University of Münster
Institute of Business Administration
at the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy
Leonardo-Campus 1
48149 Münster

Telephone: +49(0)251 83-31810 (Office)

Email: stephan.vondelft@uni-muenster.de

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1542-9603

Research interests

• Clean technologies
• Business models
• Circular economy
• Strategic management

Profile

Stephan von Delft is a Professor of Business Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Münster. His interdisciplinary research centers on the economic viability and environmental impact of clean technologies, strategies for building resilient and sustainable supply chains for critical raw materials, and the development of circular and digital business models. He investigates these subjects especially in the context of energy storage technologies.

He has published in several leading academic journals, including Communications Engineering, Energy & Environmental Science, Environmental Science & Technology, Journal of Business Research, Journal of Energy Storage, Long Range Planning and Technovation, and co-edited the book Business Chemistry – How to Build Thriving Businesses in the Chemical Industry.

He is a member of the executive board of the Association for Chemistry and Business (VCW) of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) and a member of the editorial review board of the Academy of Management Discoveries (AMD).

Stephan holds a graduate degree in business chemistry and a doctoral degree (summa cum laude) from the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Münster. Prior to (re)joining the University of Münster, he was a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Amsterdam Business School, University of Amsterdam (the Netherlands) and a Lecturer, Senior Lecturer and later Professor at the Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow (Scotland).

Publications

• Articles

  • Aghdasi, F., Allen, D., Allen, S.J., Brady, M., Brett, J.M., Caporarello, L., Fellenz, M., Fischbacher-Smith, D., Fischbacher-Smith, M., Fukami, C., Holland, A., Hamilton, A., Leben, D., Morse, L., Rivers, C., von Delft, S., & Wittmer, D. (2025). Human-centered business education in an artificial intelligence-driven world. Journal of Management Inquiry, (accepted for publication).

  • Viets, A., & von Delft, S. (2025). Chief digital officer presence and corporate environmental performance: Assessing organizational task environments under which their presence affects GHG emissions. Business Strategy and the Environment. (early online publication). doi: 10.1002/bse.70123.

  • Schlehuber, S., Hemmelder, A., & von Delft, S. (2025). Uncovering collaboration and knowledge areas in lithium-ion battery recycling. EES Batteries. (early online publication). doi: 10.1039/D5EB00056D.

  • Wesselkämper, J., Hendrickson, T., Lux, S., & von Delft, S. (2025). Recycling or second use? Supply potentials and climate effects of end-of-life electric vehicle batteries. Environmental Science & Technology, 59(30), 15751–15765. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5c01823.

