prof. dr. ir. Ruud Smits

Ruud Smits graduated in physics from Eindhoven Technical University in 1972. Following the motto “engineers invented a lot, now it is time to see what we can do with those inventions”, the focus of his work is on the interplay between the potential science and technology offers and the needs and wishes of economy and society. Central question hereby is how we have to organise our society to take care that science and technology are turned into successful products and services and solutions for societal problems.

Ruud Smits started his career as teacher in physics and freelance researcher with the Foundation of Applied Ecology, headed by the Dutch ‘environmental pioneer’, Wouter van Dieren. He took part in (initialising) the debate on the report to the Club of Rome, in a way the start of the debate on sustainable development in the Netherlands. He followed training in system dynamics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and together with the Foundation for Applied Ecology developed models in which the interaction between society, technology and the environment are put central.

The largest part of his career he spent with the TNO-Centre for Technology and Policy Studies, from 1988-1996 as director of the centre. With TNO he carried out numerous research and consultancy projects in the area of innovation. After obtaining a PhD from the Free University (Amsterdam) on the role of strategic intelligence in innovation policies and strategies he was appointed as part time professor on the chair Technology, policy and society at Tilburg University. In 1995 he was seconded to the Cellule de Prospective, the think tank of the chairman of the European Commission. In the 2nd half of the 1990’s he was an advisor of the Russian government on the innovation policy of the Russian Federation.

In 1999 he was appointed as full time professor Technology and Innovation at Utrecht University. He was the founder of the section Innovation Studies and developed the program Science and Innovation Management. In this 5-year Bachelor Master program students with a background in the hard sciences learn to bridge the gap between technological options and economic and societal needs. The program attracts ca 100 Bachelor and 50 Master students every year. The research program of the section Innovation Studies focuses on innovation and sustainable development.

In 2009 Ruud Smits was nominated for the election of best teacher of the University. He wrote numerous popular and scientific articles, books and book chapters and gives lectures for as well scientific, policy oriented or broader societal and economic oriented audiences. He also acts as chairman of workshops and (public) debates.