Dr Erik Fledderus
Erik is a professor of Digital Business and Society. His research group brings together various issues and perspectives on digitalization, acting as both a research and discussion partner for external stakeholders and practitioners.
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Research Focus
Erik Fledderus has over 25 years of experience in ICT, digitalization, and innovation. As a researcher, advisor, project leader, and program manager, he has been closely involved in the rise, development, and use of mobile and digital communication.
Throughout his career in both public and private organizations, he has held various roles—including principal scientist, advisor, program manager, and general director—gaining deep insights into how change happens, where it stalls, and how it can be accelerated. In his research, he focuses on connecting the diverse perspectives necessary for meaningful transformation.
Beyond exploring how digitalization can be effectively leveraged by industries and businesses, Erik has a strong interest in the philosophy of technology. He critically examines the impact of artificial intelligence and data science on society, emphasizing that technology is not just functional—it also has profound social and ethical implications.
Education
Erik Fledderus studied Applied Mathematics at the University of Twente, where he earned his PhD in 1997 with a dissertation titled Mathematical Modelling in Swirling Flows: A Hamiltonian Perspective.
Research Experience
After completing his PhD, Erik Fledderus began working at KPN Research in 1997, which later became part of TNO. He also served as managing director at SURF and was a professor of Wirelss Communication at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) from 2003 to 2020.
Throughout his career, he has gained both technical expertise and leadership experience in various roles, including positions at the Joint Institute for Innovation Policy and the Europen Commission.