Jonas Van der Straeten

Jonas van der Straeten is an Assistant Professor in the Technology, Innovation and Society Group at Eindhoven University of Technology. His research examines cultures of making and maintaining technologies in East Africa, Central Asia, and South Asia, with focus areas including electric mobility transitions in Bangladesh, urban infrastructure development, and the history of electricity in Africa.

Van der Straeten's research interests span global history of technology, sustainability transitions, electric vehicles, and energy systems in developing regions. His current project investigates the electrification of three-wheeled transport in Bangladesh, where locally assembled battery-powered rickshaws have transformed urban mobility.

His publications analyze technology adoption patterns, colonial infrastructure legacies, and the socio-technical dimensions of energy systems. Research trends include historical examinations of electricity grids in East Africa, technological development in Central Asia, and sustainable transportation solutions in South Asia.