Personal information

Biography

My research and teaching is on the social organization of innovation in agriculture, and is informed by diverse theoretical perspectives, such as Innovation Systems, Knowledge Management, Social Capital, Institutional Development, Sustainability Transitions, and focuses on different topics:
 Institutional change in research and advisory organizations;
 Roles and positions of organizations that broker multi-stakeholder networks for innovation;
 Implementation of transdisciplinary science and co-innovation approaches;
 Dynamics an politics of research and innovation agenda setting;
 Advisory service innovation and professional development;
 Division of public, private and industry roles in innovation;
 Internationalization of research and innovation;
 Digital agriculture innovation;
 Transformative innovation in agri-food;
 Agricultural innovation system development;
 Innovation policy.

My research takes place in several countries, such as The Netherlands, England, Norway, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Brazil, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, New Zealand and Australia. In recent years this research is done increasingly in collaboration with international colleagues and the PhD students and postdoctoral researchers I supervise. I have (co-)authored over 180 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. The scientific impact of my work is evidenced by a substantial number of citations. In terms of scientific impact, depending on the database used, I have an H-factor of 49 (Web of Science) and 7,914 citations in Web of Science (on 8 January 2021), and H Factor of 54 (Scopus) and 9764 citations in Scopus, and a H Factor of 72 and 19304 citations in Google Scholar (on 7 December 2023).

In my teaching I draw on my own research on innovation systems, transitions, and the role of knowledge systems in innovation, to give students a broader appreciation of how their own scientific discipline is part of a broader dynamic which shapes innovation. I aim to teach them that innovation is a co-evolutionary process between technological, social and institutional change and is much more complex and less steerable as they typically assume, and also requires transdisciplinary collaboration (between different science disciplines and with societal actors). I also reflect on the ways science can have impact on innovation processes and the future role the students can take as scientists, advisors, entrepreneurs or policy makers in view of supporting transitions towards sustainability transitions and food systems transformation. I aim to engage students by offering lively lectures with a lot of current examples to place the abstract dynamics of innovation in their lifeworlds, and by offering groupwork with topics of their own interest. By interweaving application of concepts and theory with real life applications in which analysis and solution design are intertwined (through groupwork), and individual reflection on other people’s work (peer review) and theory (critical reading assignments) I aim to stimulate them to think independently and critically.

Besides being active in academic research and teaching, I aim to achieve societal impact of my work by informing and interacting with policy makers, through contributions to policy oriented publications, oral presentations and consultancies for organizations like the World Bank, the European Commission, the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the United Nations Commission for Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Furthermore, I frequently interact with practitioners through presentations and workshops on systemic perspectives on innovation and the implications for research, extension and development professionals, and contributing to development of practical guidebooks for innovation systems analysis.

Activities

Employment (7)

Universidad de Talca: Talca, CL

2024-01-01 to present | Professor (full) (Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

Wageningen University & Research: Wageningen, NL

2022-09-01 to present | Visiting Professor (full) (Knowledge, Technology and Innovation Group)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

Universidad de Talca: Talca, CL

2022-11-01 to 2023-12-31 | Principal Scientist (Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

Wageningen University & Research: Wageningen, NL

2019-03-01 to 2022-08-31 | Professor (full) (Knowledge, Technology and Innovation Group)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

Wageningen University & Research: Wageningen, NL

2013-06-01 to 2019-02-28 | Associate Professor (Knowledge, Technology and Innovation Group)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

Wageningen University & Research: Wageningen, NL

2010-06-01 to 2013-05-31 | Assistant Professor (Knowledge, Technology and Innovation Group)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

Wageningen University: Wageningen, NL

2007-11-01 to 2010-05-31 | Postdoc (Knowledge, Technology and Innovation Group)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

Education and qualifications (3)

Wageningen University & Research: Wageningen, NL

2010-06-01 to 2011-06-01 | University Teaching Qualification (EduSupport)
Qualification
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

Wageningen University & Research: Wageningen, NL

2002-11-01 to 2008-01-07 | PhD (Communication and Innovation Studies)
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

Wageningen University & Research: Wageningen, NL

1995-09-01 to 2002-08-31 | Master of Science (Tropical Landuse)
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

Professional activities (29)

International Farming Systems Association - Europe Group: Vienna, AT

Steering Committee of the International Farming Systems Association - Europe Group
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: Rome, IT

