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AI-driven sustainable alliances for regional innovation: Strategic governance and digital transition.
Get PDFDit document presenteert een nieuw, op gedrag gebaseerd kader voor het verbeteren van de implementatie van regionale innovatiestrategieën voor slimme specialisatie (RIS3) door kunstmatige intelligentie (AI) te integreren met duurzaam alliantiebeheer. Op basis van vergelijkende casestudy's uit Noord-Nederland, Noord-Zweden en twee Duitse deelstaten (Nedersaksen en Beieren) identificeert de studie hardnekkige belemmeringen voor de uitvoering van RIS3, waaronder een lage betrokkenheid van het mkb, gefragmenteerde interregionale samenwerking en een zwakke afstemming tussen universiteiten en het bedrijfsleven. De originele bijdrage van dit onderzoek ligt in de synthese van gedragstheorie (COM-B-model) met AI-gestuurde beleidsinstrumenten – zoals chatbots, voorspellende analyses en digitale volwassenheidsbeoordelingen – om een gefaseerde routekaart voor te stellen voor een meer inclusief en adaptief RIS3-bestuur. De empirische inzichten zijn gebaseerd op een triangulatiemethode die interviews met belanghebbenden, analyse van beleidsdocumenten en vier begeleide bachelorscripties combineert. De studie laat zien hoe gecentraliseerde coördinatieplatforms, AI-gestuurde ondersteuningssystemen en participatieve monitoringmechanismen gezamenlijk structurele en gedragsbarrières voor de uitvoering van innovatiebeleid kunnen aanpakken. Door institutionele en technologische perspectieven te overbruggen, biedt dit onderzoek bruikbare strategieën voor beleidsmakers en draagt het bij aan een nieuwe theoretische lens voor het begrijpen van digitale en groene transities in regionale innovatie-ecosystemen.This paper presents a novel, behaviorally informed framework for enhancing the implementation of Regional Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialization (RIS3) by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) tools with sustainable alliance governance. Drawing on comparative case studies from the Northern Netherlands, Northern Sweden, and two German states (Lower Saxony and Bavaria), the study identifies persistent barriers to RIS3 delivery, including low SME engagement, fragmented interregional collaboration, and weak university-industry alignment. The original contribution of this research lies in its synthesis of behavioral theory (COM-B model) with AI-enabled policy tools—such as chatbots, predictive analytics, and digital maturity assessments—to propose a phased roadmap for more inclusive and adaptive RIS3 governance. Empirical insights are grounded in a triangulated methodology combining stakeholder interviews, policy document analysis, and four supervised bachelor theses. The study demonstrates how centralized coordination platforms, AI-driven support systems, and participatory monitoring mechanisms can collectively address structural and behavioral barriers to innovation policy implementation. By bridging institutional and technological perspectives, this research offers actionable strategies for policymakers and contributes a new theoretical lens for understanding digital and green transitions in regional innovation ecosystem
‘Netcongestie is het nieuwe fileprobleem’:Q&A voor dummies
No full textHet elektriciteitsnet raakt overbelast. Maar wat is netcongestie eigenlijk, en wat kunnen we ertegen doen? Onze dummies zoeken het uit met lector Marten van der Laan
Explainability of AI systems in the agricultural sector:Legal challenges of AI providers and deployers in field crop farming
No full textAlgorithms that significantly impact individuals and society should be transparent, yet they can often function as complex black boxes. Such high-risk AI systems necessitate explainability of their inner workings and decision-making processes, which is also crucial for fostering trust, understanding, and adoption of AI. Explainability is a major topic, not only in literature (Maslej et al. 2024) but also in AI regulation. The EU AI Act imposes explainability requirements on providers and deployers of high-risk AI systems. Additionally, it grants the right to explanation for individuals affected by high-risk AI systems. However, legal literature illustrates a lack of clarity and consensus regarding the definition of explainability and the interpretation of the relevant obligations of the AI Act (See e.g. Bibal et al. 2021; Nannini 2024; Sovrano et al. 2022). The practical implementation also presents further challenges, calling for an interdisciplinary approach (Gyevnar, Ferguson, and Schafer 2023; Nahar et al. 2024, 2110).Explainability can be examined from various perspectives. One such perspective concerns a functional approach, where explanations serve specific functions (Hacker and Passoth 2022). Looking at this functional perspective of explanations, my previous work elaborates on the central functions of explanations interwoven in the AI Act. Through comparative research on the evolution of the explainability provisions in soft and hard law on AI from the High-Level Expert Group on AI, Council of Europe, and OECD, my previous research establishes that explanations in the AI Act primarily serve to provide understanding of the inner workings and output of an AI system, to enable contestation of a decision, to increase usability, and to achieve legal compliance (Van Beem, ongoing work, paper presented at Bileta 2025 conference; submission expected June 2025).Moreover, my previous work reveals that the AI lifecycle is an important concept in AI policy and legal documents. The AI lifecycle includes phases that lead to the design, development, and