Robert-Jan Smits jẹ Alakoso ti Ile-ẹkọ giga ti Imọ-ẹrọ Eindhoven (lati May 2019). Ṣaaju si eyi, o jẹ Oludari Gbogbogbo ti Iwadi ati Innovation ni European Commission (2010-2018). Ni agbara yii o jẹ ayaworan ti Horizon 2020, 80 bilionu EU Iwadi ati Innovation eto. Smits tun ti jẹ ohun elo lati ṣe agbekalẹ eto arọpo Horizon Europe (isuna: 95 bilionu). Ni ọdun to kọja rẹ ni Ilu Brussels, Robert-Jan Smits jẹ Aṣoju Wiwọle Ṣii silẹ ti Igbimọ Yuroopu ati idagbasoke awọn igbero eto imulo nija ti o pinnu lati rii daju pe gbogbo awọn atẹjade ti ẹkọ ti o waye lati inu iwadi ti agbateru ni gbangba wa ni ibigbogbo ati wiwọle nipasẹ Ṣii Wiwọle.
Smits ti gba ọpọlọpọ awọn idanimọ ati awọn ẹbun fun ilowosi rẹ si imọ-jinlẹ Yuroopu ati ĭdàsĭlẹ. O gba Medal Academy of the Royal Dutch Academy, Excellence in Global Science Award ni South Africa, Medal of Honor of KU Leuven. O ni alefa ọlá lati Ile-ẹkọ giga Edinburgh ati pe o jẹ ọmọ ẹgbẹ ọlá ti Academia Europaea.