Strategic Design for Circular High-Tech Manufacturing

The societal challenge

High-tech products are often complex, difficult to disassemble, and designed for rapid innovation rather than durability. Supply chains are linear and fragmented, making collaboration for reuse and material recovery difficult. This hampers progress toward circular economy targets. At the same time, reliance on critical raw materials poses risks for both the environment and supply security. The challenge is to make circularity an integral part of product development and supply chain design, rather than an afterthought.

The STRIDE approach

STRIDE develops a shared decision-support environment that connects product design with supply chain choices. Three research lines drive this effort: (1) generating and assessing circular product designs, (2) designing and testing circular supply chain networks, and (3) building simulations of present and future scenarios. Interactive visualization and joint scenario analysis enable partners to explore alternatives and take coordinated decisions. Industrial case studies ensure realistic validation and applicability.

Impact and significance

STRIDE delivers an integrated approach that reduces e-waste, extends component lifetimes, and improves recovery of critical materials. This strengthens the resilience and competitiveness of the Dutch high-tech sector, while contributing to national and European sustainability goals. By fostering collaboration between universities, industry, and policymakers, STRIDE reinforces the innovation ecosystem and positions Brainport Eindhoven and the Netherlands as international frontrunners in circular high-tech manufacturing.