Prof. Dr. María Franco is a Tenure-Track Professor in Circular Economy at the Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH) (Department of Engineering and Information Technology) where she conducts research on sustainability transitions in industrial systems. She holds a doctorate from the University of Zurich, with complementary training at ETH Zurich and the University of Cambridge, and a joint master’s degree in System Dynamics and Business Administration by the University of Bergen, Radboud University Nijmegen, and the University of Palermo.
Her work sits at the intersection of circular economy and complex systems, combining life cycle assessment (LCA), greenhouse gas accounting (Scopes 1–3), and system dynamics simulation to evaluate circularity across products, value chains, and industrial ecosystems. Her research spans both technical and biological cycles, from assessing second-life potential in solar PV to circular pathways for low-carbon medical device manufacturing. She brings industry-relevant tools and quantitative insight to one of manufacturing’s most pressing transitions.