Personal profile
Research interests
Erik's research focuses on the management of sustainability-oriented, circular, and green-tech innovations at the level of products, product-service systems, and business models as well as the supporting role of management systems. With >10k citations in Google Scholar, Erik is one of the top-cited researchers in his age class.
Education/Academic qualification
Doctorate (Dr. rer. pol.), Responsible Leadership Systems, Technical University of Munich
01 Jul 2006 → 31 Dec 2009
Award Date: 31 Mar 2010
Management Information Systems, Apparel Sourcing China, Technische Universität Darmstadt
01 Oct 1998 → 31 May 2006
Award Date: 01 May 2006
External positions
Visiting Researcher, University of Cambridge, Institute for Manufacturing (IfM)
01 Oct 2022 → …
Visiting Researcher, Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Centre for Sustainability Management (CSM)
15 Oct 2015 → …
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Smart circular economy as a service business model: an activity system framework and research agenda
Alcayaga, A. & Hansen, E., Mar 2025, In: R&D Management. 55, 2, p. 508-530 23 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Orchestrating cradle-to-cradle innovation across the value chain Overcoming barriers through innovation communities, collaborationmechanisms, and intermediation
Hansen, E. & Schmitt, J., Nov 2021, In: Journal of Industrial Ecololgy. 25, 3, p. 627-647 21 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Circular Value Creation Architectures: Make, Ally, Buy, or Laissez-Faire
Hansen, E. & Revellio, F., Dec 2020, In: Journal of Industrial Ecology. 24, 6, p. 1250-1273 24 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Green technology innovation: anatomy of exploration processes from a learning perspective
Wicki, S. & Hansen, E., Sept 2019, In: Business Strategy and the Environment. 28, 6, p. 970-988 19 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Structural ambidexterity, transition processes and integration trade-offs: a longitudinal study of failed exploration
Hansen, E., Wicki, S. & Schaltegger, S., Aug 2019, In: R and D Management. 49, 4, p. 484-508 25 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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EMRI - Ecosystems for Mechanical Recycling Innovations
Bösenberg, L. (Researcher), Frey, P. (Researcher), Schmitt, J. (Researcher) & Hansen, E. (PI)
01.01.2023 → 31.12.2027
Project: Other › PhD thesis project
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Circular Value Creation Survey (CVCS)
Hansen, E. (PI) & Schrack, D. (PI)
01.12.2024 → 31.10.2025
Project: Contract research › Industry project
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Produktzirkularität durch modulares Design – Strategien für langlebige Smartphones (MoDeSt)
Revellio, F. (Researcher) & Hansen, E. (PI)
01.07.2019 → 30.06.2022
Project: Funded research › Other mainly public funds
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Business Models for Extending Industry 4.0 towards the entire Product Life Cycle (I4L)
Alcayaga, A. (Researcher) & Hansen, E. (PI)
01.01.2017 → 14.10.2021
Project: Contract research › Other contract research
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UniNEtZ – Universities and Sustainable Development Goals
Atzmüller, R. (Researcher), Fischer, J. (Researcher), Fischer, K. (Researcher), Greiling, D. (Researcher), Hansen, E. (Researcher), Langthaler, E. (Researcher), Schrack, D. (Researcher), Steinmüller, H. (Researcher), Wagner, E. (Researcher), Wallner, G. (Researcher), Wittmann, V. (Researcher), Lang, R. (PI) & Prammer, H. (PI)
01.01.2019 → 31.12.2021
Project: Other › Other project
Activities
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85. VHB-Tagung
Hansen, E. (Session chair)
18 Mar 2026 → 20 Mar 2026Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Organising a conference, workshop, ...
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Moderation Abschlusskolloquium von Prof. Dr. Michael Braungart
Hansen, E. (Other)
09 Feb 2026Activity: Other
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Guest Lecture at TU Darmstadt: "Implementing Sustainability in Business: the role of innovation, voluntary standards, and policy context"
Hansen, E. (Speaker)
30 Jan 2026Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk › science-to-science
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Managing sustainability-oriented Innovation: Concepts and case insights
Hansen, E. (Speaker)
09 Dec 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk › science-to-science
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Organization and Environment (Journal or book series)
Hansen, E. (Editor)
Dec 2025 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Editorial work
Prizes
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Best Paper Award from IEEE TEMS among papers published in 2019 in IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management
Hansen, E. (Recipient), Lüdeke-Freund, F. (Recipient), Quan, X. (Recipient) & West, J. (Recipient), 10 Sept 2020
Prize: Prize, award or honor
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Emerald Citations of Excellence Award 2017
Hansen, E. (Recipient) & Klewitz, J. (Recipient), 22 May 2017
Prize: Prize, award or honor
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Karl Leitl-Partnerschaftspreis für wissenschaftliches Arbeiten 2018
Hansen, E. (Recipient) & Schaltegger, S. (Recipient), 21 Feb 2019
Prize: Prize, award or honor
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Oberösterreichischer Landespreis für Umwelt und Nachhaltigkeit 2017
Alcayaga, A. (Recipient), Hansen, E. (Recipient), Morpurgo, A. (Recipient) & Schmitt, J. (Recipient), 26 Sept 2017
Prize: Prize, award or honor
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Oberösterreichischer Leistungspreis 2017
Hansen, E. (Recipient), 02 Oct 2017
Prize: Prize, award or honor
Press/Media
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Pressekonferenz mit Landesrat Achleitner: "Logistik als zentraler Erfolgsfaktor bei Kreislaufwirtschaft - aktuelle Studie bringt neue Impulse"
10.11.2025
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media
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Das Ende der Downcycling-Ökonomie: Interview für Initiative Frosch
01.11.2022
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media
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Agieren statt Reagieren: Interview zu Innovation und Nachhaltigkeit
01.01.2022
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media