Business & Innovation
Cars running on hydrogen, a new biotech drug and the magnetic train. All three are scientific marvels, but how do you ensure actual social adoption? In Business and Innovation, you will learn how to turn a promising scientific or technological invention into a successful application, a successful innovation. You will study the causes and consequences of innovation and the associated change processes.
- No entry requirements
Please note! Certain courses do have entry requirements or recommended prior knowledge. If you study Global Sustainability Science, you are not eligible for this minor. Due to overlap, this minor is not recommended for Natuurwetenschap & Innovatiemanagement students.
- You can start the minor in periods 1 and 3. The minimum length is three periods, however, longer than three periods is allowed.
- This minor is 30 EC (four courses of 7.5 EC each).
Compulsory
- GEO1-2435 Principles of Economics
- GEO3-2122 Business, Sustainability & Innovation
Choose 1 out of 2:
- GEO1-2103 Inleiding Duurzame Ontwikkeling
- GEO3-5004 Duurzaamheid als Wereldbeeld
Choose 1 out of 6:
- GEO1-2201 Introductie Technologie & Innovatie
- GEO2-2218 Organisation Theories
- GEO3-2221 Innovation Strategies of Firms & Entrepreneurs
- GEO3-2421 Material Flow Analysis for Resilient Societies
- GEO3-2124 Life Cycle Assessment
- GEO3-2276 Digital Innovation
Please note: Non-Dutch speaking students can contact Education Coordination SD to participate in an English alternative to the courses Inleiding Duurzame Ontwikkeling and Duurzaamheid als Wereldbeeld, namely GEO1-2410 Sustainability Challenges.
GEO1 = introductory level 1 | GEO2 = in-depth level 2 | GEO3 = advanced level 3
Put together your course package in an easy way via Utrecht University's CoursePlanner
Course schedule
Your course schedule can be found in MyTimetable (PC) or the MyUU app (smartphone/tablet) four weeks before the courses begin. You have to first add the courses yourself in one of these systems. Make sure you are logged in when you are selecting your schedule. This way, your personalised schedule is saved and visible in both systems. Assignment of groups will be announced at the start of the course by the lecturer or on Brightspace. As soon as you know which group you are in, you can add this to your personalised schedule to complete it. It can -and will- happen that your schedule changes right before courses starts. So make sure to check your schedule regularly read more details on course changes on Brightspace!
See the explanation building abbreviations for more information on the locations.
Please note! All other course information (syllabus, e-learning environment etc.) is published on average two weeks prior to the start of the courses. Self-study courses that involve individual guidance by a lecturer have no fixed schedule. You can work out the practical details in consultation with your lecturer.
Time slots
The time slot model helps you prevent choosing courses of which lectures, seminars or exams overlap. When you register for courses, please make sure to choose courses in one period from different time slots. This way, you can create a feasible schedule. The week is divided into the following time slots:
Academic calendar 2025-2026
The academic calendar contains teaching and exam periods, weeks with no classes and holidays. Click on the image to enlarge the calendar.
Enrollment
Als je studeert aan de Universiteit Utrecht dan schrijf je je in via OSIRIS. Je moet je zowel voor de minor als voor elke cursus afzonderlijk inschrijven.
Deze minor is ook beschikbaar voor studenten die studeren aan een hogeschool of aan een andere universiteit. De inschrijfprocedure en praktische zaken staan beschreven op deze website.
Enrolment periods
If you enrol during these periods you are almost always guaranteed to be accepted in the course of your first choice.
- Period 1 (Start of education: Monday 1 September 2025)
Enrolment period: Monday 2 June 2025 09:00 am to Friday 20 June 2025 23:59 pm - Period 2 (Start of education: Monday 10 November 2025)
Enrolment period: Monday 15 September 2025 09:00 am to Friday 26 September 2025 23.59 pm - Period 3 (Start of education: Monday 2 February 2026)
Enrolment period: Monday 3 November 2025 09:00 am to Friday 21 November 2025 23:59 pm - Period 4 (Start of education: Monday 20 April 2026)
Enrolment period: Monday 26 January 2026 09:00 am to Friday 6 February 2026 23:59 pm
Late-registration days
If you change your mind later on and want to take another course, or if you forgot to enroll, you have a second chance on the late enrolment days. The choice at that time will however usually be more limited
- Period 1 (Start of education: Monday 1 September 2025)
Course enrolment: Monday 18 August 2025 09:00 am till Tuesday 19 August 2025 2023 23.59 PM - Period 2 (Start of education: Monday 10 November 2025)
Course enrolment: Monday 20 October 2025 09:00 am till Tuesday 21 October 2025 23.59 PM - Period 3 (Start of education: Monday 3 February 2026)
Course enrolment: Monday 19 January 2026 09:00 am till Tuesday 20 January 2026 23.59 PM - Period 4 (Start of education: Monday 20 April 2026)
Course enrolment: Monday 30 March 2026 09:00 am till Tuesday 31 March 2026 23.59 PM
More Information
For more information, contact student advisors Pieter Louwman or Sacha Handgraaf at studyadvisor.sd.bsc@uu.nl. Do you have practical questions, for example about enrollment? Then email studadm.geo@uu.nl.