Luc van Summeren

Luc van Summeren serves as Assistant Professor in the Technology, Innovation & Society research group within the Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences department at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). His academic work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications in sustainability transitions, with particular emphasis on community-driven energy innovation and socio-technical system integration.

Dr. van Summeren's research program focuses on local energy transitions, examining the critical roles of end-users, energy communities, and municipalities in shaping sustainable energy futures. His action-oriented approach involves direct collaboration with practitioners to identify promising socio-technical innovations across diverse contexts, analyzing implementation barriers, scaling opportunities, and strategies for effective local embedding. His work uniquely integrates digital technology applications for local energy management with considerations of heat-electricity system integration, always maintaining a focus on justice and equity in transition processes.

Analysis of his publication record reveals consistent thematic development across European energy systems research. His work demonstrates increasing sophistication in analyzing energy communities as alternative organizational models, with growing attention to digitalization challenges, community empowerment mechanisms, and the socio-technical dimensions of virtual power plants. A distinctive thread throughout his scholarship emphasizes 'people first' approaches that prioritize social considerations alongside technological solutions, with particular attention to democratic governance and just outcomes in energy transitions.

Dr. van Summeren leads multiple significant research initiatives including:

• Community-based Virtual Power Plant (cVPP) (Interreg NWE; 2017-2022)
• Organising Knowledge and Learning for the Regional Energy Transition (ORAKLE) (NWO-MARET; 2020-2025)
• Enabling Positive Energy Districts through Citizen-Centered Socio-Technical Models for Upscaling of the Heat Transition (EmPowerED) (NWA-ORC; 2025-2030)
• ACcelerate Energy Communities via Local Solar Energy Storage and Heat (ACCU) (Interreg NWE; 2025-2028)
• Smart Community-Owned Renewable Energy Management (SmartCORE) (Interreg NWE; 2025-2028)

In teaching, Dr. van Summeren contributes to the Sustainable Innovation (Bachelor), Sustainability Transitions Track of Innovation Management (Master), and Sustainable Energy Technology (Master) programs. He developed the innovative course 'Managing Sustainable Technology Challenges in Society,' where students address real-world sustainability challenges presented by alumni using transition theories to investigate problems and propose solutions. His pedagogical philosophy emphasizes cultivating 'transition makers' equipped with systems thinking, understanding of transition dynamics, and strong ethical frameworks.

A distinctive feature of Dr. van Summeren's academic profile is his integration of cartoon-based visual communication into research dissemination. Building on experience from his time at DuneWorks, he creates accessible illustrations that translate complex sustainability concepts into engaging formats. These cartoons appear in scientific reports, webinars, community communications, and his dedicated website, where they're shared under CC BY-ND licensing to promote wider adoption in sustainability practice. This multimodal communication approach exemplifies his commitment to making academic research accessible and actionable for diverse stakeholders engaged in energy transitions.