Highlighted Projects Gallery
Collaboration for a Sustainable Future
At IMD, Prof. Karl Schmedders explores the pressing global sustainability challenges and the necessity for collective action. He emphasises that collaboration, cutting across industries and borders, is essential for effective solutions. How can businesses, governments, and communities work together to achieve a sustainable future?
Culture for the Planet
At the University of Lausanne, the researcher Julie Grieshaber conducts, together with Prof. Martin Müller and Elia Cairoli, a project called “Culture for the Planet”. This project seeks to develop frameworks and tools to accompany the cultural sector towards more ambitious and more systematic actions for sustainability.
Circular Economy – Benefits and Tradeoff
Boris Thurm, scientific collaborator at EPFL and at the Enterprise for Society Center (E4S), works to assess the environmental and socio-economic impacts of a transition towards a more circular economy. A systemic model is used to simulate the impacts of behavioural and technological changes on various indicators, as GHG emissions, material extraction or jobs.
Legal Foundations for Ecological Networks
Prof. Thierry Largey and research associate Valérie Dupont unveil that current efforts lack a unified protected area network. But there is hope: the federal legal framework, although imperfect, includes numerous basis and legal instruments on which the Confederation and the cantons could rely to establish a functioning ecological network. Action is now needed.
Navigating Sustainable Business Transformations
Discover how IMD Prof. Julia Binder's tackles the critical need for businesses to understand "How" to implement business transformation towards sustainability amidst pressing environmental and social challenges. It explores various strategies for organizational change, aiming to guide companies in aligning with sustainability principles, thereby ensuring their success in a changing world.
Building Circular Structural Design
At the Structural Xploration Lab, EPFL Professor Corentin Fivet and team are exploring the potential of circular structural design in the construction industry. They are investigating how structural design can incorporate circular economy principles by reusing components, as well as transforming the traditional approach of minimising materials.
Investing Sustainably Matters
In the E4S Sustainable Finance Regulation Series, research associates Florence Hugard and Alisa Gessler, together with their team, unravel the pivotal role of corporate disclosures in sustainable finance. Discover how global regulations, from the EU's comprehensive rules to evolving US and Swiss frameworks, are shaping a transparent and sustainable financial landscape.
A Global Shift in Sustainability Reporting
In his research, Prof. Florian Hoos investigates the forthcoming global transition to mandatory sustainability reporting alongside financial standards, marking a historic shift. It explores challenges, governance strategies for ESG dimensions, and the leverage of this shift for competitive advantage through new Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and enhanced performance measurement.
Tree Solutions for Urban Heat Islands
EPFL Prof. Christoph Bachofen and team are researching how tree transpiration and shading can mitigate urban heat islands, which pose serious health risks during heatwaves. By measuring tree sap flow and canopy microclimate in urban areas like Geneva and the EPFL, they aim to understand how different tree species can cool urban environments, informing city planners on effective mitigation strategies.
Modeling Biodiversity
UNIL Professor Antoine Guisan and his team are at the forefront of environmental innovation, meticulously mapping the geographical distribution of over 10,000 species. These predictions serve as a powerful instrument in the proactive strategy to safeguard our biodiversity and ecosystems.
Preventing Overwhelm
Workplace stress is increasingly pervasive, and its consequences have detrimental effects for individuals, organizations, and broader societies. IMD Professor Alyson Meister and Researcher Nele Dael explore the experience of overwhelm at work, and surface how it impacts employee performance, well-being, and relationships, as well as what can be done to prevent it.
LC3 - Low Carbon Cement
Crafted by EPFL Professor Karen Scrivener, the LC3 technology aims to transform the concrete industry. It offers a more affordable and less capital-intensive approach, cutting carbon dioxide emissions by up to 40%. This technology marks a significant stride towards a greener, more sustainable industry.