2023 to present | Agrifood Systems Technologies and Innovations Outlook (ATIO) Advisory Committee
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

International Organization on Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA): San José, CR

2022 to present | Advisory Circle of the Digital Agriculture Program of the Interamerican Institute on Cooperation in Agriculture
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

MBIE: Wellington, NZ

2021 to present | Science and Stakeholder Advisory Panel of the Our Land and Water Science Challenge (Our Land and Water Science Challenge)
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

Elsevier: Dordrecht, NL

2020 to present | Editor (Agricultural Systems)
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

AgResearch: Lincoln, NZ

2020 to present (T Platform Science Advisory Group)
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

Taylor and Francis (United Kingdom): Abingdon, GB

2019 to present | Editor-in-Chief (Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension)
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

Routledge (United Kingdom): Oxford, GB

2019 to present | Editorial Board (International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability)
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

AgResearch: Lincoln, NZ

2017 to present | Science Advisory Panel of AgResearch
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

Sustainability Transitions Research Network: Utrecht, NL

2012 to present
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

Clarivate (United States): Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US

2023 | Highly cited researcher 2023
Distinction
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

European Commission: Brussels, BE

2018 to 2023 |  Member of the international advisory board of the EU Horizon 2020 project ‘LIAISON’
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

Utrecht University: Utrecht, NL

2020-01-01 to 2022-12-31 | Visiting Professor (full) (Copernicus Institute - Innovation Studies Group)
Invited position
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

Clarivate (United States): Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US

2022 | Highly cited researcher
Distinction
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

Springer Nature (Germany): Berlin, DE

2019 to 2022 | Associate Editor (Agronomy for Sustainable Development)
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

European Union: Brussels, BE

2017 to 2022 |  Member of the international advisory board of the EU Horizon 2020 project ‘AgriLink’
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

European Commission: Brussels, BE

2016 to 2022 | European Union Standing Committee on Agricultural Research, Strategic Workgroup on Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

MBIE: Wellington, NZ

2020 to 2020 | International Reference Panel for Te Pae Kahurangi - Positioning Crown Research Institutes to collectively and respectively meet New Zealand’s current and future needs
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

European Commission: Brussels, BE

2017 to 2019 | International advisory board of the EU Horizon 2020 project ‘AgriDemo-F2F’
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

University of Melbourne: Melbourne, AU

2016 to 2018 | International advisory board of the project ‘Australian RnD for Profit - Stimulating private sector advisers' involvement in extension’
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

Agricultural University of Athens: Athens, GR

2016 to 2017 | Scientific advisory committee of the 23rd European Seminar on Extension Education
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency: The Hague, NL

2016 to 2016 | Advisory board of the project ‘Greening the Top Sectors’
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

Wageningen University & Research: Wageningen, NL

2014 to 2015 | Scientific advisory committee and organizing committee of the 22nd European Seminar on Extension Education
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

University of Melbourne: Melbourne, AU

2014-06-01 to 2014-06-30 | Visiting fellow (Rural Innovation Research Group )
Invited position
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

CIRAD: Montpellier, FR

2012 to 2013 | International Scientific and Organizing Committee of the Agricultural Innovation systems in Africa workshop 2013
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

European Commission: Brussels, BE

2011 to 2013 | International Learning and Advisory Circle of the EU-FP7 project 'Joint Learning on Innovation Systems in African Agriculture'
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

UNU-INWEH: Waterloo, CA

2011 to 2012 | International Advisory Committee of the Knowledge Management and Mobilization K* Conference 2012
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

Universidad de Talca: Talca, CL

2010-04-01 to 2011-04-01 | Visiting Scholar (Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias)
Invited position
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

University of Newcastle: Newcastle, GB

2008 to 2011 | advisory board of the UK ESCR funded project ‘Science in the Field’ executed by the Centre for Rural Economy
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Laurens Klerkx

Peer review (28 reviews for 12 publications/grants)

Review activity for Acta veterinaria scandinavica (1)
Review activity for Agricultural systems. (2)
Review activity for Agriculture and human values. (2)
Review activity for Agronomy for sustainable development. (1)
Review activity for Animal. (1)
Review activity for Environmental innovation and societal transitions. (6)
Review activity for Food security. (1)
Review activity for Global food security. (3)
Review activity for Journal of rural studies. (3)
Review activity for Nature food. (4)
Review activity for Research policy. (2)
Review activity for Technology in society. (2)