# Bas van Abel

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{{Short description|Dutch engineer (born 1977)}}
{{Infobox person
| name        = Bas van Abel
| image         = 005_BasvanAbel_18000dpi_(1).jpg
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1977|8|18}}
| birth_place = Nijmegen, Netherlands
| occupation  = Social entrepreneur, designer, electrical engineer
| known_for   = Founding Fairphone
| notable_works = ''Open Design Now: Why Design Cannot Remain Exclusive''
}}

'''Bas van Abel''' (born August 18, 1977, in Nijmegen, Netherlands) is a Dutch designer, electrical engineer, and social entrepreneur. He is best known as the founder of [Fairphone](/source/Fairphone), a social enterprise dedicated to creating sustainable and ethically produced smartphones.

== Early life and education ==
Abel studied [Interaction Design](/source/Interaction_design) at the [Utrecht School of the Arts](/source/Utrecht_School_of_the_Arts) and pursued a parallel degree in Electrical Engineering and Programming at [Delft University of Technology](/source/Delft_University_of_Technology). His multidisciplinary education provided him with the skills to merge technology, design, and social impact.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ashoka Fellow: Bas van Abel|url=https://www.ashoka.org/fr-fr/fellow/bas-van-abel|publisher=Ashoka|accessdate=2025-04-01}}</ref>

== Career ==
Abel began his career at the Waag Society in Amsterdam, a nonprofit organization focused on the intersection of art, technology, and electronic media. His work there emphasized sustainability and fair trade in [consumer electronics](/source/consumer_electronics), which eventually inspired the creation of [Fairphone](/source/Fairphone).<ref>{{cite web|title=Meet the Leader Podcast: Bas van Abel|url=https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/fairphone-bas-van-abel/|publisher=World Economic Forum|accessdate=2025-04-01}}</ref>

In 2013, Abel founded Fairphone, a company that produces modular smartphones designed for longevity, repairability, and ethical sourcing of materials. Fairphone addresses issues such as conflict minerals, labor conditions, and electronic waste. Under his leadership, the company gained recognition for its innovative approach to sustainable technology and became a certified [B Corporation](/source/B_Corporation).<ref>{{cite news|title=Fairphone Aims to Produce Conflict-Free Phones|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/02/technology/Fairphone-aims-to-produce-conflict-free-phone.html|work=The New York Times|date=2 June 2014 |accessdate=2025-04-01 |last1=Schuetze |first1=Christopher F. }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Fairphone mise sur ses smartphones durables pour se démarquer|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2019/08/27/fairphone-mise-sur-ses-smartphones-durables-pour-se-demarquer_5503386_3234.html|work=Le Monde|accessdate=2025-04-01}}</ref>

Abel stepped down as CEO of Fairphone in 2018 to focus on the company's strategic direction as a member of its [supervisory board](/source/supervisory_board). His successor, [Eva Gouwens](/source/Eva_Gouwens), continued to build on his vision for ethical electronics.<ref>{{cite news|title=Iværksætter fortsætter rejsen mod fair telefon|url=https://borsen.dk/nyheder/baeredygtig/ivaerksaetter-fortsaetter-rejsen-mod-fair-telefon|work=Børsen|accessdate=2025-04-01}}</ref>

== Achievements and impact ==
Abel's work with Fairphone has had a profound impact<ref>{{Cite web |title=Impact Report - A challenge to the electronics industry |url=https://www.fairphone.com/en/impact-report/ |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=Fairphone |language=en-US}}</ref> on the electronics industry, challenging traditional practices and promoting transparency, sustainability, and ethical consumption. The company's modular design philosophy has influenced the broader conversation around the [right to repair](/source/right_to_repair) and the environmental impact of consumer electronics.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fairphone: Designer entwickeln ein Fair-Trade-Handy|url=https://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/web/fairphonehone-designer-entwickeln-ein-fair-trade-handy-a-876753.html|work=Der Spiegel|accessdate=2025-04-01}}</ref>

Abel has received numerous awards for his contributions, including:
* The ''Momentum for Change Award'' from the [United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change](/source/United_Nations_Framework_Convention_on_Climate_Change) (UNFCCC) in 2015.
* The ''[German Environmental Prize](/source/German_Environmental_Prize)'' in 2016.
*[Schwab Foundation's](/source/Schwab_Foundation_for_Social_Entrepreneurship) Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2018 for his contributions to ethical and sustainable technology.
* The ''Global Economy Prize'' in 2018 from the Kiel Institute for the [World Economy](/source/World_economy).<ref>{{cite web|title=Global Economy Prize 2018: Bas van Abel|url=https://www.ifw-kiel.de/institute/events/prizes-and-awards/global-economy-prize/global-economy-prize-2018/bas-van-abel/|publisher=Kiel Institute for the World Economy|accessdate=2025-04-01}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|title=Fairphone creator success is a signal to industry|url=https://www.dw.com/en/fairphone-creator-success-is-a-signal-to-industry/a-36174183|publisher=Deutsche Welle|accessdate=2025-04-01}}</ref>

== Publications ==
Abel has contributed to the discourse on open design and sustainability through his publications. Notable works include:
* ''Open Design Now: Why Design Cannot Remain Exclusive'' (2011), co-authored with Lucas Evers, Roel Klaassen, and edited by Peter Troxler. This book explores the democratization of design and its potential for social impact.<ref>{{cite web|title=Open Design Now: Why Design Cannot Remain Exclusive|url=https://www.fabguru.com/publications|publisher=Fabguru|accessdate=2025-04-01}}</ref>
* Contributions to academic and industry discussions on sustainable technology, including case studies such as ''Fairphone: Organising for Sustained Social Impact''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fairphone: Organising for Sustained Social Impact|series=RSM Case Development Centre |date=4 May 2016 |url=https://pure.eur.nl/en/publications/fairphone-organising-for-sustained-social-impact|publisher=Erasmus University Rotterdam|accessdate=2025-04-01 |last1=Akemu |first1=Ona |last2=Whiteman |first2=Gail }}</ref>

== References ==
<references />

Category:Living people
Category:1977 births
Category:Dutch businesspeople
Category:Dutch engineers
Category:People from Nijmegen

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bas van Abel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bas_van_Abel) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bas_van_Abel?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.