Strengthening international partnerships: Nancy Bocken takes on new role at Copenhagen Business School
Professor Nancy Bocken, Professor of Sustainable Business at Maastricht University School of Business and Economics (SBE), has been appointed Adjunct Professor at Copenhagen Business School (CBS) through a five-year honorary fellowship. She will continue in her role at Maastricht University while taking on this honorary position, which recognises her international leadership in circular economy and corporate sustainability research. The fellowship further strengthens the long-standing partnership between SBE and CBS, creating new opportunities for collaboration in research and education, encouraging the exchange of knowledge and expertise, and enhancing both institutions' ability to address complex global sustainability challenges.
The appointment comes alongside another international recognition. Earlier this year, Bocken was awarded an honorary doctorate by LUT University in Finland in recognition of her contributions to sustainability research and academic leadership.
Building on years of collaboration
Although the appointment at CBS marks an exciting new chapter, Bocken sees it primarily as a continuation of a collaboration that has been developing over the past decade. "It is not really the start of a new partnership," she explains. "It is a reinforcement of a collaboration that has already grown naturally over the years."
Her connection with CBS began in 2015 through a PhD committee on circular textiles and fashion. Since then, the collaboration has expanded through PhD supervision, guest lectures and joint academic activities. In 2023, she also presented her research on the circular economy as a framework for climate policy to the Danish Council on Climate Change, further strengthening ties with colleagues in Denmark.
The honorary fellowship reflects both her academic contributions and the shared ambition to deepen collaboration between researchers working on sustainability and business transformation.
A shared vision for sustainable business
According to Bocken, CBS and Maastricht University share a similar mindset: combining rigorous academic research with practical impact.
"Both institutions believe research should not only advance theory but also help businesses and policymakers address real-world sustainability challenges".
Over the coming five years, she hopes to expand collaboration on research projects, doctoral education, MBA teaching, guest lectures and international funding applications. One important ambition is to jointly develop research that moves beyond circular economy towards broader questions of how businesses can operate within planetary boundaries and contribute to regenerative futures. Her work increasingly explores themes such as nature regeneration, sufficiency, repair, business experimentation, adaptive business models and the changing role of businesses in society. These topics require close collaboration across disciplines and with companies, governments and civil society.
The fellowship also creates new opportunities for researchers, PhD candidates and students at both institutions. International partnerships make it easier to develop joint research proposals, organise research visits, exchange expertise and create new educational initiatives. Rather than working in isolation, researchers can build on complementary strengths and learn from different academic cultures.
"You need strong networks throughout your academic career," Bocken says. "Whether it is for research projects, conferences, PhD supervision or teaching, collaborations like this create opportunities that would be difficult to realise alone".
The power of collaboration
For Bocken, success over the next five years will not simply be measured by publications or research grants. She hopes the collaboration will contribute to new ways of thinking about the role of business in society and help translate those ideas into practice. By bringing together researchers with a shared commitment to sustainability, she believes partnerships such as the one between Maastricht University and Copenhagen Business School can accelerate meaningful change.
Her recent appointment at CBS and award from LUT University underscore the growing international recognition of her work and the increasing importance of cross-border collaboration in addressing global sustainability challenges.