prof. dr. G. (Gjalt) de Jong

Professor Gjalt de Jong is Professor of Sustainable Entrepreneurship in a Circular Economy (University of Groningen, Faculty Campus Fryslân). Professor de Jong builds on more than 30 years of experience in academia, business and management (Career Professor Gjalt de Jong). He holds a Master of Science in Economics and a PhD in Business Administration from the University of Groningen.

Professor de Jong’s career divides into two periods. Between 1991 and 2015, professor de Jong focused on economic growth and for-profit strategies of firms. From 2015 onwards, professor de Jong and his research teams focus on sustainable entrepreneurship and the circular economy (www.rug.nl/cf/cse) and the transition towards sustainable agriculture (Sicco Mansholt Transition Program and Network Nature Inclusive Farming).

At the Faculty Campus Fryslân, Professor de Jong is the chair and head of the department Sustainable Entrepreneurship in a Circular Economy, founder-director of the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture Transition, founder-director of the Centre for Sustainable Entrepreneurship, founder former-director of the Master Sustainable Entrepreneurship, member and former chair of the Faculty’s research institute. Professor de Jong currently supervises a team of 14 senior, junior and PhD staff members and PhD students in the Sustainable Entrepreneurship in a Circular Economy department and 17 senior, junior and PhD staff members in the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture Transition. He successfully completed 11 PhD projects to date.

Professor de Jong is the principal investigator and recipient of the Nationaal Groeifonds program for Regenerative Farming Transition of €15.9M (total consortium grant of €129M – see National Grant Prof. Gjalt de Jong) and the grant for Regenerative Farming New Business Models of €850k from the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. For the Faculty Campus Fryslân, he obtained €16.9M consortia grants, €1.6M individual research grants, and €1.6M individual Faculty PhD grants. He and his research team members received 5 prices and awards. For the Faculty of Economics and Business, Professor de Jong obtained €2.1M research and board grants and €1.0M for faculty PhD grants.

Together with his research teams and colleagues, Professor de Jong produced 140+ publications, delivered 100+ guest lectures and key notes, and 180+ news events. Professor de Jong supervised 40+ master thesis student projects in sustainable entrepreneurship and 75+ master thesis master thesis student projects in business and economics.

Professor de Jong actively engages in public debates on causes and consequences of sustainability transitions including, for example, the FryslânDOK/NPO Dutch national television documentary “de bodem bereikt” on regenerative farming, the FryslânDOK/NPO Dutch national podcast on leadership of sustainable transitions, the seminar in collaboration with regional stakeholders concerning regenerative farming in the North of the Netherlands – with national/regional/professional news reports (De landbouw heeft wrotters nodig om door regels en systemen heen te breken and Rijksuniversiteit Groningen en boer gaan samenwerken in transitie).