Master's thesis; Leveraging generative AI to align sustainability recommendations with EU policy for greener electronics.

We are looking for a Master of Science student for a thesis project at the Sensor Systems unit at RISE in Göteborg. The work is carried out jointly with the Printed, Bio- & Organic electronics unit at RISE in Norrköping.

Background and description
The electronics sector faces increasing pressure to reduce its environmental impact. Printed electronics (i.e. using functional inks and flexible substrates) offer promising pathways for greener solutions. The European Union is advancing ambitious regulations such as the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), Digital Product Passport (DPP), and strengthening related directives (RoHS, WEEE, REACH) that are addressing sustainability issues in the electronics sector. Aligning industry best practices with these frameworks is essential for credible and actionable policy recommendations for greener electronics.

This thesis supports the development of a whitepaper for EU policymakers by creating a generative AI–assisted method to map recommended actions against current and upcoming EU regulations and standards. The work involves building a retrieval-grounded AI pipeline to extract legal requirements, classify alignment (aligned, conditional, conflicting, gap), and produce evidence-backed summaries. The student will validate the approach through expert reviews and usability tests, ensuring both academic rigor and practical impact.

Research questions may include:

• How accurately can AI extract and structure normative requirements from legal texts?
• How effective is AI in supporting policy alignment compared to manual methods?
• What are the implications for trust, transparency, and reproducibility in AI-assisted policy work?

Terms

• The thesis project is expected to be carried out during Spring 2026. The duration of the thesis work is about 20 weeks.
• Credits: 30 ECTS in agreement with your thesis advisor at your university.
• Compensation: 10,000 SEK will be allocated for travel, materials, and the like after the project is completed and approved.
• Location: RISE, Göteborg. Option to partially work remotely.

Qualifications

• Master’s student in Innovation & Technology Management, Environmental Policy, Industrial Ecology, Data Science/AI for Sustainability, or related fields.
• Familiarity with generative AI tools is essential; Familiarity with policy frameworks, circular economy principles, or sustainable electronics is an advantage.
• Strong analytical and research skills; Ability to synthesize complex information and engage with stakeholders.

Welcome with your application!
Candidates are encouraged to send their application as soon as possible but at the latest by 2026-01-09. Applications should include (1)a brief statement explaining why you are interested in the thesis project (maximum 500 words) (2) a CV, and (3) a recent grade transcript. Please apply directly through this portal. RISE cannot accept applications sent via email.

If you need more information, please contact Vincent Schaller (vincent.schaller@ri.se).