Kim Poldner appointed to special chair Regional and Circular Economic Development

The Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) is pleased to announce that Dr. Kim Poldner has been appointed to the special chair Regional and Circular Economic Development. This chair is a joint initiative of FEB, the Faculty of Spatial Sciences and the three northern provinces: Drenthe, Friesland, Groningen. The provinces are subsidizing this chair, as the theme of Regional Economic Development and Circular Economy is high on the Provincial agenda. The chair will be established at the C.R. Rao Foundation.

In her role as endowed professor, Poldner will conduct scientific research into regional development - among others in the northern Netherlands - with a focus on the circular economy, sustainable agriculture and the energy transition. The goal is to contribute to the quality of political-administrative decision-making within national and regional policy processes. This will be done by transferring knowledge about regional development and resilience and a more sustainable economy to regional governments, the business community and society.

Interdisciplinary research

Next to her role as endowed professor at FEB, Poldner will continue to work as professor of Circular Business at The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS) and will build a bridge between research at the University of Groningen and THUAS. Poldner obtained her PhD from the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, where her research focused on sustainable entrepreneurship in the textiles industry. She has extensive research expertise in circular business, sustainability, entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial ecosystems, and transition processes in businesses.

Entrepreneurial mindset

Before becoming an academic, Poldner was a serial entrepreneur in sustainable fashion. While working at Wageningen University & Research she founded the Circular Fashion Lab bringing together scientists and designers to redefine textile supply chains. ‘To achieve a circular economy it is important that policy makers enable pioneering companies to develop new (eco) systems. I am excited about the leadership of the three Dutch northern provinces to fund this chair; truly an example of an entrepreneurial state’.

Transition of values

With her expertise, Poldner is a valuable addition to the two faculties of the University of Groningen. She is expected to be able to make an important contribution to interdisciplinary research into transition processes in the context of the circular economy. According to Poldner, the transition towards a circular economy is not so much a transition of materials and technologies, it is a transition of values. FEB is convinced that Poldner will play an important role in sharing knowledge about the circular economy as endowed professor and in this way make a contribution to this transition of values.