deployment of an AI system (Silva and Alahakoon 2022). The AI Act requires various explanations in each phase. The provider and deployer shall observe an explainability by design and development approach throughout the entire AI lifecycle, adapting explanations as their AI evolves equally. However, the practical side of balancing between clear, meaningful, legally compliant explanations and technical explanations proves challenging.Assessing this practical side, my current research is a case study in the agricultural sector, where AI plays an increasing role and where explainability is a necessary ingredient for adoption (EPRS 2023). The case study aims to map which legal issues AI providers, deployers, and other AI experts in field crop farming encounter. Secondly, the study explores the role of explainability (and the field of eXplainable AI) in overcoming such legal challenges. The study is conducted through further doctrinal research, case law analysis, and empirical research using interviews, integrating the legal and technical perspectives. Aiming to enhance trustworthiness and adoption of AI in agriculture, this research seeks to contribute to an interdisciplinary debate regarding the practical application of the AI Act's explainability obligations. <br/
Explainability in practice:Operationalisation of the EU AI Act’s explainability requirements by AI providers in the agricultural sector
No full textExploring family perspectives in geriatric oncology:a triadic approach to shared decision-making - a qualitative study
Get PDFBACKGROUND: In geriatric oncology, family members frequently accompany patients during medical consultations, providing emotional and practical support while participating in shared decision-making (SDM). Family involvement in SDM can facilitate the decision-making process but also pose challenges for healthcare professionals. Additionally, much of the SDM deliberation occurs outside the clinical setting, making it important to understand family dynamics to ensure treatment decisions align with the patient's values and preferences. Therefore this study aims to explore the experiences and perspectives of family members regarding their involvement in decision-making processes for older patients with cancer, and the subsequent impact on roles and family dynamics.METHODS: Qualitative open in-depth interviews were conducted with 16 family members of 11 patients with cancer of 70 years and older in the Netherlands. Qualitative data analysis was conducted using a thematic analysis approach.RESULTS: Four interconnected themes emerged. The first theme, "Roles" revealed that family members often provide both practical and informational support, and sometimes act as advocates for the patient. The second theme, "Family Values and Beliefs," highlighted a strong sense of unconditional and reciprocal support within families, emphasizing the core value of caring for one another. Third, "Family Dynamics," encompasses: keeping everyone informed, dividing caregiver tasks, dealing with disappointment and sadness, managing different opinions, and coping with uncertainty. Finally, "Dilemma's" describes: family members balancing their own opinions with the patient's preferences, reconciling hope and fear, weighing trust in medical professionals against their own judgment, and balancing caregiving responsibilities with their personal lives. These dilemmas were shaped by roles the family members assumed, the underlying values and beliefs, and family dynamics.CONCLUSION: The findings of this interview study provide valuable insights into the complex roles that family members of older patients with cancer play in medical consultations and treatment decision-making and their dilemma's. These roles are deeply influenced by family values and dynamics, which can significantly shape decision-making processes and outcomes. Understanding these factors can help healthcare professionals as it highlights the evolving responsibilities of family caregivers and the importance of supporting them in navigating the intricacies of treatment decisions while maintaining respect for patient autonomy.</p
Monitor mentale gezondheid, middelengebruik en brede gezondheidsindicatoren:studenten middelbaar beroepsonderwijs 2024-2025
No full textDe Monitor Mentale Gezondheid, Middelengebruik en Brede Gezondheidsindicatoren mbo-studenten 2024–2025 biedt een landelijk beeld van het welzijn van mbo-studenten op basis van gegevens uit TestJeLeefstijl
Valorization of Polyhydroxybutyrate Biomass for Platform Chemical Generation
No full textDe downstream processing van polyhydroxyalkanoaten (PHA’s) is vaak energie-intensief, solvent-intensief en milieutechnisch niet duurzaam. Om de algehele proceshaalbaarheid te verbeteren, is er toenemende belangstelling voor alternatieve valorisatiestrategieën die conventionele polymeerextractie omzeilen. Dit onderzoek richt zich daarom op het directe gebruik van PHA-houdende biomassa als een duurzamere valorisatiestrategie, waarbij conventionele polymeerzuiveringsstappen worden overgeslagen.In deze studie wordt de biomassa van Caldimonas thermodepolymerans onderzocht voor directe omzetting naar platformchemicaliën. Deze thermofiele, PHA-producerende bacterie accumuleert hoge hoeveelheden polyhydroxybutyraat (P(3HB)) en toont veel potentie voor hoge-celdichtheidscultivatie. Het merendeel van het bestaande onderzoek naar dit organisme is echter beperkt tot kleinschalige fermentaties en Erlenmeyerflask-culturen, terwijl het doel van dit werk is om de biomassaproductie te verhogen en het proces op te schalen.The downstream processing of PHAs is often energy-intensive, solvent-heavy, and environmentally unsustainable. To improve the overall process viability, alternative valorization strategies that bypass conventional extraction are gaining interest (1). This research focusses on the direct use of PHA-containing biomass to enable a more sustainable valorization strategy by bypassing conventional polymer purification processes.This study investigates the use of Caldimonas thermodepolymerans biomass for its direct conversion into platform chemicals (2). This thermophilic PHA-producing bacterium, accumulates high levels of polyhydroxybutyrate (P(3HB)) and shows promise for high-density cultivation (3). However, most research with this thermophile focusses on small scale fermentations and erlenmeyer batches, whereas our goals are to increase biomass production and scale
