imec-SMIT, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

The research group SMIT (Studies in Media, Innovation and Technology) is a research centre at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. It is part of the Faculty of Social Sciences & Solvay Business School, department Communication Sciences. It is also part of imec, Flanders leading strategic research institute for nano-technology and ICT innovation. For over 30 years, SMIT has been specializing in social scientific research on media and ICT, with an emphasis on innovation, policy and socio-economic questions.

The Media Economics and Policy (MEP) unit focuses on analyzing and ensuring the economic and cultural viability of content production, aggregation, and consumption. Researchers in the MEP unit work on fundamental and applied research tracks seeking to advance knowledge on how digitalization, internationalization, and platformisation are impacting the business models of traditional media players, how these media players innovate and interact with new players, and how governments contribute to sustaining or strengthening local media ecosystems. Our research projects cover both market and policy aspects for a multitude of creative sectors, from publishing and cultural heritage to broadcasting, film, video games, music, and documentary filmmaking.

Position description

More concretely your work package, for the preparation of a doctorate, contains:

StreamSCAPES is an EU / Horizon Europe-funded initiative that aims at analyzing and driving sustainable climate transition of video-on-demand platforms. The VUB is one of the research partners involved in this European interdisciplinary project, through its SMIT research centre.

You will conduct research and innovation activities to analyse carbon footprint in video streaming activities and support VOD services in their efforts to assess and reduce such footprint, in particular in their production and distribution activities. You will take an active participation in, and eventually lead, “sustainable business clinics” where you will provide practical guidance and support to small companies, fostering the improvement of their business models in alignment with environmental and economic sustainability goals. You will contribute to:

• Guideline development;   
  
• Coaching sessions: implement coaching sessions within the sustainable business clinics. The focus is on assessing and reducing the companies’ carbon footprint while taking into account the business and market conditions;
  
• Individual strategies and roadmaps: utilise the coaching sessions to identify various options for stakeholders and develop individual strategies and roadmaps for each partner. This personalised approach ensures practical and actionable steps for realising the potential of sustainable business practices.
  

During the sustainable business clinics, we will use the Green Producers Tool, the carbon calculator developed by one of the StreamSCAPES partner, the Green Producers Club. Therefore, the sustainable business clinics also provide the opportunity for the Green Producers Club to test their calculator prototypes, providing valuable feedback for continuous refinement.

Besides, you will contribute to an analysis of the value network of VOD services, to provide a high-level analysis of how they insert in audiovisual ecosystems, considering both economic and environmental aspects.

Your tasks will include

• Business models and value network analysis
• Lead or proactively contribute to the sustainable business clinics
• Literature review and desk research
• Daily project management and reporting to coordinator
• Working on publications (peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters) and presenting research findings internally and to a broader academic community

Profile

What do we expect from you?

• Master’s degree in management, economics, communication/media studies, engineering (industrial ecology, environmental/sustainability, computer science/ICT/network), data science/analytics, or a closely related field. You can proof you finished your studies with outstanding academic results.
  
• Good knowledge of video-on-demand from a business and/or technical perspective is a strong asset
  
• Experience with business modelling and company coaching is another strong asset
  
• Ability to work independently, good self-management and planning skills
  
• Teamwork skills
  
• Flexible attitude when working in a dynamic environment with a variety of professional interlocutors
  
• Interdisciplinary mindset
  
• Analytical thinking and strong communication skills in English (including academic writing skills)

We Offer

• A dynamic and stimulating work environment with enterprising young scientists and experienced senior research staff in an international setting;
• High-quality innovative research on future-oriented services;
• Support and guidance by and experience team of senior researchers;
• Attractive VUB salary with extralegal benefits
• A full-time contract: the position is initially for a duration 12 months that can be prolonged. There are opportunities for future funding acquisition which can lead to PhD opportunities and an academic career at SMIT.

Interested?

Deadline to respond: December 12, 2025

Do you have questions about the job content?

Contact Heritiana Ranaivoson at hranaivo@vub.be or Kitty Van der Schraelen at Kitty.Van.der.Schraelen@vub.be

Please provide a CV and if applicable, track record of publications including reports and academic publications to smit.jobs@vub.be.