At the end of the year 2022 Harm van den Heiligenberg defended his PhD thesis; the thesis was about the spatial conditions enabling experiments with sustainability innovations and the early diffusion of innovations in the regions of Europe. In his research Harm analysed various urban contexts in depth.

Since 2023 Harm works part-time as an Academic Fellow at Utrecht University. He is the coordinator of a small research group; we investigate the spatial context conditions relevant for developing the province of Utrecht as a ‘living lab’' for global transitions. They carry out various action-oriented evaluations of experimental sustainability initiatives and projects. See also https://www.uu.nl/en/research/transforming-cities/the-utrecht-region-as-a-living-lab-for-global-transitions

Besides his activities at the University Harm works as a strategic policy advisor for innovation and sustainability at the Province of Utrecht. 

Harm hopes that his activities as researcher and policy advisor contribute to an acceleration of the sustainability transition towards a better world.