Dr. Juan Ramon Candia
Research Associate

Profile

Biography

Juan Ramón Candia (JR) completed his PhD in Management at the School for Business and Society, U. of York. His research focussed on digital climate start-ups, their business models, and the way they can better contribute to nature positive businesses.  He previously did a MSc. in Resource Management at Lincoln University, New Zealand, a Postgraduate Diploma in Env. Sciences from University of Canterbury, New Zealand, and a Science Degree in Marine Biology from the University of Concepcion, Chile.  Additionally, he participated of high-level training courses and internships on sustainability-related issues in countries like Japan, Sweden, Spain, Germany, Finland, and USA.  In July 2024 he was endorsed as an Exceptional Talent by The British Academy and granted a Global Talent visa by the UK Government.

Between 2022-24 he was a researcher in the TransFIRe project, an UKRI funded (ISCF TFI challenge) research driven hub with 12 research organisations based in the UK and more than 70 project partners from across the foundation industries (FI), investigating the challenges UK companies face to move to Net Zero, and working with them to learn about the new ESG disclosure frameworks (e.g. CRSD, ISSB, TCFD, TNFD, SBTi).   JR also participated in projects funded by North Yorkshire County Council investigating Net Zero challenges in local industries. He is currently Research Associate for the project Multiscale Digital Twin-Driven smart manufacturing system, investigating the sustainability dimension.

JR has 20+ years of experience in industry and applied research centres as innovation and sustainability manager, leading high-performance teams, and working as applied researcher, consultant, entrepreneur, mentor of start-ups, board member of start-up companies, government official.  His career has focused on environmental management in industry and sustainable development. He has also been strategic advisor on conservation, water issues, climate change adaptation, and strategic planning for large multinational companies, NGOs, governmental agencies, innovation centres, among others.

JR has worked in over 400 projects for a dozen of industry sectors addressing R&D challenges related to sustainability.  His international experience includes countries like Chile, Peru, Argentina, Colombia, Paraguay, New Zealand, Austria, Samoa, The Netherlands, Finland, UK, among others.  JR has also been UN expert on remediation of contaminated land.

In the past JR has successfully established collaboration alliances with numerous international R&D centres, universities, and companies worldwide, including: The University of Queensland (Australia), VTT (Finland), The Joint Research Centre (Italy), UNIDO (Austria), Battelle Memorial Institute (USA), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA – Austria), Ben-Gurion University (Israel), and Jiao-Tong University (China), among others.

Research

Overview

His main research area is on digital climate start-ups, their value proposition, and the natural environment as a key stakeholder.  Hi also work on water issues, sustainability indicators, sustainability performance, Net Zero, sustainable business, business and biodiversity.

Teaching

Other teaching

At the University of York, he has been Teaching Assistant on topics of:

• Foundations of Business Ethics
• Management Information Systems
• Sustainable Business: Leadership, Innovation and Management (a joint MSc between University of York and Maastricht University from The Netherlands)

In October 2023 he was awarded the status of Associate Fellow (AFHEA). 

Publications

Selected publications

Conference Papers

• Candia, J.R. and Ball, P. (2024).  How can foundation industries improve their contribution to Sustainable Development: A System View. Sustainable Design and Manufacturing (SDM 2024) Conference (Portugal).
• Luo, Y., Candia, J.R., Ball, P. (2024). Integrating multiscale manufacturing data for digital twin-enhanced sustainable performance: a case demonstration. Sustainable Design and Manufacturing (SDM 2024) Conference (Portugal).
• Candia, J.R., Huaccho-Huatuco, L., Ball, P. (2024).  Improving the Climate Outcomes of Digital Climate Start-ups.   New Business Models Conference Proceedings 2024. Spain.
• Candia, J.R. & Ball, P. (2023).  Examining “the Jungle” of Metrics Available to Improve Sustainability Performance of Energy Intensive Industries (Chapter Title). Book: Sustainable Design and Manufacturing 2023.   DOI: 10.1007/978-981-99-8159-5
• Candia, J.R., Huaccho-Huatuco, L., Ball, P. (2023). Challenges faced by data-driven climate change start-ups.  Maastricht University Press. New Business Models Conference Proceedings 2023.  Maastricht University Press. Published on:  Jun 20, 2023.  License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY 4.0)
• Huaccho Huatuco, L.D., Zevallos Porles, G., Candia, J.R., & Mathew, R.C. (2023). The journey towards Net Zero targets by businesses in the UK: A regional perspective.  10th EurOMA Sustainable Operations and Supply Chains: “Decarbonizing Global Operations and Supply Chains”.
• Candia Jorquera, J. R., Huaccho Huatuco, L. D., & Ball, P. D. (2022). Business Models Embedding Ecosystem Services to tackle Climate Change: The case of Digital Climate Solutions. In Proceedings of the Sustainable Business Model Challenges: Economic Recovery and Digital Transformation conference: New Business Models Conference.
• Candia Jorquera, J. R., Huaccho Huatuco, L. D., & Ball, P. D. (2022). Digital Climate Solutions: How emerging enterprises are responding to Climate Change and delivering value to customers and the planet. In Proceedings of the 30th European Operations Management Association conference.

Book Chapter

• Candia, J.R., Huaccho-Huatuco, L., Ball, P. (2024). The Competitive Business for Saving the Planet: The Case of Digital Climate Start-ups and their Value Proposition.  Article in a book: Regenerative Futures and Artificial Intelligence, Volume 3: PROFIT.  Springer, to be published Q3 2024.

Commissioned Reports

• Roehrer, C, Freese, G. & Candia, J.R. (2023). How to measure and maximise the climate impact of EU-funded start-ups. A report of the Rapid Accelerator of Climate Entrepreneurship (RACE) pilot project – with case studies. EIT Climate-KIC, The Netherlands.
• Huaccho Huatuco, L.D., Zevallos Porles, G., Candia, J.R., & Mathew, R.C. (2022). Strategies towards achieving low carbon and high-value added from the economic sectors in North Yorkshire. Commissioned Report. 
• Candia, JR. (2020). Water and Sanitation Agenda 2030. Road map to address water and sanitation challenges in Chile. SISS. PUBLIC REPORT.