A team of students from the Design Science Methodology course, part of the Innovation Management Master Program at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), recently tackled a key challenge for the University Medical Center Utrecht (UMCU): further integrating sustainability into their procurement process with the aim of making project teams more self-reliant in making sustainable purchasing decisions.

This course, coordinated by Dr. Duygu Keskin, involves collaboration between students and companies to develop solutions for improving organizational processes or exploring new business opportunities. Dr. Keskin, who also participates in the ESCH-R project on circular business models for hospitals, partnered with Eileen Raaijmakers (TU/e) and Anne Marie van den Berg (UMCU) to guide the students through this project. The students developed two practical decision-making tools.

The first tool aims to help UMCU to efficiently compare current contracts with more environmentally friendly alternatives. The second tool assists procurement specialists in navigating the tender process, ensuring they select the right market strategy while prioritizing sustainability for different product categories.

These complementary solutions were well-received by UMCU’s procurement department and were presented to key stakeholders on June 12, 2024. The project represents a significant foundation for UMCU’s further development in both environmental responsibility and efficient procurement.