Jelle Saldien professor

Research Jelle Saldien

Research team

Expertise

The expertise lies within Interaction Design and Technology-Driven Design, focusing on designing interactions between humans and technology (IoT, robotics, XR, AI), both in the physical and digital dimensions of future products. The focus is on Product Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), and Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), with a particular emphasis on new prototyping methods, (embodied) interface design, and the targeted involvement of the right users in (AI-powered) product innovation. Our current research focuses on user experience design, phygital interfaces, and open modular system architectures for smart products. This expertise is increasingly linked to issues surrounding circular product development, adaptability, upgradability, and embodied AI, ensuring that smart products are not only interactive and user-friendly but also designed to be sustainable, understandable, and future-proof.

SPARCE – Sustainable Product Assessment and Redesign for Circularity and Energy Efficiency. 01/01/2026 - 31/12/2026

Abstract

Electronic waste (e-waste) is rising at an alarming pace. In 2019, 53.6 million tonnes of e-waste were generated globally, with forecasts predicting this number will surpass 82 million tonnes by 2030. This trend is driven by shortened product lifespans, poor repairability, and limited options for upgrading components. Meanwhile, EU policy is rapidly evolving with regulations like ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation), the Digital Product Passport (DPP), and Right to Repair. However, many companies struggle to adapt due to a lack of modular design expertise, costly redesign cycles, and uncertainty around return on investment. The SPARCE project – Sustainable Product Assessment and Redesign for Circularity and Energy Efficiency – aims to address this gap by developing and validating an integrated methodology and digital toolset that empowers companies to continuously optimize energy performance and circularity in smart electronic products. It does so via two key services: SPARCE-SCAN, a scanning and scoring tool that evaluates products on energy use, upgrade potential, and compliance with circularity standards; and SPARCE-DESIGN, a decision-support toolkit that offers redesign strategies for improving modularity, repairability, and energy efficiency. SPARCE enables companies to meet evolving regulations while reducing e-waste, extending product lifespans, and exploring new value streams through modular upgrades and service models.

Researcher(s)

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

  • Research Project

A-budget MICT. 01/01/2026 - 31/12/2026

Abstract

AAA Project 1 – Modular Electronic Architectures (Chiplets) linked to Environmental Sensors: This AAA project explores modular electronic architectures with a focus on chiplet-based system design to enable scalable, reusable, and more sustainable hardware platforms—specifically targeting modular environmental sensor systems as a concrete use case. Outcomes will directly inform the design of citizen-science and distributed monitoring sensor kits that can evolve over time (new sensors, radios, compute) without full device replacement, strengthening imec's strategy in advanced integration and sustainable electronics and seeding follow-up funding and valorization pathways. AAA Project 2 – ROBOFAT: This AAA project explores a next-generation concept for powering robots through innovative energy systems.

Researcher(s)

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

  • Research Project

SharedMachineHub. 30/12/2025 - 31/12/2027

Abstract

MachineSharingHub aims to use equipment and machines in labs more intelligently and in a more circular way, both within and outside the university. This often involves equipment that is very expensive to purchase and maintain, or equipment that is indispensable in certain processes but rarely used. Using Toolsquare technology—a combination of smart hardware and software—equipment usage is monitored, reserved, and shared in a controlled manner. This is already being implemented at the lab level, but the real mindset shift needs to happen at a higher level, across departments, where the real gains can be achieved. By analyzing usage data, insights are generated for optimization and shared use between labs, departments, campuses, and even organizations. The project aims to demonstrate that shared use and a data-driven purchasing and investment policy lead to fewer equipment, better shared use, higher OEE, lower costs, reduced material consumption, and a greater ecological and social impact. The collaboration between Toolsquare and the University of Antwerp (REuse Lab) focuses on demonstration, ecosystem development, mindset shifts, business model validation, and dissemination.

Researcher(s)

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

  • Research Project

Exploring the potential synergy of computational design with product service systems (PSS) to support modularity and upgradability for the development of electronic products in a circular economy. 01/11/2024 - 31/10/2028

Abstract

The overall objective is to reduce e-waste through a new method of CPD. The goal of this research project is to study the development of this CPD method, provisionally named 'DRUM' (Design for Repairability, Upgradability via Modularity). This method should provide a solid basis for future (re)design of smart products using a modular product-system architecture. This should ensure compliance with regulatory and societal demands for repairability and leverage the potential of circular business models with focus on upgradability.

Researcher(s)

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

  • Research Project

IDLab - Internet and Data Lab 01/01/2021 - 31/12/2026

Abstract

The IOF consortium IDLab is composed of academic supervisors at the IDLab Research Group, a UAntwerp research group with members from the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Applied Engineering. IDLab develops innovative digital solutions in the area of two main research lines: (1) Internet technologies, focusing on wireless networking and Internet of Things (IoT), and (2) Data science, focussing on distributed intelligence and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The mission of the IDLab consortium is to be the number one research and innovation partner in Flanders and leading partner worldwide, in the above research areas, especially applied in a city and its metropolitan surroundings (industry, ports & roads). To realize its mission, IDLab looks at integrated solutions from an application and technology perspective. From an application point of view, we explicitly provide solutions for all stakeholders in metropolitan areas aiming to cross-fertilize these applications. From a technological point of view, our research includes hardware prototyping, connectivity and AI, enabling us to provide a complete integrated solution to our industrial partners from sensor to software. Over the past years, IDLab has been connecting the city and its surroundings with sensors and actuators. It is time to (1) reliably and efficiently connect the data in an integrated way to (2) turn them into knowledgeable insights and intelligent actions. This perfectly matches with our two main research lines that we want to extensively valorise the upcoming years. The IDLab consortium has a unique position in the Flemish eco-system to realize this mission as it is strategically placed across different research and innovation stakeholders: (1) IDLab is a research group embedded in the Strategic Research Centre imec, a leading research institute in the domain of nano-electronics, and more recently through groups such as IDLab, in the domain of digital technology. (2) IDLab has a strategic link with IDLab Ghent, a research group at Ghent University. While each group has its own research activities, we define a common strategy and for the Flemish ecosystem, we are perceived as the leading partner in the research we are performing. (3) IDLab is the co-founder of The Beacon, an Antwerp-based eco-system on innovation where start-ups, scale ups, etc. that work on IoT and AI solutions for the city, logistics, mobility and industry 4.0 come together. (4) Within the valorisation at UAntwerp, IDLab contributes to the valorisation within the domain 'Metropolitanism, Smart City and Mobility'. To realize our valorisation targets, IDLab will define four valorisation programs: VP1: Emerging technologies for next-generation IoT; VP2: Human-like artificial Intelligence; VP3: Learning at the edge; VP4: Deterministic communication networks. Each of these valorisation programs is led by one of the (co-)promoters of the IDLab consortium, and every program is composed of two or three innovation lines. This way, the IDLab research will be translated into a clear program offer towards our (industrial) partners, allowing us to build a tailored offer. Each valorisation program will contribute to the different IOF objectives, but in a differentiated manner. Based on our current experience, some valorisation programs are focusing more on local partners, while others are mainly targeting international and EU funded research projects.

Researcher(s)

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

  • Research Project