Bernd Weiss

Bio

Bernd is a doctoral candidate in the intersection of Product Innovation and Space Systems at Luleå University of Technology (LTU). His expertise is in industry-scale transformation and technology management. Bernd conducts research on best practices for circular-, digital-, and sustainable transformation and on approaches for Sustainable-Designs by default. With his work, he aims to contribut to the knowledge bodies in circular transformation, change and innovation management, reusable product designs, and sustainable production. Bernd is co-founder of Circulate360, an accelerator to foster university-industry collaboration and the development of innovations based on the circular economy principles. Bernd is speaker and actively involved in the renowned Ecosystems2030 think-tank, which has its orgigens at NASA Innovation Summits.

Leveraging Change and Innovation Management: PhD and Research, Creaternity

Project A: Managing Change and Innovation to Accelerate Circular Transformation (in draft phase)

Details coming soon.

Project B: Approaching Sustainable Spacecraft End-of-life: Reusable Hardware and Circular Economy Principles in Outer Space (Creaternity Space Lab)

The need for material circularity and sustainability is not limited to human activities on Earth and in fact, has broad implications for the utilization of outer space. Most materials in spacecraft that are (currently) launched into space are later wasted when burned up in Earth atmosphere or, due to limitations of available technology, unrecoverable after moved into disposal orbits. This means losing rare-earth elements, highly valuable materials, and functional components, but with this, also a lot of chemicals and toxic substances or materials. Driven by technological advancements, the reuse of space hardware is now becoming more feasible and with this, potentially, an alternative to spacecraft end-of-life disposal strategies. Reuse of hardware already in space can positively impact space mission costs and the development of new technology. In addition, it can be a solution to prevent (or lower) space debris and space junk, and to limit negative impacts on environmental sustainability for Earth and in space.

Bernd is investigating the drivers and the barriers related to the reuse of space hardware and best practices of the circular economy “reuse” principle. He is examining design implications, technology requirements for end-of-life alternatives, and looks at the financial performance of (circular) business models related to the reuse of space hardware. Bernd aims to develop the roadmap to full in-space spacecraft reusability, contributing to long-term space sustainability and to the expansion of the circular economy to outer space.

Project C: Regulatory Actions and Sustainability in Space (in draft phase)

Details coming soon.

Project D: On Entering Sustainable Transfomation: A Space Industry Case (in draft phase)

Details coming soon.

Involved Organizations and Clusters

1. Creaternity LTU: Creaternity Space Lab
2. Swedisch Aerospace Research Cluster (SARC)
3. Ecosystems2030
4. Production2030
5. Creaternity Graduate School
6. Alliance for A Sustainable Future in Space

International Collaborations

For his research, he works with several academic institutions in the US and industry partners in the US, Taiwan, Sweden and Germany.