AI-driven circular business model innovation for sustainable resource extraction

Swedish industry is facing major challenges as new technologies related to AI, automation, electrification and digitalization are radically changing the way companies create, deliver and capture value.

Subject description

Entrepreneurship and innovation includes organizational development with a particular focus on business development based on innovative products, services, production solutions or management practices.

Project description

Swedish industry is facing major challenges as new technologies related to AI, automation, electrification and digitalization radically change the way companies create, deliver and capture value. These technological transformations provide opportunities for companies to grow and realize the vision towards sustainable industry, that is, simultaneously realize economic, social and environmental benefits. To meet these visions, companies must innovate their offerings, business models and organizational configurations. Moreover, companies must increasingly look beyond organizational boundaries and form new types of collaboration with ecosystem partners.

The specific project aims to support the industrial "Circular Economy" by investigating how AI and automation can accelerate sustainable natural resource management in the Swedish mining and forestry ecosystems. Key questions will focus on how new radical technologies such as AI and autonomous solutions can be applied to the company's business model to increase value creation and reduce environmental impact. The project also includes creating a basis for industrial development and communicating it to participating companies through workshops, conferences and academic publications.

The PhD student working on this project is Taylan Kilinc from Turkey. He has a Master in Innovation Management and Business Development from Aarhus University in Denmark.

Why did you apply to the SUN Graduate School?

“A strong interest within SUN in innovation through technology, sustainable ways of doing business, circular economy business models and interdisciplinary atmosphere fascinates me.”

SUN's graduate school is composed of an interdisciplinary group of PhD students, what do you think about that?

“It is difficult to find opportunities alone for those who want to make the most of their PhD journey. However, within such a team, different views, ideas and suggestions tend to be realized. Collaboration with industrial partners is the icing on the cake.”

As a PhD student at SUN, how do you hope to contribute to the industrial and societal transition to achieve the SDGs?

“I would like to show how AI can be implemented in industries in a way that supports both economic and sustainability aspects, so that the transition can be more "nudgeable and incentivized".”

Tell us something you know about Luleå and Northern Sweden!

“It was surprising to hear that the Luleå archipelago has 1,312 islands. I also realized that a lot of people have pets in Luleå, which is great.”