How can chip technology, sensors, and digital applications contribute to solutions for societal challenges in agriculture, food, health, and the environment? This question is central to the OnePlanet Research Centre. Since 2019, OnePlanet has been working from Wageningen and Nijmegen on technological innovations with a clear societal mission. Commissioned by the Province of Gelderland, Dialogic has conducted an impact evaluation of OnePlanet. We looked at the development of OnePlanet as an innovation centre and at the societal effects that are already visible or can reasonably be expected.
OnePlanet was established in 2019 as a collaboration between imec, Radboud University, Radboudumc, and Wageningen University & Research. The strength of the centre lies in the combination of technological expertise in microchips and sensors with domain knowledge in agriculture, food, health, and the environment. Thus, OnePlanet focuses on applications such as smart measuring instruments, digital monitoring, and new forms of data-driven innovation.
The Province of Gelderland has played a significant role in the development of OnePlanet from the start. For the eight-year program period 2019–2027, the province made a subsidy of up to €65 million available. Furthermore, this substantial financial contribution was intended to act as a leverage for additional income from public-private partnerships, industrial partnerships, National Growth Fund projects, and research funding. The total budget envisaged for OnePlanet for this period amounts to over €137 million.
From ambition to innovation centre
In over six years, OnePlanet has evolved into a recognizable innovation centre for chip and digital technologies in agriculture, food, health, and the environment. By the end of 2024, OnePlanet had 121 full-time employees, an annual turnover of approximately €21 million, and a vast network of collaboration partners. The centre operates from three main domains: AgriFood, Health, and Environment. Additionally, there are cross-cutting expertise areas such as sensors, digital twins, data platforms, and practical applications.
In addition to the innovation projects, OnePlanet focuses on broader societal impact. This is achieved through initiatives such as OpenEducation, an SME programme, and efforts to involve citizens in research and technology development, for example through citizen science. In this way, OnePlanet aims to connect technology development with education, businesses, users, and societal stakeholders.
Comprehensive evaluation approach
Dialogic conducted the impact evaluation based on two main questions. Firstly: how has OnePlanet developed in relation to the output indicators agreed upon for the subsidy with the Province of Gelderland? Secondly: what societal effects has OnePlanet already achieved, and what effects can reasonably be expected?
For the evaluation, we combined various research methods. We carried out an extensive desk study, including an analysis of the agreed output indicators. Additionally, we engaged with different categories of stakeholders and conducted a survey among OnePlanet project leaders. For further depth, we conducted additional analyses, such as a network analysis based on scientific publications, an analysis of the contribution of publications to Sustainable Development Goals, and a media analysis.
An important part of the evaluation was reconstructing how OnePlanet intends to achieve impact. Dialogic also developed a Theory of Change for this purpose. This helps to make the relationship between resources, activities, outputs, outcomes, and societal impact more explicit. Such an impact model is crucial for better understanding the pathways through which OnePlanet can create societal value and for sharpening future monitoring and evaluation.
Promising centre, but impact takes time
Our overall conclusion is that OnePlanet, made possible in part by the provincial contribution, has established a promising and impactful innovation centre. OnePlanet is effective in attracting mainly public funding, leverages the impact of the provincial subsidy, and is on course for the majority of the agreed output indicators.
By the end of 2024, OnePlanet had achieved the target values for 10 out of 16 output indicators. Three other indicators are within reach. The patent portfolio is also developing positively, with the objective almost achieved. Meanwhile, there are areas to address. For example, the number of publications is expected to fall short of the original target. This may not necessarily be problematic, as OnePlanet is strongly focused on technology development, commercialisation, and valorisation. The target for spin-offs and startups has also not been achieved yet, although there are promising trajectories in progress.
In recent years, OnePlanet has brought more focus to its portfolio. The centre is concentrating on a few so-called 'blockbusters': promising applications with significant potential for societal impact. Examples include the smart toilet seat, the ingestible sensor pill, and technology for nitrogen measurement. If some of these trajectories are successfully applied and scaled up, the societal impact could be substantial.
Nevertheless, we also conclude that the current realised societal impact in Gelderland is modest. This is partly due to the nature of the innovation process. The development of chip technology and digital applications towards market introduction and societal application is complex and time-consuming. Many results are still at the output level: there are projects, prototypes, collaborations, publications, and patents, but the concrete societal effects are yet to materialise in many cases.
Focus on impact strategy and valorisation
An important point highlighted in the evaluation is that while OnePlanet actively strives to achieve societal impact, a fully developed impact model and explicit impact pathways are still lacking. Hence, it is not always clear how activities and results should lead to societal effects. The impact model proposed by Dialogic provides a starting point for this. It can help OnePlanet and the Province to better specify the functions that OnePlanet fulfils in the Gelderland knowledge and innovation landscape, what impact is realistically achievable, and within what timeframe this impact can be expected.
Attention also needs to be devoted to future funding. OnePlanet is succeeding in attracting public funds for research and innovation. This signifies a successful leveraging of the provincial subsidy. However, generating income through industrial collaborations is proving to take more time than initially anticipated. For the sustainable financing of OnePlanet, it is crucial to further strengthen valorisation trajectories with industrial partners and maintain a well-stocked innovation pipeline.
Recommendations for the next phase
Based on the evaluation, we advise OnePlanet to develop and implement a comprehensive impact model, preferably based on the Theory of Change provided by Dialogic. This model can link inputs, activities, and outputs to outcomes and impact. Furthermore, OnePlanet can elaborate on impact pathways to better support and justify strategic decisions.
Similarly, we recommend maintaining focus on valorisation. The current blockbusters are important test cases, but for the long term, it is essential to nurture enough new promising trajectories. The balance between public funding and industrial collaboration should receive explicit attention.
For the Province of Gelderland, we suggest revising the output indicators where necessary and strengthening the connection with OnePlanet's core functions, impact model, and impact pathways. Indicators for industrial collaboration, ecosystem integration, and societal implications can be particularly valuable. Additionally, OnePlanet can enhance the annual explanation of realised and expected impact.
Finally, we advise OnePlanet to continue investing in OpenEducation, the SME programme, and citizen science. These implementation lines contribute positively to OnePlanet's societal impact and reinforce connections with education, businesses, citizens, and users. Further, a more professional system for data collection, analysis, and reporting can enhance accountability and better management.
The evaluation demonstrates that OnePlanet has established a solid foundation. The upcoming years will determine to what extent the accumulated knowledge, technology, and collaborations translate into tangible societal impact. Therefore, it is crucial to now clarify, monitor, and connect the impact ambition more sharply with strategic choices for the future.
