Research output per year
Research output per year
Personal profile
Research interests
I have a background in law and my fields of expertise and interest include law and technology, the regulation of network industries and legal aspects of data and AI governance under EU Law.
In my current role as Collaborative Grants Officer at Tilburg University, I support researchers in identifying strategic funding opportunities offered by Dutch and EU funding agencies. I also guide the development of competitive proposals for large-scale, impact-driven research initiatives, which require close collaboration with national and international government bodies, industry partners, NGOs, and academic institutions.
From July 2022 to June 2025, I was affiliated to the Tilburg Institute for Law, Technology and Society (TILT) as a postdoctoral researcher of the NWO sponsored 'MEGAMIND' project (Measuring, Gathering, Mining and Integrating Data for Self-management in the Edge of the Electricity System). For this project, I investigated the legal and ethical aspects required to develop a governance framework for the responsible development and use of data and AI technologies in the (Dutch) electricity sector.
For my PhD research (2018-2022), I investigated the regulatory challenges brought by data-driven innovation and the complexities of regulating data sharing in the context of the digitalized utilities (drinking water and electricity) under EU and Dutch law. My PhD research was part of ‘LONGA VIA’, a research project sponsored by NWO and five operators of critical infrastructures in the Netherlands: Alliander, Vitens, Port of Rotterdam, ProRail and Rijkswaterstaat.
Teaching
My teaching activities included:
- Teaching on EU legislation and policy on data governance (Data Governance Act, Data Act, Open Data & PSI Directive, common European data spaces) for the course Innovation & Regulation of the joint Data Science Bachelor program.
- Teaching on legal frameworks for access to data in the energy sector for Executive Programs (Energy Law and Law & Technology) and for the course 'Regulation and governance of a just energy transition' of the Topklas program (Bachelor in Law).
- Supervision of final essays of the Global Law Bachelor program.
- Supervision of master's thesis for the LLM Law & Technology.
Education/Academic qualification
Law, PhD, Dealing with data: A study on the regulatory challenges of data-driven innovation and data sharing in the digitalized utilities and how to deal with them, Tilburg University
1 Mar 2018 → 21 Dec 2022
Award Date: 21 Dec 2022
Law, Master’s Degree, LLM International Business Law, Tilburg Law School
Award Date: 14 Jun 2017
Law, Bachelor’s Degree, Universidad Externado de Colombia
Award Date: 3 Dec 2013
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
-
SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation -
SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics where Brenda Espinosa Apráez is active. These topic labels come from the works of this person. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
-
Knowledge clip: Smart, meters privacy and personal data protection in times of the Twin Transitions
Espinosa Apráez, B. & Baumgart, M., 2025Research output: Online publication or Non-textual form › Digital or Visual Products
Open Access -
TILTing 2024 Special Issue
Bassini, M. (Editor), Baumgart, M. (Editor), Bostoen, F. (Editor), Degalahal, S. (Editor), Espinosa Apráez, B. (Editor), de Groot, A. (Editor) & Mendis, S. (Editor), 27 Jun 2025, In: Technology and Regulation. 2025, Special issue, p. 172-174 3 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › Scientific › peer-review
Open AccessFile10 Downloads (Pure) -
On the implementation of smart meters in the European Union: Legal considerations regarding privacy and personal data protection in times of the Twin Transitions
Baumgart, M. & Espinosa Apráez, B., 6 Sept 2024, Research Handbook on EU Energy Law and Policy. Leal-Arcas, R. (ed.). 2nd ed. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 500-526 27 p. (Research Handbooks in Energy Law series).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Scientific
Open AccessFile251 Downloads (Pure) -
Regulating AI in the ‘twin transitions’: Significance and shortcomings of the AI Act in the digitalised electricity sector
Apráez, B. E. & Noorman, M., 26 Oct 2024, In: Review of European, Comparative & International Environmental Law. 2024, 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Open Access -
AI and energy justice
Noorman, M., Espinosa Apráez, B. & Lavrijssen, S., 22 Feb 2023, In: Energies. 16, 5, p. 1-16 16 p., 2110.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Open Access7 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)
Activities
-
NWO NERA Energy Symposium 2025
Espinosa Apráez, B. (Contributor)
7 Feb 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in workshop, seminar, course etc. › Scientific
-
Executive Program Law & Technology
Espinosa Apráez, B. (Contributor)
6 Feb 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in workshop, seminar, course etc. › Professional
-
Research project presentation - MEGAMIND
Espinosa Apráez, B. (Speaker)
17 Jan 2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation › Scientific
-
Panel Discussion - Navigating Legal Complexities in the Digital and Green Transitions in the EU
Espinosa Apráez, B. (Speaker)
3 Dec 2024Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk › Professional
-
Digital Legal Talks 2024
Espinosa Apráez, B. (Contributor)
28 Nov 2024 → 29 Nov 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Organising a conference › Scientific
Projects
- 3 Finished
-
Megamind: Measuring, Gathering, Mining and Integrating Data for Self management in the Edge of the Electricity System
Lavrijssen, S. (Principal Investigator), Noorman, M. (Principal Investigator), Reins, L. (Principal Investigator), Espinosa Apráez, B. (Principal Investigator) & van Schendel, S. (Principal Investigator)
1/09/21 → 1/09/25
Project: Research project
-
Legal aspects of data driven innovations in the netwerksectors
Lavrijssen, S. (Principal Investigator) & Espinosa Apráez, B. (Principal Investigator)
1/03/18 → 1/06/22
Project: Research project
-
Longavia: Legal and organisational aspects that influence data-driven innovations in infrastructure management
Lavrijssen, S. (Principal Investigator), van der Valk, W. (Principal Investigator), Groenleer, M. (Co-Investigator), Akkermans, H. (Co-Investigator), Espinosa Apráez, B. (AIO) & Aben, T. (AIO)
1/01/18 → 1/03/22
Project: Research project
Press/Media
-
Podcast Episode - Research Conversations with Brenda Espinosa Apráez: Use of AI in the energy sector
30/09/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Other
Prizes
-
Nomination 2021 Tilburg University Impact Award for NWO/NGinfra LONGA VIA project
Lavrijssen, S. (Recipient), Espinosa Apráez, B. (Recipient), Groenleer, M. (Recipient), van der Valk, W. (Recipient), Aben, T. (Recipient) & Akkermans, H. (Recipient), 2021
Prize: Other marks of recognition