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Wisdom Kanda

Senior Associate Professor, Head of Unit

My research focuses on stimulating the development and diffusion of environmental innovations for sustainability transitions. I analyze this from three complementary perspectives – government policy, business ecosystems, and intermediaries.

Stimulating the development and diffusion of environmental innovations for sustainability transitions

As a senior associate professor at Linköping University, I am primarily engaged with research, education and collaboration with society.

My research is about stimulating the development and diffusion of environmental innovations for sustainability transitions. I approach this focus from three complementary perspectives which give me both a broad and deep insight into the subject. These three perspectives are:
  • government policy environmental technology diffusion,
  • business ecosystems for the diffusion of environmental technologies,
  • the roles of intermediaries in the development of environmental innovations.

Government policy for the diffusion of environmental technologies

I analyze governmental policy from different countries across the world aimed at promoting the diffusion of environmental technologies from their respective countries. More importantly, I try to identify those governmental policies which have the potential to contribute to environmental sustainability.

Business ecosystems for the diffusion of environmental technology

Using empirical cases, literature on business ecosystems and discussions with industry experts, I synthesis key factors to consider in the diffusion of large-scaled environmental technology systems such as district heating supply, waste management, and renewable energy systems using an ecosystem perspective.

The roles of intermediaries in the development of environmental innovations

My research deals with intermediaries who support firms in the development and diffusion of environmental technologies. Examples of these third party organisations include business development organisations, clusters, universities, incubators and international city networks. In particular, I investigate how these third party organisations can better support firms in the eco-innovation process. In these complementary streams of research, I use different theoretical schools such as the diffusion of innovations, market and systemic failures, comparative public policy theories, business modelling and Technological Innovation Systems.

Through my research activities, I collaborate with researchers in several universities such Oldenburg, Germany; Aalto, Finland, University of Botswana and also industry practitioners such as utility companies, municipalities, environmental technology firms and clusters.

Teaching

I also involved in teaching both Swedish and international students in courses dealing with large technical systems and environment and also management systems for sustainability.

I have supervised over 25 master thesis and 20 undergraduate thesis at Linköping University.

Short CV

Education

  • Senior Associate Professor, 2024
  • Docent in Sustainable System Analysis, 2022
  • Head of Sustainable Development and Strategies unit, 2021
  • Doctoral degree, 2017
  • Licentiate dergee, 2014
  • Master degre, 2011

Research stays abroad

  • University of Botswana, Botswana, (March – May 2011)
  • De La Salle University, Philippines, (July 2022)
  • Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), (August 2023)
  • Borderstep Institute for Innovation and Sustainability, Berlin Germany, (October 2024)
  • Indiana University Bloomington, (June – August 2025)
  • University of South Africa, Honorary Professor, (October 2024 – September 2027)

Commission of trust

  • Associate editor for the journal of Environmental Innovations and Societal Transitions
  • Steering group member for Sustainability Transitions Research Network
  • Active peer reviewer for several journals – Research Policy, Technology Forecasting and Social Change, Business Strategy and Environmental, Journal of Cleaner Production
  • PhD opponent and grading committee member in Sweden, Australia, Finland, Ghana, Spain

 

Research grants received

  • 3 996 000 SEK research grant for early-career promising researchers from FORMAS - A Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development (2021-2025, Main applicant - Wisdom Kanda, co-applicants - Dzamila Bienkowska and Magnus Klofsten).

  • 4 400 000 SEK research on Enhancing the competence in entrepreneurial ecosystems in rural regions to support circular ventures from Familjen Kamprads stiftelse (2024-2026, Main applicant – Wisdom Kanda, co-applicants – Magnus Klofsten)

  • 8 962 000 SEK research grant for interaction platform on system transformation from Vinnova – Sweden’s innovation agency (2024 – 2026, Main applicant – Magnus Nilsson, co-applicants – several including Wisdom Kanda)

  • 6 300 000 SEK research on entrepreneurship in rural areas from Familjen Kamprads stiftelse (2022-2025, Main applicant - Dzamila Bienkowska, co-applicants - Wisdom Kanda, Charlotte Norrman, Magnus Klofsten, Oleksiy Guzhva).

  • 5 000 000 SEK research on exploring future markets for sustainable fertilizers to support safe and profitable food production in Sweden from Familjen Kamprads stiftelse (2023 – 2025, Main applicant Roozbeh Feiz, co-applicants - Mikael Ottosson, Wisdom Kanda, Alexander Flaig)

  • 6 045 405 SEK research grant from Energimyndigheten for research on the role of biogas in the future Swedish energy system (2022-2025, Main applicant - Thomas Magnusson, co-applicant - Wisdom Kanda).

  • 200 000 SEK research on Sweden collaborating with Philippines for Sustainable Production and Consumption from FORMAS - A Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development (2022, Main applicant – Tomohiko Sakao, Co-applicant – Wisdom Kanda

Download my CV

Publications

2024

Raphael Aryee, Wisdom Kanda (2024) A strategic framework for analysing the effects of circular economy practices on firm performance Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 476, Article 143753 (Article, review/survey) Continue to DOI
Hanna Zanatta, Wisdom Kanda, Karin Tonderski (2024) Biogas production in Brazil: Barriers and strategies for overcoming them
Roozbeh Feiz, Wisdom Kanda (2024) Nordic biogas model in international contexts: Early-stage decision support for adaptation Waste Management & Research, Vol. 42, p. 882-888 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Abdollah Mohammadparast Tabas, Mohsin Abdur Rehman, Christina Theodoraki, Hanna Komulainen, Wisdom Kanda (2024) Circular entrepreneurial ecosystem: a hybrid review and research agenda International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Magnus Klofsten, Wisdom Kanda, Dzamila Bienkowska, Nancy Bocken, Sarfraz Mian, Wadid Lamine (2024) Start-ups within entrepreneurial ecosystems: Transition towards circular economy International Small Business Journal (Article in journal) Continue to DOI

Ongoing research projects

Wisdom Kanda tells more about the project 

Are you a start-up or business development organization thinking about circular business models? We want to collaborate with you! This project will develop knowledge on how to support start-ups developing circular business models.

Do not hesitate to get in touch!

Systems and Ecosystems in the Circular Economy: What's the Difference?

Want to know the story behind the article? Kanda, W. (2023). Systems and Ecosystems in the Circular Economy: What’s the Difference?. Circular Economy, 1(3), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.55845/RMDN3752

Watch this 2 min video

Challenges of circular new ventures: An empirical analysis of 70 cases

Kanda et al., (2024). Challenges of circular new ventures: An empirical analysis of 70 cases. Journal of Cleaner Production, 141103. Watch this 1 min video.

Research group

Teaching

A total of about 3924 hours expended in teaching both at the undergraduate and master’s level. Supervisor for 25 master theses and supervisor for 20 undergraduate theses at Linköping University.

News

Organisation