  • Hemmelder, A., Tietze, F., Lux, S., Jahnke, L., Leker, J., & von Delft, S. (2025). The geostrategic race for leadership in future electric vehicle battery technologies. Energy & Environmental Science, 18, 6117-6130. doi: 10.1039/D5EE00301F.
  • Schlehuber, S., Gutsch, M., Kronemeyer, N., Frieden, F., & von Delft, S. (2025). Assessment of environmental impacts and costs for hydrogen-powered cargo shipping in Europe. Communications Engineering, 4, 50. doi: 10.1038/s44172-025-00388-4.
  • Frieden, F., Leker, J., & von Delft, S. (2024). A multi-objective analysis of grid-connected local renewable energy systems for industrial SMEs. Journal of Energy Storage, 98, 113033. doi: 10.1016/j.est.2024.113033.
  • Wesselkämper, J., Dahrendorf, L., Mauler, L., Lux, S., & von Delft, S. (2024). Towards circular battery supply chains: Strategies to reduce material demand and the impact on mining and recycling. Resources Policy, 95, 105160. doi: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2024.105160.
  • Wesselkämper, J., & von Delft, S. (2024). Current status and future research on circular business models for electric vehicle battery recycling. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 206, 107596. doi: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2024.107596.
  • Heck, J., von Delft, S., & Leker, J. (2024). Greenhouse gas neutrality: A qualitative analysis of perceived sustainability tensions in the German chemical industry. Energy Research and Social Science, 112, 103525. doi: 10.1016/j.erss.2024.103525.
  • Bouttell, J., Fraser, H., Goodlad, J. R., Hopkins, D., McKay, P., Oien, K. A., Seligmann, B., von Delft, S., & Hawkins, N. (2024). Adding a gene expression profile test to aid differential diagnosis and treatment in aggressive large B-Cell lymphoma: an early exploratory economic evaluation. Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, 22, 243–254. doi: 10.1007/s40258-023-00845-1.
  • Wesselkämper, J., Dahrendorf, L., Mauler, L., Lux, S., & von Delft, S. (2024). A battery value chain independent of primary raw materials: Towards circularity in China, Europe and the US. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 201, 107218. doi: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2023.107218.
  • Asaba, M. C., Duffner, F., Frieden, F., Leker, J., & von Delft, S. (2022). Location choice for large‐scale battery manufacturing plants: Exploring the role of clean energy, costs, and knowledge on location decisions in Europe. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 26(4), 1514-1527. doi: 10.1111/jiec.13292.
  • Bouttell, J., Heggie, R., Oien, K., Romaniuk, A., VanSteenhouse, H., von Delft, S., & Hawkins, N. (2022). Economic evaluation of genomic/genetic tests: a review and future directions. International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, 38(1). doi: 10.1017/S0266462322000484.
  • von Delft, S., & Zhao, Y. (2021). Business models in process industries: Emerging trends and future research. Technovation, 105, 102195. doi: 10.1016/j.technovation.2020.102195. 
  • Zhao, Y., von Delft, S. , Morgan-Thomas, A., & Buck, T. (2020). The evolution of platform business models: exploring competitive battles in the world of platforms. Long Range Planning, 53(4), 101892. doi: 10.1016/j.lrp.2019.101892.
  • von Delft, S. , Kortmann, S., Gelhard, C., & Pisani, N. (2019). Leveraging global sources of knowledge for business model innovation. Long Range Planning, 52(5), 101848. doi: 10.1016/j.lrp.2018.08.003.
  • Gelhard, C., von Delft, S., & Gudergan, S. P. (2016). Heterogeneity in dynamic capability configurations: equifinality and strategic performance. Journal of Business Research, 69(11),  5272-5279. doi: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2016.04.124.
  • Gelhard, C., & von Delft, S. (2016). The role of organizational capabilities in achieving superior sustainability performance. Journal of Business Research, 69(10), 4632-4642. doi: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2016.03.053.
  • von Delft, S. (2013). Inter-industry innovations in terms of electric mobility: should firms take a look outside their industry? Journal of Business Chemistry, 10(2), 67-84.

• Books

  • von Delft, S., & Zhao, Y. (2023). Crafting digital business models: an ongoing process of innovation and imitation. In: Cennamo, C., Dagnino, G. B., & Zhu, F. (Eds.). Research Handbook on Digital Strategy, 60-82. Edward Elgar Publishing. doi: 10.4337/9781800378902.00009.
  • Witthaut, D., & von Delft, S. (2018). New business development - recognizing and establishing new business opportunities. In: Leker, J., Gelhard, C., & von Delft, S. (eds.) Business Chemistry: How to Build and Sustain Thriving Businesses in the Chemical Industry. Wiley-Blackwell, 195-230. doi: 10.1002/9781118858547.ch6.
  • von Delft, S. (2018). Designing and transforming business models. In: Leker, J., Gelhard, C. and von Delft, S. (eds.) Business Chemistry: How to Build and Sustain Thriving Businesses in the Chemical Industry. Wiley-Blackwell, 231-275. doi: 10.1002/9781118858547.ch7.
  • Leker, J., Gelhard, C., & von Delft, S. (Eds.) (2018). Business Chemistry: How to Build and Sustain Thriving Businesses in the Chemical Industry. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN: 9781118858493. doi: 10.1002/9781118858547.

