Techno-Economics
IDLab-TE is a research team focusing on techno-economic research. We consider technological innovations but assesses them from an economic viewpoint. We analyze the potential that a technology enables, like increased flexibility, improved efficiency, additional possibilities for new and existing customers. We calculate costs (initial investment and operational expenses) as well as benefits (both economic and societal). Doing so, we can give insight in the overall feasibility of the suggested solutions. Technology choices, investment decisions, operational optimization, targeted market decisions can be supported by our approach.
IDLab-TE supports decision makers by translating technological innovation into business opportunities. We take up challenges in different application domains. We focus on telecom and data related technologies. Current fields of interest include smart mobility, smart energy, smart cities and smart media.
We are active in the following lines of research:
- Cost models and cost allocation for novel telecom technologies. Starting from a detailed modeling of all costs related to building and operating a telecom network based on FTTH, 5G, IoT, etc., we suggest appropriate cost allocation models to help in identifying the relevant costs to be assigned to the individual actors (infrastructure providers, network operators, different services providers) in the current telecom domain.
- Societal benefits for smart solutions. Starting from reviewing the potential impact the different UN sustainable development goals, we identify the expected societal impact of ICT solutions in smart mobility, smart transport, smart healthcare etc.
- Value network analysis for data markets. Our research brings insights in the possible alignment of business, policy and technology within the EU data markets. We model the existing and novel roles in data ecosystem and analyze the impact of policy on business opportunities.
- Business models for data spaces. We start by providing a clear understanding of what is to be understood as a business model for a data space, which is a distributed system bringing together a lot of actors. Our research zooms in on specific data space intermediaries as well as on individual data space participants. Our research helps in finding critical success factors for data ecosystems.
- Business models for smart solutions. Modelling of cost drivers versus revenue models for different interacting actors involved in providing smart solutions based on drone technology, intelligent transport systems, cross-border networking solutions, local energy communities, etc.
The team has 15+ years of research experience in the domain. We have a long-standing track record of collaboration with both industrial and academic partners, such as telecom operators, equipment vendors, solution providers, etc. We published over 250 papers in high-ranked journals and international conferences. We have been involved and are currently working in 30+ national as well as international projects.
More detailed information on our research team can be found on http://technoeconomics.idlab.ugent.be/. Our ongoing activities can be followed via TechnoEconomics | LinkedIn.
