Merlijn Smits

Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, Saxion, Radboud University Medical Center

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About

Merlijn Smits is a forward-thinking researcher working at the intersection of responsible technology, disability studies, and sustainable design. Her work centers on ensuring that emerging digital and robotic systems are developed ethically and inclusively, with a particular focus on vulnerable populations. In her highly relevant qualitative study, “Action Opportunities to Pursue Responsible Digital Care for People With Intellectual Disabilities” (2024, 4 citations), Smits provides a crucial framework for embedding ethical decision-making into digital care technologies, ensuring they align with the values and well-being of those they impact. She extends this responsible innovation lens to robotics in “Firefighting Robots Should Be Made Responsibly” (2025, 2 citations), advocating for accountability in high-stakes automation. Demonstrating her versatility, Smits also explores sustainable materials in “Textile Waste and Haptic Feedback for Wearable Robotics” (2018, 2 citations), linking recycling concepts with haptic interfaces. Though early in her citation trajectory, Smits’s work is already shaping critical conversations around responsible design, making her a vital voice for students and researchers committed to building a more equitable and sustainable technological future.