Frido Smulders appointed professor in Entrepreneurial Engineering by Design

Frido Smulders has been appointed as full professor in Entrepreneurial Engineering by Design of the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering (TU Delft). 

“TU Delft is my alma mater so it makes me very proud to have been appointed professor. It shows just how much the university values innovation and leadership in education, as well as scientific output.”

Professor Smulders has over 30 years of experience in the areas of innovation and entrepreneurship. He’s worn many hats over the years – as an entrepreneur, management-consultant, coach, academic educator, scientific researcher, PhD supervisor and partner in industry-university collaboration. Trained as an aerospace engineer, he has made a career transitioning from hardcore technologist to social scientist focused on exploring human-driven innovation and entrepreneurial processes. But now that he’ll be donning his professorial hat, what else does Professor Smulders hope to contribute?

“It is my dream to give all students in the Netherlands a practical and theoretically-robust framework for technological innovation and entrepreneurial behaviour, by applying a teaching the teachers-principle. I also want to support the continuous improvement of our education in 4TU-collaboration to develop, realise and successfully implement technological innovations.”

Professor Smulders appointment builds on his roles as Educational Fellow of Entrepreneurship at TU Delft and Director of Entrepreneurship by Design Lab. The latter is a ‘living lab’, where industry and students collaborate in both research and education. Within the lab, they experiment with new forms of education, like the courses In-house Design Team, Build your Startup and Cutting Edge Design, Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CEDIE). Professor Smulders elaborates: “More than 90% of our alumni work within existing organisations. Entrepreneurial behaviour is just as necessary in these organisations as it is in a start-up. It’s crucial for the development of new technologies and fresh approaches to emerging challenges such as the energy transition and environmental issues. Or health challenges, like the current COVID-19 pandemic.”

Department Head of Design, Organisation and Stragey (DOS) Professor Ruth Mugge welcomes Frido as Full Professor: “With this appointment, we take an important step as a university in acknowledging extraordinary achievements in education. I look forward to the results of Professor Smulders' research in the coming years.”