Universities have become more engaged or entrepreneurial, forging deeper relations with society beyond the economic sphere. To foster, structure, and institutionalize a broader spectrum of engagement, new types of intermediary organizations are created, going beyond the “standard” technology transfer oces, incubators, and science parks. This paper conceptualizes the role of such new-style intermediaries as facilitator, enabler, and co-shaper of university–society interaction, making a distinction between the roles of facilitation, configuration, and brokering. As a case study, the paper presents the Knowledge Mile in Amsterdam as a novel form of hyper local engagement of a university with its urban surroundings that connects the challenges of companies and organisations in the street to a broad range of educational and research activities of the university, as well as to rebrand the street.
English: This living lab aims to support the creation, development and implementation of next generation concepts for sustainable healthcare logistics, with special attention for last mile solutions. Dutch healthcare providers are on the verge of a transition towards (more) sustainable business models, spurred by e.g., increasing healthcare costs, ongoing budget cuts, tight labor market conditions and increasing ecological awareness. Consequently, healthcare providers need to improve and innovate their business model and underlying logistics concept(s). Simultaneously, many cities are struggling with congestion in traffic, air quality and liveability in general. This calls for Last Mile Logistics (LML) concepts that can address challenges like effective and efficient resource planning, scheduling and utilization and, particularly, sustainability goals. LML can reduce environmental and social impact by decreasing emissions, congestion and pollution through effectively consolidating in-flows of goods and providing innovative solutions for care, wellbeing and related services. The research and initiatives in the living lab will address the following challenges: reducing the ecological footprint, reducing (healthcare-related) costs, improving service quality, decreasing loneliness of frail citizens and improving the livability of urban areas (reducing congestion and emissions). Given the scarcity and fragmentation of knowledge on healthcare logistics in organizations the living lab will also act as a learning community for (future) healthcare- and logistics professionals, thereby supporting the development of human capital. By working closely with related stakeholders and using a transdisciplinary research approach it is ensured that the developed knowledge and solutions deliver a contribution to societal challenges and have sound business potential.
English: This living lab aims to support the creation, development and implementation of next generation concepts for sustainable healthcare logistics, with special attention for last mile solutions. Dutch healthcare providers are on the verge of a transition towards (more) sustainable business models, spurred by e.g., increasing healthcare costs, ongoing budget cuts, tight labor market conditions and increasing ecological awareness. Consequently, healthcare providers need to improve and innovate their business model and underlying logistics concept(s). Simultaneously, many cities are struggling with congestion in traffic, air quality and liveability in general. This calls for Last Mile Logistics (LML) concepts that can address challenges like effective and efficient resource planning, scheduling and utilization and, particularly, sustainability goals. LML can reduce environmental and social impact by decreasing emissions, congestion and pollution through effectively consolidating in-flows of goods and providing innovative solutions for care, wellbeing and related services. The research and initiatives in the living lab will address the following challenges: reducing the ecological footprint, reducing (healthcare-related) costs, improving service quality, decreasing loneliness of frail citizens and improving the livability of urban areas (reducing congestion and emissions). Given the scarcity and fragmentation of knowledge on healthcare logistics in organizations the living lab will also act as a learning community for (future) healthcare- and logistics professionals, thereby supporting the development of human capital. By working closely with related stakeholders and using a transdisciplinary research approach it is ensured that the developed knowledge and solutions deliver a contribution to societal challenges and have sound business potential.
De SPRONG-groep is ontstaan uit het CoE KennisDC Logistiek en richt zich op ‘Low Impact in Lastmile LogisticS’ (LILS). De LILS-groep doet op projectbasis praktijkgericht onderzoek voor en met partijen in lokale living labs en learning communities. Er is ruimte voor meer samenwerking en synergie voor landelijke opschaling van innovaties in de praktijk. Deze kansen worden echter nog onvoldoende benut. LILS wil bijdragen aan het verduurzamen van logistiek in de stedelijke omgeving waarbij de logistiek ook de noodzakelijke maatschappelijke transities faciliteert. Hiertoe wordt het monodisciplinaire en regionale werkveld van CoE KennisDC Logistiek multidisciplinair en bovenregionaal verbreed (met aanpalende expertises van de LILS hogescholen, zoals ruimtelijke planning, mobiliteit, data, circulariteit en AI, gedrag, energie) en verdiept langs drie onderzoeksthema's met als doel zo min mogelijk negatieve impact te veroorzaken met het stedelijk logistiek systeem: • Oplossingen in schaarse ruimte strevend naar zero impact; • Inspelen op gedragsverandering bij inkopers, afnemers en consumenten; • Kansen door digitalisering. LILS wil meer impact maken met onderzoek en onderwijs, ook buiten de eigen regio’s. De samenwerking tussen BUas, HAN, HR en HvA creëert meer massa. De activiteiten van LILS worden vormgegeven langs vier pijlers: i) het ontwikkelen van een gezamenlijk onderzoeks- en innovatieprogramma in een roadmap; ii) het komen tot verdere integratie van verschillende kennisdomeinen op de onderzoekthema's; iii) het realiseren van verdieping waarbij wordt gewerkt aan een methodologische aanpak, verdere samenwerking tussen de hogescholen en partners in projecten en onderwijsvernieuwing (kennishub LILS); iv) het opzetten van een organizational excellence programma om de professionaliteit en kwaliteit van het onderzoek verder te verbeteren. Deze pijlers zijn de basis om gezamenlijk uitdagende, extern gefinancierde multidisciplinaire onderzoekstrajecten te initiëren en uit te voeren. LILS is al goed gepositioneerd in de regio’s waar innovaties in praktijk worden gebracht en heeft een goed nationaal en internationaal netwerk en bewezen onderzoekservaring.
