Professor Eric van Heck: Empower Circular Business with Digital Technologies

Eric van Heck is a chaired Professor of Information Management and Markets, Rotterdam School of Management (RSM), Erasmus University. His research focuses on harnessing technology for digital and circular business transformations, integrating insights from economics, management science, information systems, and computer science. Key areas of expertise include AI, data analytics, digital ecosystems, and auction markets.

Eric van Heck has co-founded pivotal centers at Erasmus, including the Erasmus Center for Data Analytics (ECDA) and the Erasmus Center for Future Energy Business and at RSM the master programs Business Information Management (BIM) and Business Analytics and Management (BAM). He also led the acclaimed Artificial Intelligence in the Floriculture Chain - iFlow project (2015 - 2020), which brought AI-driven collaboration to the horticulture sector in collaboration with Royal FloraHolland, Zentoo, and Wageningen University.

His research has been published in leading journals such as Information Systems Reseearch, Management Science, and MIS Quarterly, and in business-oriented journals such as California Management Review, Harvard Business Review, and MISQ Executive.

His book Technology Meets Flowers: Unlocking the Circular and Digital Economy (Springer Nature, 2021) has been widely acclaimed for its insights into industry transformation, and its Dutch translation Technologie en Tulpen (Mediawerf, 2022) reinforces his influcence in local markets.

Eric's work has garnered several prestigious awards, including the AIS Impact Award in 2020 and the INFORMS Information Systems Society Design Science Award in 2021.

Eric is also a sought-after educator, teaching the master's elective course on AI Technologies for Circular Business and delivering executive education in digital transformation leadership through RSM's executive education programs.

As a prominent member of the global Association of Information Systems (AIS) community, Eric has served in various leadership roles, including program co-chair of ECIS 2020, the first virtual conference of AIS and as track co-chair for several major international conferences. He continues to actively shape the future of information systems as a mentor and thought leader. 

Eric holds a PhD in Information Systems from Wageningen University, where he also earned his BSc and MSc degrees, majoring in Land and Water Use and Information Management, minoring in Operations Research and Agricultural Economics. His bachelor thesis reseach was executed at the Soil & Water Lab of Cornell University. He has held visiting positions at top institutions such as New York University, MIT-CISR, University of Jyväskylä, and Institute Technology Bandung. 

Before academia, he worked in the corporate sector as a software programmer and system analyst at Cap Gemini, further shaping his interest in real-world business applications.