Wilbert van den Eijnde is Associate Professor of Smart Sustainable Manufacturing at NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences. His research focuses on how technology, craftsmanship and collaboration can accelerate the transition towards a smart and sustainable manufacturing industry. He combines technical innovation - such as industrial automation, additive manufacturing (3D printing), model-based engineering, reliability and hybrid learning environments - with social innovation in the field of lifelong learning.
Professor of Smart Sustainable Manufacturing
Research areas:
Together with the University of Groningen’s research group Macromolecular Chemistry & New Polymeric Materials, he co-founded the Netherlands’ first hybrid research group bridging universities of applied sciences and research universities: HyBRIt. This pioneering collaboration earned the NWO Team Science Award.
Wilbert’s work is closely linked to cutting-edge material innovation. For example, the development of a recyclable biomembrane was voted Best Tech Idea of 2021 by the KIJK public jury. His collaborator Vincent received multiple accolades for research into circular plastics for 3D printing - including being named Rising Star by ACS Materials (2022), nominated as New Scientist Science Talent (2023), and awarded the Polymers Young Investigator Award (2024). That same year, he was welcomed as Fellow of the Netherlands Academy of Engineering (NAE).
Research Group: Circular Plastics
Plastics are versatile and vital materials, essential for health, safety and comfort - from heart catheters to seatbelts and building insulation. Yet, to align with sustainability goals, new approaches are needed to make plastics recyclable, circular and future-proof.
Projects
Publications
Data Management: Addressing Organizational, Regulatory, Ethical, and Technical Challenges within a Maturity Model Framework (in publication)
Changing learning and working in industry HBO Kennisbank (NL)
Learning by doing in the DutchTechZone HBO Kennisbank (NL)