Background

Our environmental challenges stem largely from industries operating on linear economic models that deplete natural resources and generate waste, negatively impacting the environment and human health. The Circular Economy offers a solution by promoting sustainable practices like repair, remanufacture, and recycling. However, adopting these principles requires collaboration across supply chains and the development of comprehensive data ecosystems.

However, the realization of a circular economy usually fails due to economic and technical challenges, particularly the lack of transparent data sharing among stakeholders. Effective change involves creating data ecosystems, developing new business models, and establishing incentive mechanisms to support these ecosystems. These efforts ensure that recyclable materials, parts, or entire assemblies are efficiently returned and reused in high-quality products, ultimately reducing the environmental footprint and fostering sustainable development.

Research Goal

As part of the publicly funded research project ZirkulEA, you can contribute with your thesis to conceptualize and design such data ecosystems for a circular economy. In this context, we offer diverse potential topics to tackle the phenomena of data sharing & data ecosystems from different ankles. Based on your personal interest, potential starting points for a thesis could be: 

• Designing systems for AI-based decision-making on circular strategies based on lifecycle data
• Development of incentive mechanisms to foster stakeholder engagement in data ecosystems 
• Exploring data flow and sharing mechanisms within the circular ecosystem of the automotive industry
• Conceptualization and integration of data ecosystems into digital industrial platforms such as Catena-X Data Spaces

Further, we are open to your suggestions to contribute to the phenomena of data sharing and data ecosystems in a practice-oriented, yet theoretically sound manner.

Your Profile

• You are interested in the emerging field of data sharing, data ecosystems and AI
• You are interested in topics around circular economy
• You are highly motivated to work on recent real-world problems in a self-organized and goal-oriented working mode, and you bring in your own ideas
• You are open-minded and willing to get in touch with professionals, e.g., throughout an interview study
• Very good English skills as the thesis will be written in English

Details

• Start: Immediatly

• Language: English

We offer you an exciting research topic, close supervision, and the opportunity to develop practical as well as theoretical skills. If you are interested, please send a current transcript of records, a short CV, and a brief motivation (2-3 sentences) to Linda Sagnier (linda.sagnier∂kit.edu) and Daniel Heinz (daniel.heinz∂kit.edu).