Adriaens says the induction is an important recognition and validation that his career shift from traditional research into bridging environmental engineering with entrepreneurial business fundamentals has paid off.

“Bridging engineering and business is valued in the academic community, because it translates knowledge from the classroom to practice,” Adriaens says.

Adriaens made the shift eight years ago after a long career specializing in biodegradation and bioremediation. “I wanted to be an integrator, rather than a specialist, and pursued a joint appointment between CEE and the Business School.”

Since the shift, his successes include: a business design tool called Keystone Compact that is used globally to value and assess how investible a firm is; a venture called Water Risk Analytics that sells data to the financial services industry on behalf of an environmental engineering consultancy; becoming the CleanTech Director of an investment bank and venture investment fund; and applying research focus in reverse innovation, which analyzes inexpensive product design strategies and cost-effective business models by engaging developing countries.

The induction into the Academy will allow Adriaens to build on this foundation to further his career objectives as an integrator, become involved in economic development activities, and engage in industry innovation programs at an international level.