• Research Reports and White Papers

  • Utikal, H., Leker, J., von Delft, S., Gelhard, C., Bäumler, M., Herrmann, I., Brandes, H., Woth, J., & Golembiewski, B. (2015) Von den Megatrends zum Geschäftserfolg: Was bedeuten Megatrends für das Management in der chemischen und pharmazeutischen Industrie in Deutschland? https://chemanager-online.com/media/story_section_download/1949/attachment.pdf

• Other publications

  • von Delft, S. (2025). Der Wirtschaftschemiker: Trends im Wirtschaftschemie-Studium. Nachrichten aus der Chemie, 73(5), 63. doi: 10.1002/nadc.20254150614.

  • von Delft, S. (2025). Der Wirtschaftschemiker: Die transatlantische Realität als Chance. Nachrichten aus der Chemie, 73(2), 41. doi: 10.1002/nadc.20254147852.

  • Wesselkämper, J., & von Delft, S. (2024). Wie Batterien im Kreis laufen. Nachrichten aus der Chemie, 72(12), 32-33. doi: 10.1002/nadc.20244145115.

  • Wesselkämper, J., & von Delft, S. (2024). Optimierter Übergang zur Kreislaufwirtschaft für Elektrofahrzeug-Batterien. MobilityAgenda, 8, 52-55. ISSN: 2942-268X.

  • von Delft, S. (2024). Der Wirtschaftschemiker: Den Blick auf die Wirkung richten. Nachrichten aus der Chemie, 72(9), 49. doi: 10.1002/nadc.20244144268.

  • von Delft, S. (2024). Der Wirtschaftschemiker: Fachbereiche brauchen eine Wettbewerbsstrategie. Nachrichten aus der Chemie, 72(4), 47. doi: 10.1002/nadc.20244138937.

  • von Delft, S., & Van Der Veen, G. (2019). Digitalisierung verändert Geschäftsmodelle in der Chemie. CHEManager, 27(11).

  • von Delft, S., & Van Der Veen, G. M. (2019). Plattformen als Geschäftsmodelle. Nachrichten aus der Chemie, 67(3), 32-33. doi: 10.1002/nadc.20194085920.

  • von Delft, S. (2015). Wachstumschance Geschäftsmodellinnovation. CHEManager, 19, 4.
  • von Delft, S., & Kortmann, S. (2013). Neue Geschäftsmodelle – Neue Möglichkeiten. Nachrichten aus der Chemie, 61(5), 545-547. doi: 10.1002/nadc.201390169.
  • von Delft, S., & Leker, J. (2012). Technische Revolution und wirtschaftliche Reaktion. Nachrichten aus der Chemie, 60(2), 143-146. doi: 10.1002/nadc.201290084.

Memberships

Internal:

• Chair of the Admissions Committee MSc Business Chemistry
• Chair of the Examination Committee MSc Business Chemistry
• Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Universität Münster Professional School gGmbH
• Member of the International Graduate School BACCARA
• Chair of the jury for the ideation contest of the REACH Euregio Start-up Center at the University of Münster
• Member of the Universitätsgesellschaft Münster e.V. (University Society Münster)

External:

• Member of the Executive Board of the Association of Chemistry and Business (VCW) in the German Chemical Society (GDCh)
• Member of the Board of the Meyer-Galow-Foundation for Business Chemistry in the German Chemical Society (GDCh)
• Visiting Professor (University of Glasgow, Adam Smith Business School)
• External PhD examiner (e.g., Macquarie University (Australia), University of Newcastle (Australia))
• Grant assessor Horizon Europe (European Commission)
• Member of the Editorial Review Board of the Academy of Management Discoveries (AMD)
• Member of the Academy of Management (AOM)
• Member of the German Chemical Society (GDCh)