Skills

Areas of focus 

The headlines in the media include topics such as water pollution, plastics in the oceans and child labour. Tackling these global problems requires our economy to become more sustainable. 

With the following three thematic areas, we want to make an active contribution to a successful transformation towards a more sustainable economy and support policymaking and social innovation. 

Corporate Sustainability

We deal with the economic, social and ecological responsibility of companies, including sustainability reporting and strategic and sustainable stakeholder management. This also includes corporate and business  ethics (including the development of guiding corporate principles). 

Main topics 

• Implementation: How can the implementation and alignment of corporate sustainability be supported? 

• Reporting: How can the sustainability of companies be mapped and measured? 

• Impact: How can private sector organisations contribute to sustainable development? 

Circular Economy

We are primarily concerned with the implementation of circular business models at company level and the corresponding hurdles and drivers. 

Main topics 

• Circular business models: How do circular business models differ from linear business models? What are the challenges? 

• Role of digitalisation: How can the potential of digital transformation be used to better implement circular business models in practice or to better align products and production processes with circular business models? 

• Role of the spatial context: To what extent do location factors, innovation networks, policies or even public procurement policies influence the development of the circular economy? 

• Measurement: How can circular business activities be measured and stimulated? 

Social Innovation/Entrepreneurship 

We analyse and support the dissemination of sustainable innovations in society. Our focus is on civil actors, social entrepreneurs, NGOs and NPOs, as well as their embedding in the economic and political system. 

Main topics 

• Measurement: How can the impact of social innovations be measured? 

• Switzerland: What social initiatives already exist in the Bern region and throughout Switzerland? What support do they need to create social added value? 

• Entrepreneurship: How does social entrepreneurship differ from traditional entrepreneurship? 

• Scaling social practices: Under what conditions do sustainable innovations scale in society, especially if they require behavioural change in society? 

• Sustainable supply chains: How can social problems such as child labour and labour exploitation in global supply chains be effectively addressed? 

• Humanitarian aid: How can social innovations help to save lives and alleviate the suffering of people in developing countries?