Professor Andrea Genovese is Professor of Circular Economy at Salford Business School. His work sits at the intersection of supply chains, sustainability and wider economic systems, with a strong focus on real-world impact. With a background in quantitative methods and operations research, Andrea’s academic journey has been shaped by a long-standing interest in how production systems function, and how they might be reimagined for a more sustainable future.
How did you get into academia as a career path?
My route into academia was not entirely linear. I originally trained in quantitative methods and operational research, and I became interested very early on in how technical models interact with real economic and social systems.
During my doctoral and postdoctoral years, I realised that universities offer a unique space in which it is possible to combine rigorous analytical work with critical reflection on how supply chains – and ultimately whole economies – actually function. Academia appealed to me because it allows both intellectual freedom and engagement with real-world problems, especially around sustainability, production systems and public policy.
Why did you choose to work at the University of Salford?
What attracted me to Salford was the strong emphasis on applied research, civic engagement and impact beyond academia. The University has a clear commitment to sustainability, innovation and collaboration with industry and public institutions. Also, I really appreciate the civic commitment of the University, its explicit incorporation of social justice into its mission and values, and its great contribution to social mobility. This is something that was apparent to me since I first arrived on campus.
Salford Business School, in particular, offers an excellent environment to develop interdisciplinary work on circular economy, supply chains and digital transformation, while staying closely connected to regional and societal challenges. I’m thinking of the work undertaken by the Centre for Sustainable Innovation (CSI), along with the excellent links with start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the local ecosystem and the Small Business Charter accreditation. The School has recently decided to expand its presence in the circular economy research space, with excellent colleagues being hired alongside me. Since this has been my main focus in recent years, Salford really felt like the place to be.
On a more personal note, since I was a child the Manchester area has felt like a special place to me: football, music (I could name dozens of inspirational bands I listen to from here – pretty much the entire Factory Records catalogue – Joy Division/New Order on top) and the history of the labour movement. I genuinely feel at home here.
What’s the best thing about being an academic at Salford?
The best thing is the balance between ambition and pragmatism. There is a genuine openness to new ideas, strong support for building research capacity and a clear sense that research should make a difference.
I have found colleagues to be collaborative, intellectually curious and very supportive, especially when developing new research initiatives and teaching programmes. I have genuinely loved my first weeks here, and everyone has been providing me with the warmest possible welcome, from the school senior leadership team to colleagues in the Supply Chain, Procurement and Project Management subject group.
The campus certainly helps. Being next to Peel Park, walking along the river and working at a University that features a statue of Friedrich Engels on campus makes Salford a pretty special place. Not to mention the wonderful canteen in the Maxwell Building – I am already addicted to the fantastic jacket potatoes!
Can you tell us about any of your career highlights to date?
Some highlights include publishing in leading international journals on the circular economy and supply chain management, leading large multi-million-pound EU-funded research projects, and seeing my work inform policy debates at European level. I am particularly proud of collaborative papers that challenge mainstream sustainability narratives and open up space for alternative economic models.
That said, one of the things I value most is teaching and supervising MSc and PhD students who go on to develop their own critical research agendas. Seeing so many of them become accomplished academics has been by far the most rewarding aspect of my career.
What’s your current research focused on?
My current research examines the transition towards a circular economy, with a focus on supply chains, rebound effects and governance.
I am particularly interested in how circular economy policies are being reshaped by concerns around industrial resilience, strategic autonomy and geopolitics, and what this means for the prospects of a genuine ecological transition. More broadly, my work explores post-growth supply chains, plural theories of value and democratic approaches to economic planning.
Do you have any published papers we can read?
Yes, I have published more than eighty papers in leading journals such as the International Journal of Operations and Production Management, the International Journal of Production Economics, and Ecological Economics. A good starting point for my perspective on the circular economy would be this paper on theories of value in the circular economy.
And finally, the all-important question: where in Manchester or Salford is best to grab a coffee?
A million-dollar question. I usually drink coffee at home, brewing it with my moka from Italy, so I may not be the best person to answer this.
However, I can give plenty of tips about pizza. Manchester has a great pizza scene – Forbici, Antica Pizzeria da Michele (yes, the famous one from my hometown of Naples) and Rudy’s are all excellent. My personal top choice, though, is PizzAmmore in Sale!