-zero.

You will be part of the Policy Analysis section of the Department Multi-Actor Systems and maintain close connections to the Energy & Industry section of the Department Engineering Systems and Services within TU Delft's Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management. The MAS department’s diverse team of approximately 120 researchers, including PhD candidates and postdocs, brings together expertise from policy analysis, systems engineering and simulation, and organisation and governance. This interdisciplinary environment is essential for addressing complex socio-technical challenges such as climate change, cybersecurity, and the energy transition.

As the successful candidate, you will contribute to the intellectual environment at the Faculty of Technology, Policy, and Management and support its teaching and knowledge transfer activities. You will have access to strong mentorship, tailored training, and an open, collaborative working environment with daily interaction and knowledge exchange, as well as state-of-the-art facilities, labs, and equipment to support your research and professional growth.

Job requirements

The candidate:

• holds a Master’s degree in energy transition, sustainability, management, System Dynamics, or a related field such as Engineering and Policy Analysis, Complex System Engineering, Sustainable Energy Technologies, Industrial Ecology, or similar, or completes such a degree before September 1st.
• is passionate about decarbonization and has a strong interest in climate and decentral energy solutions and their socio-technical dynamics in the context of the Netherlands.
• is knowledgeable about the Dutch economy and business sector, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises, or is willing to develop this knowledge in the early phase of the PhD.
• has experience with System Dynamics simulation modelling, for example with Vensim or Stella, or demonstrates a strong interest in acquiring this skill and ideally has prior experience with systems thinking approaches and/or simulation models.
• has a solid basis in data analysis and interviewing skills.
• is able to work independently, engage professionally with executives from SME and the banking sector, and contribute to a collaborative academic environment.
• is fluent in English and has strong writing skills.
• proficiency in Dutch is a strong plus, because the project is closely connected to the Dutch economy and involves interaction with Dutch SME executives and a Dutch project financer.

This PhD project is grounded in company- and system-level analysis with an explicit focus on socio-technical systems thinking. It is not focused on electrical engineering or technical optimization. Candidates with an engineering background are welcome if they are motivated to engage with behavioral, business, and innovation perspectives on decarbonization dynamics and can demonstrate affinity with these perspectives.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency to ensure that the candidate can communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis.

TU Delft as an employer

As a PhD candidate, you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The Doctoral Education Programme supports the development of transferable, discipline-related, and research skills, while also providing opportunities to exchange experiences with other PhD candidates.

About the faculty and working environment

The Faculty of Technology, Policy & Management provides an important contribution to solving complex technical-social issues, such as energy transition, mobility, digitalisation, water management and (cyber) security. It does this through education and research at the intersection of technology, society and policy, combining insights from engineering, social sciences and the humanities.