Talent Policy:Problems and Solutions
No full textThe identification and development of talent have long been a central target of policy making in various domains, including education, sports, the arts and business. Given the importance of talent for success in a competitive global market, governments and businesses across the globe continually devise strategic policies to identify, attract and preserve both national and international talent. Most of these talent-related practices and policies (implicitly) assume that a person's talent is predetermined and fixed, that it is readily identifiable and that effective talent development requires early identification and specific, targeted training. However, these assumptions are problematically unsupported by recent empirical and conceptual scientific research. Instead, the research shows that talent development is dynamic and context-dependent, and that early identification is an unreliable predictor of future performance. We outline the conceptual ambiguity and empirical flaws involved in current talent-related practices and propose three specific solutions to improve policy.The identification and development of talent have long been a central target of policy making in various domains, including education, sports, the arts and business. Given the importance of talent for success in a competitive global market, governments and businesses across the globe continually devise strategic policies to identify, attract and preserve both national and international talent. Most of these talent-related practices and policies (implicitly) assume that a person's talent is predetermined and fixed, that it is readily identifiable and that effective talent development requires early identification and specific, targeted training. However, these assumptions are problematically unsupported by recent empirical and conceptual scientific research. Instead, the research shows that talent development is dynamic and context-dependent, and that early identification is an unreliable predictor of future performance. We outline the conceptual ambiguity and empirical flaws involved in current talent-related practices and propose three specific solutions to improve policy
Muses, maggots and a crack in everything.
No full textIN SCHERVEN, MAAR ONGEBROKEN Bouke de Vries geeft historische keramiekfragmenten een nieuw leven. Zijn sculpturen, stillevens en installaties zijn visueel verleidelijk en vol gelaagde betekenissen. Hij viert breekbaarheid, transformatie en de schoonheid van het onvolmaakte: maar wel met een dosis humor en spot. Deze rijk geïllustreerde, tweetalige uitgave bundelt hoogtepunten uit zijn internationale carrière, met bijdragen van vooraanstaande kunstkenners en experts. Tweetalige uitgave.SHATTERED, YET REBORN Bouke de Vries gives historical ceramic fragments a new voice. His sculptures, still lifes and installations are visually striking and conceptually layered. He celebrates fragility, transformation, and the beauty of imperfection: but always with a sharp eye for irony and wit. This richly illustrated bilingual volume, presents highlights from his international career, with contributions from connoisseurs and leading scholars. Bilingual edition
Maintaining Well-Being in Times of Limited Social Contacts: Experiences of Community-Dwelling Older Adults Living Alone During the COVID-19 Pandemic
No full textSudden disruptions to the social environment of older adults living alone, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, can challenge their ability to maintain well-being. This study employed an interpretative phenomenological analysis to explore how Dutch older adults (≥65 years) living alone maintained their well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Between June and October 2021, we conducted 20 semi-structured interviews with older adults living alone in the Netherlands. Participants were recruited through online newsletters and home care and social work institutions. We identified three key themes. The theme “Filling the void of being alone” captures participants’ ongoing search for a sense of connection, and the challenges they faced related to social exclusion. The theme “Navigating challenging situations to maintain well-being” illustrates participants’ struggle with disrupted daily routines and how they tried to regain a sense of control to stay well. Lastly, the theme “Reverberating echoes of the past” conveys how participants’ life histories shaped their responses to the pandemic and the role of acceptance in this process. Overall, our results highlight great individual variability in how older adults living alone maintained their well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. This underscores the need for interventions and support strategies that accommodate the unique needs of older adults living alone when opportunities for social engagement are limited